~ things I am good at ~

Snowboarding Today at Brighton, I was feeling a little inadequate (something about the way my boys can go down and back up again while I'm still going down Crest). An interview coupled with stress and some failed to sleep after night shift attempts formed a little black rain cloud on my head. So I decided to make a list of all the things I can do.

• hugging
• folding clothes
• snowboarding in reverse
• riding bicycles
• taking photographs
• putting on mascara
• alphabetizing
• teaching skating
• finding the silver lining
• loving people
• massages
• getting dressed up
• diving into water
• comforting babies
• painting walls
• braiding hair
• listening to people
• accepting criticism
• petting animals
• skipping
• untangling embroidery thread 
• sweeping floors
• collecting thank you cards
• remembering how we met
• floating
• saying thank you
• making lists
• ironing clothes
• rock climbing
• writing blog posts
• blowing bubbles
• attending weddings and funerals
• following instructions
• getting dirty
• tying bows
• being quiet
• multiplication
• getting excited for christmas
• wrapping presents
• reading
• sewing
• word games
• laughing
• feeling vibes
• organizing things
• compliments
• putting puzzles together
• enjoying time
• threading needles
• losing
• talking you up
• being silly
• asking for forgiveness
• throwing parties
• decorating
• making peace
• working together 
• giving gifts
• making cookies
• forgiving
• eating dessert
• holding hands
• saving money

And I found out that sometimes, what you can do is infinitely more important than what you can't. Focus on the good, do your best and don't worry about the rest. 

Wight Christmas

the trouble is, you think you have time ~ buddha

Grief, I realized at the memorial for Bob and Dawn Wight today, is really just love. It's all the love you want to give but can't. All of that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go. . . 

and in the end
the most important piece of advice
that reading the many journals that 
dawn wrote in for every single hockey 
game her boys ever played in has given me

is to enjoy life
while you're living it
you can never know
which moments will be the ones
*** that you'll remember
and when happiness will hit you

so be open to anything
at anytime
do not sweat over the past
instead learn from it
and make n e w memories
every day

for there is only one life
and one chance

b.b.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

My Grandma Jo

would have been 104 years old today...

remembering her and smiling too.

there's no honorable way to kill - no gentle way to destroy - there is nothing good in war - except it's ENDING

i've never seen this one before...

one that i hope to not see again. mass exodus of people from a refugee camp in Damascus that had been under attack since 2013. bombings, children, human beings killing one another. i've seen photos of the last hospital in aleppo being ruined by terrorists. i feel sad. i've donated to funds, i feel the need to do more. how can i help?

What A Beautiful World

it would be if people had hearts like dogs 

Candie, my niece just moved back from Seattle, and is living with Marilee until she can buy another home. My sister, Marilee, isn't allowed to have dogs however, as her landlord doesn't allow even cute little Chihuahuas, like Candie has. So she asked me if we could 'dog-sit' for a few weeks. Roxie is adorable and full of spunk while Dudley is fluffy and always has his tongue hanging out of his mouth. If I had a dollar for every time they made me smile, I'd be a millionaire. Best part of my day was coming home to a wagging tail...

Meet Me Under The Mistletoe

Happy Ho Ho Ho to you

Motherhood is about raising and celebrating the boy I have, not the boys I thought I'd have. It's about understanding he is EXACTLY the person he's supposed to be. And, if I'm lucky, he might be the teacher who turns me into the person I'm supposed to be. 

Morgen has finals this week. He pulled an all nighter studying for them.

A Little Smile

A Word Of Cheer

A BIT OF LOVE

f r o m  s o m e o n e  n e a r

A LITTLE GIFT

from one held dear  

B E S T  W I S H E S 

for the coming year 

M E R R Y  C H R I S T M A S 

Dream Big

1-8 vs Santa Clara Blackhawks Markus with the assist

Win vs. Jr. Coyotes 5-1

Invite to the Global Hockey Camp in May

Kill Them With Success

Bury Them with a Smile

'03 Team held their own against Valencia Jr. Flyers (2-7) and Arizona Mission (1-5) U14 teams today in Vegas

We'll Always Have Vegas

No one else will ever know...

the strength of my love for you. after all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside.

