Celebrating with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build. and linking with others who share their celebrations, too. I am grateful to Ruth for helping us celebrate together!
From Goodreads with a few changes: When Don Freeman, creator of Corduroay, died, colleagues and his wife decided to use his never before published artwork and make a commemorative book using his wonderful illustrations. Paired with Linda Zuckerman's thoughtful rhyming text, The Day Is Waiting takes readers on a tour of our big, wide world and reminds us that no matter how far we roam, we always have home to come back to.
I recently discovered this book, a new edition, and I've decided it will be a good way to celebrate the coming new year, and celebrate those past. I am trying, have been trying to make a new life these past few years. Even before my husband died, I was living alone while he was in a treatment facility. I don't write often about his passing, but the beginnings of each year feel new and challenging every year to me, along with making choices. Most of the time in life, time is taken by education, sometimes marriage and children, jobs that fill the days, etc. But now I am retired and have choices to make, and I want to make them as wisely as I can. This book seems to open up a world of "new" to me, and like so many of others' one little words, it has landed in my lap at what feels like the right time!
Here are my recent celebrations. these past weeks have been lovely and I am grateful.
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| Writing a haiku each day since Dec. 1st and reaching out into the world to find goodness is a joy. |
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| Memories of ornaments keep me grounded, sometimes in the long ago. This is from a student in my first class. |
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| My poems published in a real book-so proud! |
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| I visit my husband every week or so, to tell him what's going on, and add some decoration just for him. |
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| I won't forget Imogene slipping into the Santa's corner, and then adding Big Monkey. |
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| Christmas Eve with everyone at Sarah and Dave's. It was a happy start to our Christmas. |
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| Ingrid and Imogene adore Carter, as you can see them cuddle up with him. He is a patient guy! |
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| Ingrid posing with her new hat from Uncle Jim and Aunt Glenna (my brother and sister-in-law). |
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| Yes, Carter really did play Candyland with his cousins. |
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| My new grand-dogs, Teddy and Abe, were here for the holidays, too! They were very sweet! |
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| I'll never stop loving sunsets! |
Happy New Year Everyone. An Irish blessing for you: "May you have warm words on a cool evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road all the way to your door."
Linda, what a beautiful post filled with so many celebrations! I love your thoughts on choosing how to spend your time. I'm single without kids, so I get that feeling. It can feel like an amazing opportunity, it can also feel like pressure...you want to make the right choices. The book you shared sounds wonderful! I'm going to look for it right now!
ReplyDeleteYes, you've named it, Michelle. There is that pressure, too. It's good to keep the feeling that "all is good" just as Ruth says, too. Thanks for sharing your feelings, too.
DeleteWhat a beautiful post, Linda. Every day is full of choices, opportunities, and challenges--and sometimes they are one and the same. Thanks for sharing The Day is Waiting. I will look for it. I love the idea of how they used Don's work. Onward and forward!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jane. Onward and forward it is for sure! And I am happy for the opportunities!
DeleteLots of celebrations! So grateful for all of the kindness your life puts into my life, and into the lives of many others, I am sure! Stay warm!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol. I hope we can get together more in this new year!
DeleteSo much joy. That's what I feel when I read your posts. This one is particularly so. Your life, centered on love of family and wordsm is how I want to be... when I grow up.
ReplyDeleteI count on you for thought-filled posts, too, Julieanne. Growing up is not easy, is it? I still feel as if I'm not there yet!
DeleteYour lovely week had multiple celebrations. Your poem published in a book could have had the whole celebration for itself. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Terje. I agree, was so excited about this book of poetry!
DeleteWhat wonderful celebrations - I love following your life journey through words and pictures at Teacher Dance! A few favorites - the grand-dogs, the gorgeous sunset, and Imogene and Big Monkey hanging out in Santa corner. Have a lovely week, my friend!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ramona. Lots to smile over, and that pic of Imi with the Santas and Big Monkey makes me smile very big!
DeleteStarting a new year is always hard for me, three years ago our son was in a car accident and we spent the month of January in ICU units and rehab. My heart is with you as you turn the corner on 2017. Thank you for sharing your photo celebrations. Here's to a grand week ahead.
ReplyDeleteIh, it sounds like a memory that you want to forget, Maria. Thanks for sharing! Happy New year!
DeleteI always love looking at your pictures, Linda! I love the one of Imogene and the way she is peeking at the monkey. My thoughts go out to you as you begin 2017. I hope it holds many more celebrations for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the wishes, Jannifer. I do love that picture too. What a fun time we had!
DeleteBlessings back to you! January is really a crappy month, isn't it? I'm glad we are all able to find something to celebrate today.
ReplyDeleteOnce it begins, it does turn out okay, Margaret, but there's is something about the start that's a challenge. Thanks.
DeleteYou are so right about the importance of making choices that validate who we are, pay homage to those we've lost, and glory in what we still have. I love the photographs of the grands - Ingrid has such a wonderful, sparkly smile!
ReplyDeleteYou've written just the words, Tara. Thank you! Yes, Ingrid is often full of smiles!
DeleteLinda, thank you for your Irish blessing at the start of a new year. I see that you have been reflective and considering new choices to make. The new year allows us to look into our heart, reflect on our past, and make a new plan to live life. Someday, we'll meet up and be able to chat about these things but for now I will take a cup of tea and wish you well.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet, Carol. Wouldn't it be lovely if we all lived in the same town? I just read your post, and wish you well in your new year's path, too.
DeleteI think of you and your husband often when I visit my grandmother. You capture your life so beautifully in pictures. Congrats on your poem being publish - I agree with Terje in that could have been a single celebration. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Leigh Anne. I appreciate all your words. I'm off to a "favorite things" party, will probably share about it next week! Happy rest of weekend to you, too!
DeleteThank you for sharing your lovely celebration gallery. My favorites: memory ornaments, Carter--a patient guy, and sunsets. And congratulations on your published poetry!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alice. I enjoyed reflecting and putting them al together.
DeleteLinda, it's no so good to see, and hear in more detail, about the people and things that are mentioned here and there in your blog. I like knowing Arvie a little, and thinking of you in your first classroom, and seeing Carter play Candyland. Wishing you a new year of choices that serve you well! And thanks for hosting PF. I'm going to have get used to some fairly extreme ups and downs, I guess, and not panic when the downs take me over for a bit. Thanks for being part of the light!
ReplyDeleteI meant to type "it's so good to see"!
ReplyDeleteI knew what you meant, Heidi, and thanks for coming by. I don't think you have to get "used to" anything, but it is going to be a different year than we had in 2009, isn't it? If we all work together, it will feel better because we won't be alone. Have a Happy New Year, "anyway"!
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