A New Year

A new year always leads to reflection, more so when the new year brings with it a new decade. We go through each day doing the things that we have to do and, hopefully, some of the things that we want to do. The days pass and, then, we wake up one day and an entire decade has passed. The passage of time becomes our legacy, our work of art. Sometimes, it is beautiful. Sometimes, it is not. Most times, it is a mix of both. The past ten years have been life-altering for me. I welcomed so many new little people into my life but also said goodbye to my parents and a special aunt. That seems to be the way this ride goes - it is full of the unexpected. We spent New Year's eve with our chosen family. The children ran wild and the adults played games. Sometimes, words just don't do an event justice so I have some footage to share with you. I am the one in the baseball hat (I look horrible in this video but I'm sharing it anyway because I love you that much). After watching this, you'll either want me at your next party or you'll hire a bouncer to keep me out.

In my defense, I was not the first to go up on the table and was certainly not the last. Mostly, I'm just relieved that I still have some agility.

At midnight, we all toasted to a new year and then opened fortune cookies. Mine said "Do not underestimate yourself". Sometimes, fortune cookies really get it right, don't they? Ringing in the new year surrounded by love is the way to start a year out right.

I wish you all a fabulous 2010 and may you be blessed with a sturdy table should you invite me for a game of spoons!

Revelations

Sometimes, I don't blog because I have nothing to say. Sometimes, I don't blog because I have too much to say. Despite appearances that suggest otherwise, I do have good blogging boundaries and don't share everything here. For example, I refuse to tell you how much Velveeta is in my fridge at this very moment. See? I have to maintain some sense of mystery. So, what has been going on with me that has kept me from writing? Angst, mostly. I am a person that struggles to live in the moment. I am also a person prone to excessive worry. You can imagine the joy and light that this combination brings to life. My frustration with my job combined with the post-holiday slump and my never-ending worries about my kids have left me a little wiped out. Today, however, I can see that I am moving through it.

When I first started in Adult Protection, a very experienced worker (and wise man) invited me to accompany him on one of his client visits. I don't remember the specifics of the situation but I do remember it was horrible. Afterwards, my mind was swirling and I said something like, "Oh my god! What can you do about this?! Where do you begin?! What good can possibly come of all of this?!" He then spoke the four wisest words I've ever heard -  "More will be revealed". This is true in my work and true in life. Sometimes, I lose sight of the fact that I don't have to know everything right this minute. I don't have to have all of the answers now. I just have to continue on, knowing that the path is always illuminated as we go.

This means that I have to keep working at my job though I know that I must make a change at some point. What that change will be will become more clear in time. I need to return to the things that feed my soul like writing, blogging, video projects and music. I need to love my children and stop worrying that they will end up living in my basement taking my Social Security checks and spending all my money on cable television and Twinkies. That is not the inevitable outcome of their refusal to set the table and take out the recycling. More will be revealed. Today, I remember that but tomorrow, as always, could be another story.

Breaking Boards and Taking Names

I promised you more posts and then didn't deliver. Aren't I amazing? I don't have a good excuse but I do have some cuteness to share with the hope that you will forget about the lack of posts. Behold! Zeca in her first martial arts demo! Yes, she is doing Tae Soo Do. Yes, we are crazy. Yes, this will only further her path towards world domination. Whatcha gonna do?