THIS is your life

• do what you love
• and do it often
• if you don't like something, change it
• if you don't like your job, quit
• if you don't have enough time, stop watching tv
• if you're looking for the love of your life, STOP!
• they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you LOVE
• stop over analyzing, all emotions are beautiful
• when you eat, appreciate every bite.
• LIFE IS SIMPLE
• open you mind, arms and heart to new things and people
• WE are united in our differences
• ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your inspiring dream with them
• TRAVEL OFTEN; getting lost will help you find yourself
• some opportunities only come once, seize them
• life is about the people you meet, and the relationships you create with them
• so go out and start creating
• LIFE IS SHORT
• live your DREAM
• and wear your PASSION

some people are worth melting for

Laurie, Kelli, Naomi, Nicole, Heidi, Olivia, Carol,
you will always be...
the sisters of my soul,
the friends of my heart.

friends that have been making life Merrier since 1994

we all need friends who understand what we're not saying

You'll know the people that feed your soul...because you'll feel good after spending time with them...

I've come to realize through the twenty-two years of knowing these beautiful souls, that the only people I need in my life are the ones who need me in theirs even when I had nothing else to offer them but myself. Yep. And I wouldn't have it another way, I love these chosen sisters in my life and they love me. I love to notice all the people who make an effort to stay in my life. Through...

• children? 37
• moves? 16
• dogs? 6
• cancer? 2
• death of parents? 2
• college degrees? 2

our laughs? limitless

our memories? countless

our friendship? endless

Happy Always

Dinner at Cafe Rio

Christmas Shopping commenced today

Ice Cream at Sub Zero while our power was out

And Max flies home tonight at midnight

Merry Everything

My Top 10 Christmas Movie List

(Or at least the ones I've already watched this year!)

1. It's A Wonderful Life
2. Elf
3. A Christmas Story
4. Miracle on 34th Street
5. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
6. White Christmas
7. The Grinch
8. Home Alone 1 & 2 (but not 3...)
9. Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
10. The Holiday

Christmas Traditions

Sleeping Under the Tree

Snowball Fights

Light Candles

Caroling

Christmas Movies

Lights at Temple Square

HOPE

Markus injured his ankle in PE playing basketball yesterday

My mom and Dad were hit by a teenager turning left in front of them today

Although it was scary they weren't injured even though her car is totaled - 2016 is not over yet.

Yes, it had many disappointments for those that I love.

Yes, it broke my mom's heart too many times to count.

But there are still 29 days left of this year,

And that means there is still time … for hope.

To cheer for Max in Blaine, Minnesota when his team wins in overtime!

To be an encourager not a critic

To be so still and available my loves use me as home base

To listen more than I speak

To love more than I fear

To hope more than I doubt

de-cem-ber /di'sember/

the month of joy, happiness and to finish what you started.

December 1st

There is something magical about the first December snow - the way it dances in the air & ushers in winter.

The last month of the year, might as well make it the best one.

December (I'm so happy to see you!)

Max is already making it a December to remember by flying out to Minnesota today.

Good Morning Happy First Day of December "Keep looking up...that's the secret to life."

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

No matter how much time goes by I'll never forget the first time you looked at me and how I fell in love.

Christmas is a time to be grateful for the special joy that comes from loving those around you.

I feel so blessed to keep some old traditions alive and excited to create some new ones every year. I felt honored to accompany Morgen to his Beta Alpha Psi initiation luncheon today at the downtown Marriott. I would feel pretty proud of myself if I had accomplished all that he has to be eligible to join such a distinguished group. It was a moment of pure joy that I will always remember. It's his choices that show who he truly is far more than his abilities. 

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