Being with Jack

My grandson has had enough colds and infections to keep him home from preschool for a few weeks. So, I have been spending lots of wonderful time with him, playing baseball, golf, and blowing bubbles. It is enchanting to see a colorful, fragile bubble find its way through the sky, sometimes landing and balancing for awhile on a blade of grass. How important life is to all of us. Every moment can bring a new insight or wonder, if we but sit and wait, listen and watch. I hope your spring days are full of the best in life.

Making the choice to be positive and grateful

Times are tough and we often feel anxious, worrying about our finances, our jobs, and our future. I learned a simple lesson from my daughter long ago. Write down those things for which I am grateful. If I do this at night before I sleep, it tends to calm my mind and I rest easier.

Then in the morning I write again in my journal of what I want to accomplish in the day ahead. I begin to focus on the positive things I can do with my time and not the negative things happening in the world today of which I have no control.

During the day, I offer simple prayers or dialogue with God about what is happening, how I feel, who needs His extra care and how much I love Him. It helps to remind myself also of how much He loves me.

When asked about my faith, I say that it was ingrained in me as a child by my mother who took us to church each Sunday and by my parents’ sacrifice to send all four of us children to Catholic schools through college. But, faith can’t really be taught. I realized mine came from going through tough times, some of which are so personal I haven’t yet written them done. Faith came by looking back over those difficult years and knowing God saw me through them and had a plan for my life better than any I could have imagined.

Tough times come and go and that is important to remember. There are always good times ahead and even in the midst of difficulties, we can still find some special moment of God’s love warming us and protecting us.

Try to write down your thoughts – the painful, the happy, the grateful, and the questioning ones. I promise to do the same.

Birthday Celebration

I have just finished celebrating my 61st birthday with a week of seeing family and friends, ending last night with three cakes at our Marriage Encounter Core meeting. Thank you all.

Birthdays give us time to reflect on where we have been, what we have done, and who we are. We can take our birthday as an opportunity to focus on the days ahead and the things we want to do with our time, and who we want to become.

As I spend time working on my scrapbooks and geneology, my thoughts center on my family and how much I love them. My life is important because I am part of this special group of related people, who love and care for one another.

Women friends are also very important to me. While scrapping this week, three of us blurted out, “We are so much alike. We are so happy to have each other.” We are kindred spirits and I don’t know what I would do without the sharing of our souls.

On Friday I lunched at my favorite tea room Gooseberries, owned by a wonderful woman Debbie. The women who shared a pot of tea with me became close as we worked to make our church organization a better place for women of the Phoenix Diocese. With these women I can share my faith and my dreams for a life focused on doing God’s will.

So, it was a week filled with family, friends and faith. What could be better? For the Cardinals to win the Super Bowl!!

Cleaning House

Most of us start the new year with the intention of cleaning house. Since we are already putting away the Christmas decorations, it is a great time to look around at our general decor and organization. I have the added push this year because my entire family (minus Dick) will be here this weekend to celebrate our new grandchild Baby Billy.

So, I have been unusually busy, not only with the normal changing of bedsheets, but having discovered a joyful new pursuit of cleaning out drawers and closets.

I think I am going overboard, because each drawer now has a separate container for rubber bands and paper clips. Change has been sorted into money for Jacqui’s parking at college, and to the grandchildren’s savings funds. All those buttons in plastic holders from new clothes? Marked with the proper clothing notation and into the sewing chest. One of a kind earrings are finding their match and hangers are now color coordinated on each bar. I am getting my exercise inside this month, going from one end of the house to the other with my treasures.

If you think anyone will notice, trust me! I have had people looking for a tea bag open all those jumbled drawers before and been dismayed by what they saw there.

As my friends and I were lamenting finding the perfect housekeeper and struggling in these down times to clean our homes ourselves, a dear friend called and told me about the perfect young woman who cleaned her home. What a gift she was, when I found out her passion was catering, so she will be taking most of the food home with her on cleaning day to prepare for the weekend. I am blessed.

Prayer for the day – God, how grateful I am for my husband who works long hours to provide for our family. Please grant a safe journey for my family and friends this weekend and good health to them all in the coming year.

May Jacqui’s semester at NAU be a good one, filled with peace and fulfillment.

