My youngest and the pony she rides on, Peter Pan. Cute, huh?
An interesting tidbit to share about all of this is over the past weekend while I was organizing some things, I came across this little figurine E's godmother (and auntie!) had given her for her fifth birthday.

I think the resemblance is both amazing and uncanny! It was like this little piece was made just for her.

A challenge for you & a gorgeous September sky

I just started a new position today at a PA cyber charter school-its a very cool organization-one of the perks is being able to work mostly from a home office. I am so impressed and its only the first day! One of the master teachers giving the orientation this afternoon asked me to write my own personal "mission statement" for my new position. I wanted to share it with you:

"It is my wish.... to make a positive difference in each child's life I have the privilege of being a part of. I want to help students realize their goals using inspiration, creativity and help them to realize that someone cares, and that they are capable of wonderful things if they are willing to work hard."

Putting this together really challenged and inspired me. And, as I said to someone else-while it might not sound very original, it comes from the heart.

This week my challenge to you is to write your own mission statement-I believe this really helps to keep a focus on what you feel is important in your own life and helps you to stay on track when things seem to get a little crazy. Tuck it away in a drawer somewhere and pull it out occasionally to read. It might just be the thing you need to get yourself motivated.

Round 'Em Up!

My brave little nine year old and her "boy" friend ("he's a boy who is a friend, mom!" she insists) decided they would be very brave and try the Round 'Em Up Ride at the local Fireman's Fall Festival.

I still can't define the feeling I had while I was watching them-half absolute terror that the ride would come off its hinges while I helplessly looked on, and half giddy excitement-thinking back to when I was a kid (a long, long time ago and going on one of those rides for the first time myself.) I rationalized away the fears with the thoughts that everyone should experience at least one carnival ride in their lifetime. We all need to remember to have fun once in a while, just for the sake of having fun.

The next day, I emailed E's friend's mom with this video along with some pictures of them on some of the other rides that evening. She mischieviously wrote back with the comment that we should use the one of them on the Scrambler in the wedding invitation.

So This is Why I Love Animals So Much

Every once in a while I come across something and have what Oprah calls an "AHA" moment.

(Reprinted courtesy of ronhevener.com)


"Like many of you, I read as much as I can. And I talk with (and listen to) many good, intelligent thinkers -- specialists in their fields. Maybe because it's something that I appreciate and treasure, I pay close attention to people "of the land." No, they're not all farmers or lovers of the mountains and forests. But, they do seem to have a love of animals, and a respect for nature, in common.

I pay attention to the words of these people because theirs is a world -- and their knowledge is based on -- real and true things. It isn't based on man-made bricks and mortar and cement and glass and roads and billboards. What it's based on are natural things, very real things -- and emotionally true things. Having animals in your life -- and tuning in to them -- is the only way I have ever known to develop your own natural sensitivities and understanding of life and its "big picture."

Very few things in our lives are as reassuring as the living things we care for. By having them -- in order to feed, house and provide for them -- we are forced to structure and maintain a productive life of our own. By having them, we network with others of similar interests and feelings; people traveling on our own path. We realize that we're not alone. And we can talk freely about the emotional depths (and comedies) that our animals help us explore.

Any time you want to know "what's ahead," just take a look at the past. Learn from it. What you'll come away with are two basic things.......... First, you'll see that people and their animals make it through every adversity -- and every victory -- of Life. Second (and this is most important) you'll prove to yourself that no matter what dire forecast anyone has ever predicted (from Nostradamus to the Mayan calendar, to Y2K, to books of the most respected ancient and holy wisdom) that no one you know has ever seen "the end of the world." .... No matter how many hours, days or years of their lives they spent worrying about it.

The point? Love your animals. Love your life. Love yourself. And do whatever you can to spread the word."

Words to Live By

Where to begin?

The past month has been a whirlwind of activity and that has left me little time to do one of my very favorite things: share my observations regarding life as I know it and the beauty (or humor) in each moment when I really take the time to look.

I feel like my ability to write has been temporarily displaced somewhere and I am having trouble finding where I tucked it. So while I am searching for it, I will do what I'm sure others have done before me in similar situations and share lovely quotes I promised myself I would share with you someday.

"Find the joy inside yourself"

"Pursue Excellence"

"Refuse to dwell on the negative"


I hope you enjoy these jewels of wisdom while I continue to search for my groove.