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“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” AA Milne

Birthdays….some people love them. Some people hate them. Me….well I am indifferent to them. I try to make each of my children’s birthdays special for them but me…well…I can take it or leave it. My family never makes a big deal of my birthday but this year seems to be different. They all want to make a big deal of the day of was born.

Today is another day on the calendar and one where I do what I always do…get up, go to work….do mom stuff. However, seeing that it is my birthday, I thought I should stop and take some time to reflect.

So here are some random thoughts about today…
1. Today is the day that A.A. Milne was born. He is the author of Winnie the Pooh. I adore Pooh Bear. We have a great deal in common…very little brain/enormous heart….the love of good company and a pot of honey (or bottle of wine in my case). Pooh is wiser than he ever thinks he is and a good friend.

2. I am proud of my age and don’t care who knows that I am 46 today. I earned every year of that age. Up, down, good, bad…I like to think that I am 21 with 25 years experience! I would not be the person I am today without all that experience!

3. Age is just a number. It is so true. one can be 20 and look older. One can be 60 and look younger (with or without the help of a good surgeon). One can act younger or older than they are as well. We can all do things that help us look and feel younger (or older)….it is all in how you feel!

4. We spend our youth trying to grow up. We tell our kids to grow up. we dress and act older than we are. When we start to age, we try to dress and act younger. Why are we never really content right where we are?

5. Why are we so afraid of birthdays? Why are we afraid to get older? Are we afraid we are one step closer to the grave? Who cares? I could be gone tomorrow. I want to celebrate the fact that I am breathing right now.

6. I have been blessed with so many wonderful people in my life. Many who are gone now, some who passed at a young age, but all had so much to teach me. I am so grateful for all of them. I continue to be surrounded by so many fabulous people that I learn from each day.

7. Kids….If anyone would have told me when I was in college that I would eventually marry (a cop, no less!) and be the mother to 5 kids, I would have told them to sober up! Not Happening! But here I am….married almost 18 years and a mom to many! I could not be happier with where I am today. It is not easy but it is the best job I could ask for.

8. Running…I was always the one cursing the Marathon for blocking traffic on a Sunday because I could not get to my favorite breakfast joint…to ease my hangover. I was the one who was coming home from the bars as runners passed me on a morning jog. I was the one who thought those people were NUTS. Now I am one of ‘those people’. Going to bed early so I can be up at dawn to get a long run in. Running marathons that block traffic. I have met some of the best people because of running. The gifts I get from running ….well…I wish I had found running as a younger person.

9. Another trip ’round the sun…what will happen on this trip? Ever wonder if you have packed correctly for your trip? I do….what will I need for this journey? Where will I be at this time next year?

I don’t know where I will be at this time next year but I hope it is back here with more adventure stories to tell. I don’t know what the year has in store for me but I can only hope it is more learning, growing and loving! Peace.

So my 12 year old had to do a report on a famous person that has really made a difference in their field and the world. We had long discussions about who she should choose. Once we got past Justin Beiber and Oprah, she settled on Julia Child.

This lead to some research and some interesting discussions of cooking. One night I pulled up a few YouTube videos of Julia. My daughter and I snuggled up and watched these videos together and thus an idea was born. She would try to make a recipe a week from Julia’s book, Mastering the art of French Cooking. An idea that was made into a movie…but this was about her really mastering cooking.

She has always loved cooking a food. she was my adventurous eater from birth. She has a broad palate and loves many different foods. A few years ago she fell in love with Paula Deen and her cooking. She went to see Paula cook live and I think that was a defining moment fer her.  Her love of cooking increased.

She gets gifts of gadgets all the time from family that know she loves to cook. She has moved from solely baking to cooking foods that take real time and effort to prepare.

The video above is one that we watched together and she prepared the dish Sunday night for family dinner. the kitchen was a mess but the food was so good. Seeing her face as we all enjoyed her cooking was truly magical!

So now…I live a real life Julie and Julia as she beings to cook her way through the cookbook and blog about it as she goes….Her blog is private for now so if you would like to be added to the reader list, please just email me. http://tallcooking.blogspot.com/

So…what are you all cooking for dinner tonight?! I am not sure what my French Chef has in mind! Peace.

This is where I get to run my long runs each week. The scenery changes with the seasons and I love it. This trail is pretty anytime of the year but now it seems magical.

And yes…I did say Get To. I Get To run here. I Get To run most days and that is the mind switch for me. I used to think and say that I Have To do things. I Have To drive my kids. I Have To run. But now instead of Having To do things I have changed to Getting To do them.

So today…in the snow….what do you get to do? I get to make a snow angel! Peace.

“Cuz what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know you’re near
What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?
And what if trials of this life
The rain
The storms
The hardest nights
are your mercies in disguise”
Blessings – Laura Story

I often wonder about blessings. They come in all different shapes and sizes and sometimes we don’t even realize a blessing that is staring us in the face until it is entirely too late.

I do for others because it is how I show I care. I live my life in a way that someday I will stand before God knowing I did the right thing….letting go of anger and hurt, allowing others to feel forgiveness, showing love to all that I come in contact with each day, encouraging others to be their best….I do not need anything in return.

I don’t often see or feel the blessings in my life. I am too busy living. Lately I have been getting blessings back in spades. I am so aware of the blessings I receive  but not feeling deserving.  I often wonder what I have done to deserve all I have and where I am. I guess they are reminders that I am greatly blessed, highly favored, and deeply loved. Peace.

So Sunday my phone was feeling a little jumpy and decided to go for a swim. After my initial panic, I pulled it out of the water right away and yanked the battery out as fast as I could. I guess my phone was longing for a little spa time so after the swim, it went for a rice massage and dry sauna for a few days. I have resolved to remain as calm as possible this year so I took a deep breath and decided to look at the upside of this disconnection.

I still had a laptop. I still had an ipod. I still had a house phone. I was still connected…just not teathered 24/7.  I had to be patient and wait….

My kids have become dependant on my text reminders and the ability to text me whenever they want….often when they are in the next room!  This disconnect offered an opportunity for face to face contact!  They actually had to speak to me in the same room!  I realized that they don’t really need my reminders…they need a bit more independance. They had to plan ahead for rides and events for a few days and the accountability was good for all of us.

The time away from the ‘connection’ to work and personal email was refreshing. I was reminded that I don’t need to be accessable to everyone all the time. The fact that I didn’t have to make sure my clothing had a pocket for my phone was a bonus too! The many lessons in patience ….well….were priceless.

The disconnect lasted for 3 days and was actually quite wonderful. I missed the instant access to my kids and friends but realized that a little space was a good thing. I realized how much I preach about NOT texting/talking on the phone and driving ….but I do it anyway. I realized that checking my phone/email is the first thing I do when I get up and the last before I go to sleep. I realized that I love talking to my kids FACE TO FACE.  So much has changed with the advent of ‘smartphones’. We have changed so much in the way we interact with one another…much of it not for the better. Cell phones are a necessary evil but, just as with any tool, have to be used properly….and not misused. The disconnect was so beneficial in so many ways and something I may choose to do on my own  periodically. The lessons learned will lead to changes in behavior.

Take time here and there to disconnect. Reconnect with the people in your life …and with yourself. I did!