Your faithful daughter, Janet

Thoughts from 1989 and before

While organizing my parents’ love letters from WWII and other family momentos, I found some thoughts from unknown authors on Christmas, the New Year and every day living. I share them with you here…

Christmas

The merriest day….the saddest day

The day you are happiest for all you have

And the day your heart aches for all you have missed or lost.

The day that sets you tingling with anticipation

The day you wish you could sleep straight through.

The day that rouses in you all that is generous

The day that wearies you withh sentimentalify and disappointment, even dispair.

New Year 1989

Just for today, I will live through this day only and not set far-reaching goals to try to overcome all myu problems at once. I know I can do something for 12 hours that would appall me if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

Just for today, I will be happy. Abraham Lincoln said, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” He was right. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me. I will chase them out of muy mind and replace them with happy thoughts.

Just for today, I will adjust myself to what is. I will face reality. I will correct those things I can correct and accept those things I cannot correct.

Just for today, I will improve my mind. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.  I will read something spiritual to life my spirit.

Just for today, I will do something positive to improve my health. If I have a nasty habit like smoking, I will make an honest effort to quit. If I’m overweight, I’ll eat nothing I know to be fattening. I will force myself to exercise, even if it’s only walking around one block or using the stairs instead of elevator.

Just for today, I’ll so something I’ve been putting off for a long time, especially decluttering one more drawer or closet.

Just for today, before I speak I will ask myself, “Is it true? Is It kind?” If not, I won’t say it.

Just for today, I will make an effort to be agreeable, talk softly, and not interrupt. Just for today I’ll not improve anybody except myself.

Just for today, I will have a program, even though I may not follow it exactly. I will save myself from hurry and indecision.

Just for today, I will take a quiet half-hour to relax alone, learning about myself.

Just for today, I will be unafraid. I will gather the courage to do what is right and take responsibility for my actions and beliefs and stand firm when those around me criticize for those beliefs. I will expect nothing from the world, but realize I have much to give the world.

Final Thoughts from a relative long gone

Sometimes the only reward received for acts of kindness and thoughtfulness is the serenity that comes from the knowledge of having done them.

May these thoughts keep us going through the New Year, in grace and harmony with each other and the world.

Joy from Janet

Past memories influence New Year

In the past several  years, I have been focused on scrapbooking thousands of family photos. There are new ones of our three grandchildren, our children’s weddings, vacations, the kids growing up, Kirk and I growing up, and my favorite ones of ancestors pictured in black and white. I have finally organized them all into collections and begun scrapping into albums which are presented for special occasions like birthdays and Christmas

Our Moon Valley scrapping group has five people, who began meeting once a month, then twice a month, then every week and now we sometimes sneak in a second morning during a rare week.  We help each other with layouts, new on-line programs, share our creations, but mostly we share of ourselves, which is what these family photos are all about.

Our most recent member is also a genealogy expert with several closets full of albums to prove it.  She was sent from heaven to me, since I was just beginning tracing our family genealogy and finding it fascinating.  I joined her group, which meets regularly at the LDS library in Mesa for research. My dream is to have albums with family trees of our ancestors along with their photos, to pass along to the generations to come.

Last November I went on a Creative Memories retreat (what a great word for a weekend away for scrapping) in Flagstaff with consultant Barb Cunningham (tbcunningham83@gmail.com) and her friends. There, I met a friend from long ago and it was a delight to catch up with her. Just like my own scrapping group, these women shared their lives as they shared their photos and we found much in common. There were two Janets there, which hardly ever happens, and the retreat turned out to be more like a resort with home-cooked meals and walks in the woods. I’m going again in late January as a birthday present to myself.

This Christmas we made a quick trip to San Diego to celebrate Christmas with the family there. Unfortunately, Jessie and her family couldn’t make the trip but we will see them in Phoenix in January. Jacqui and I planned a surprise visit to Kirk’s hometown in Kansas City for him and his mom. Thanks to the hard work of his sister and husband, we spent wonderful days and evenings with family members of several generations. We even went sledding and saw the famous Plaza lights.

Different family members decided to work on the family genealogy together and I can’t wait to start the process over the Internet. There are many wonderful sites and also personal  software to help along the way.  I am truly looking forward to the New Year and the time to pull together the photos, history and memories of those who have gone before, and those who will carry on our family traditions.

