Annual Accountability Moment, 2006

Ok... here it is: my 3rd annual New Year's Accountability Moment.

And I'm thrilled this year. I measured up, so to speak. To quote the late James Brown, "I feel good..."

Annual Miles Logged on Trusty Stationary Bike

2006 - 645.5

2005 - 564.5

2004 - 562.0

Literally, I can't imagine what my health or weight would be without all that exercise. Or I don't dare to imagine, given my family history of heart attacks, strokes and diabetes... of which I've experienced none.

My advice: if you hate exercise, like me, find ways to make it fun. It could be a matter of life or... well, not life here.

Happy New Year, and God bless!

Christmas Dinner Menu, 2006

By popular demand (two family members), the following is the Christmas Day dinner menu at our home in two days.

The fare has a retro, mid-20th century theme, and pays homage to dishes served by my great-aunts and my mother during the 1950s and 1960s., but with 21st century touches.

A Christmas gift from me to my family is a delicious meal, lovingly dreamed and crafted.

Merry Christmas!

A whole ham, pineapple-mustard glaze

Classic green bean casserole (fresh , organic green beans, not canned)

Cauliflower au gratin

Carrots in cinnamon-butter sauce

Melons

Whole grain rolls, butter

Fresh peach pie, double-crust

Vanilla bean ice cream, Dreyers' Grand

California chardonnay, apple cider

Motherhood and Christmas

For the first time ever, we spent Christmas away from home last year. We had a delightful and cozy time, visiting our daughter and son-in-law in their lovely Oregon home. My brother and his wife live nearby, on the Oregon-Washington border, and they joined us for a festive Christmas dinner.

We didn't celebrate Christmas with our two sons, daughter-in-law and six month old granddaughter last year, though, until we returned later that week

.

Truthfully, we were fine with that... but to our secret surprise, we were missed. Both Ryan, now 28, and Kevin, now 23, said it wasn't quite the same for them.

We're home this year, and, of course, we're hosting the family Christmas dinner. Trisha and Nino will remain in Oregon, and we'll miss their presence.

But I admit... I've deeply loved hearing from our sons how they're looking forward to celebrating the holiday at home with us.

Kevin, buried deep in his studies, work and head-over-heels for girlfriend Tessa, emailed me yesterday just to say he can't wait for Christmas here. And hard-working Ryan, husband and doting father, told me by phone last night that he and his family are excited about being here for the holiday.

I am many things... wife, sister, daughter, friend, neighbor, not to mention writer, community volunteer, activist, business woman.

But at my essence, I am a mother (and grandmother). I love our children. I pray for them daily, and they're always with me. I'm feeling kind of special... and appreciated... that they long to celebrate the holidays with us.

That's the only gift I need this Christmas!

(Although... please ask me about my Amazon wish list. :) I have lots of wants...)

Victory!

Victory

has

never,

ever

been

sweeter!

(photo by Robert Laberge / Getty Images)

UCLA Ranked #1 in NCAA Basketball

Could it be UCLA's year to prevail once again in March Madness? To regain the NCAA men's basketball men's title as #1?



Yes, it could!!!

(click this link for the good news)

Bountiful and Blessed at Thanksgving 2006

As I sit here blogging in a Starbucks 600 miles from home on the afternoon after Thanksgiving, memories of yesterday com rushing back. Thanksgiving was everything it's supposed to be: bountiful with:

* The laughter and play of young children
* The retelling of family stories, and peering at old family photos
* A beautiful, warm home, perfectly cluttered

* Guarded, politely agreeable political chatter
* A bittersweet, tear-inducing toast by Ron to his mother, who passed away last summer
* Dinner prayers
* Lovingly prepared, delicious holiday fare, including three turkeys (deep-fried, smoked, roasted) and four pies (pumpkin, mince, blueberry, pecan)

* Family faux pas (like the Marie Callendar's pie mixup)
* The adults lingering, chatting at the table hours after the meal
* The continual flash of new digital cameras
* Hugs, hugs and more hugs
* Promises to get together soon again

The woman who binds us together was with us, but only in spirit. Perhaps because of her passing, we're all a bit more aware of the fragility of life and the fleeting of time.

It was a joyous and sacred family time on Thanksgiving 2006.

We are blessed...

Blessed Beyond Measure... But Surprised and Cringing

Today is my 55th birthday.

While I'm blessed beyond measure... I just can't imagine where the time went. In my mind, I'm still my ideal age of 35. And I still feel familiar surprise when my body can't follow the plans of my imagination and will.

I love my life, though. Wonderfully happy marriage. Healthy, hard-working, loving children. An adorable granddaughter. Joyful, caring church filled with good people and loving, interesting pastors.

I have meaningful work and many passions. We're finally rebuilding our financial security after Ron's unemployment bouts a few years ago. And I've never exercised more or eaten healthier.

I just wish I had 40 or 50 years more to go.

But here's the curiousity. When I presumed I had decades ahead of me, it didn't feel as precious to me. And frankly, I didn't make as good a use of time as I today.

I'm conscious, now, that time is a limited commodity, and I'm doing many of my "someday" things.

And I work harder to make a difference in this world... not to be remembered, but to be kinder and more forgiving. And to use my writing to help make this world a more merciful and just place.

But not today... :) The world can wait.

Ron took my birthday off from work. After he took Andrea to school, he came home with a fragrant cup of my favorite coffee, a forbidden donut ( I adore donuts... never eat them anymore), and a fresh-off-the-stands newspaper for this news junkie. And he's taking me to lunch today.

Happy birthday to me. I'm 55 years old

Maybe if I say and write it enough, I'll believe it. And not cringe.