I welcome you to join in this search for love, meaning and friendship, for we are all in this together. Janet

Final Article in Tattler

Joy From Janet

Saying Goodbye

I began writing for the Tattler almost 8 years ago, when a group of young adults were leaving Mt. Sky Junior High and journeying on to Thunderbird High School. We have followed their adventures, both high and low, and watched them grow. Some of that class are almost through college now. Some are working. Others are still trying to find their way.

They are following similar paths that we have all taken through relationships – being single, married, and having children. They have found and lost friends and lovers. They have encountered forks in the road and made choices, sometimes backtracking, starting over or carrying on as best they can. They are still growing and discovering who they are meant to be.

As a parent, I both marvel and anguish as my family moves through the changes in their lives. As a wife, I have learned to lean on my husband, as well as care for his needs as we follow the path together. As a friend, I have realized that relationships can change and sometimes there is a need to move on and allow others a place beside me. As a woman, I am trying to let go of fear and listen more to my inner self and follow my own dreams.

I thank you all for your trust and companionship over the past years of telling our stories. For nothing I have written is new or unique to me. They are all our stories and I am humbled being allowed to write the words that have pulled us together in such wonderful ways. For all those who have mentioned that an article touched you, know that your saying that touched me even more. For those that clipped articles and shared them with others, I am grateful that the words found their way to the right person.

As I begin my new freelance career of writing for publication (paid, that is!) I will remember these past years as the time when I discovered my voice and gently began sharing it with others. Beyond the thoughts and words, it is the feelings expressed that are the most important. Feelings are neither bad or good, right or wrong. Feelings are not judgments and should not be judged. Our real story is told by our expression of feelings.

Let us continue being part of each others’ lives through my blog at www.AZAuthor@wordpress.com Many thanks to Dawn Trapp for her hard work in building such a wonderful community paper as the Tattler. Much Love and Joy from Janet.

Hello world!

Here we go with our first post of Joy from Janet on AZAuthor’s Blog.  Thank you to Sharman for the lovely scrapbook page from last year’s birthday. Here is my Christmas 2008 letter. Enjoy.

Christmas 2008

Dear Baby Billy,

As you celebrate your first Christmas, all that know you celebrate your new life and the joy you bring into our lives. I have watched the love and care of your parents as they learn what it takes to raise a child. I also see their love for each other as they adjust to the changes a baby brings.

Through the excitement of gifts under the tree, try to remember we are all stewards of what we have been given and each day it is nice to utter a small prayer of gratitude, in addition to reflecting on how we can share with others. You are a special gift to me, your other grandparents, your parents, extended family and the world. You come from a long legacy of men and women who have served their country and families with deep love.

Through the brightness of the Christmases to come, you will learn who brought that light to our world. God gave us His son to bring hope and peace and most of all, love, into our lives. Your faith in His love will sustain you through any challenges and bring you joy.

This past year has brought other joys and achievements to your family. Jacqui spent a semester and summer at home and then returned to NAU to pursue her career in art therapy. Bop was promoted to VP at his company and I decided to take over the household finances to free up his time. Was that a mistake, Bop.

Your cousin Jack and GG Schweitzer both had pacemakers put in this summer to help them run faster and longer all day. Jack started preschool at SDSU and likes most of it, except maybe nap time. Aunt Jennie and Uncle Dick have a hard time keeping up with him, along with their work and travel.

Aunt Jessie changed jobs twice in one week – moving on up and Uncle Jeff started at the District Attorney’s office, taking off the first week for gallbladder surgery. Stay with those government jobs, guys. Jordan rules the roost at her pre-k class as well as at home. She does horseback riding, swimming, dancing and and and…..is one smart kid.

Little Billy, I love having the time now to follow my passion to write. I hope you will one day enjoy a great passion in your life. I found this saying by an unknown writer at my favorite store – Goodwill, of course. I offer it to you this Christmas and for a lifetime.

Nonnie

Let mystery have its place in you.

Do not always be turning up your whole plowshare of self-examination

But leave a little fallow corner in your heart

Ready for any seed the wind may bring.

And reserve a nook of shadow for a passing bird.

Keep a place in your heart for the unexpected guest

An altar for the unknown God.