I am tremendously blessed…

but tired.

And I think…

I’ve consumed enough sugar…

to keep my insulin levels…

from testing normal…

until mid-March!

In many ways…

it is hard…

to let another year go.

You get…

into a groove, you know?

And things change.

A lot of the time…

I’m not certain I like that.

But nevertheless…

here we are…

on the brink of the unknown.

Embracing a “fresh start”…

a “clean slate”…

exciting opportunities.

I hope…

that this year…

saw many wonderful things…

for each of you.

I trust…

that you were tested just enough…

to come out…

the better for it.

That your holidays…

have been rich…

and beautiful…

in many ways.

I love the song…

whose lyrics I share here.

It’s time to savor…

the final moments…

of the holidays…

and to look ahead…

to 2011…

with anticipation…

excitement…

and joy.

I’ll see you next year…

and look forward…

to our continued fellowship.

‘Til the Season Comes ‘Round Again ~ sung by Amy Grant and Vince Gill

Come and gather around at the table

In the spirit of family and friends

And we’ll all join hands and remember this moment

‘Til the season comes ’round again

Let’s all try to smile for the picture

And we’ll hold it as long as we can

May it carry us through

Should we ever get lonely

‘Til the season comes ’round again

CHORUS
One night holy and bright

Shining with love from our hearts

By a warm fire,

Let’s lift our heads high

And be thankful we’re here

‘Til this time next year

May the new year be blessed

With good tidings

‘Til the next time I see you again

If we must say goodbye

Let the spirit go with you

‘Til the season comes ’round again

CHORUS

May the new year be blessed with good tidings

‘Til the next time I see you again

If we must say goodbye

Let the spirit go with you

And we’ll love and we’ll laugh

In the time that we had

‘Til the season comes ’round again

As I sit typing this post…

it is fast approaching midnight.

The 29th…

which is now today…

is nearly upon us.

In the living room…

we have several individuals…

attempting to duplicate…

the Beatles “Eight Days A Week”…

and it’s definitely not working.

There is lots of laughter…

and memories…

are being woven…

into the fabric…

of what would normally…

be “just every day life.”

Uncle Tim…

is here for a few days.

This spells one word.

F-U-N.

We had planned…

to visit…

the happiest place on earth…

today.

However…

3,759,210…

of our closest friends…

have also…

gotten that idea…

this week!

And…

to top it off…

it’s raining…

in Southern California.

The adjective…

used to describe…

the forecast…

was “torrential.”

So…

we’ll go to Los Angeles…

check out “touristy things”…

and make some more memories…

that may need to dry out a bit!

It is my hope…

that you have experienced joy…

laughter…

and enriched family times…

this holiday season.

The passing of Christmas…

has pushed the ending of 2010…

to the forefront.

We’re hearing…

the use of the words…

resolve…

and resolution..

quite a lot.

There are only…

three days left…

in this year.

A Resolution…

is…

“The act, operation or process of separating the parts which compose a complex idea or a mixed body; the act of reducing any compound or combination to its component parts; analysis; as the resolution of complex ideas…” ~ Webster’s 1828

The word Resolve…

means…

“To separate the component parts of a compound substance; to reduce to first principles…” ~Webster’s 1828

I love these definitions.

I think where…

my family…

my life…

my choices…

are concerned…

they are adequate…

and accurate!

Please…

when thinking through…

your resolve…

and resolution…

for 2011…

remember…

to be simple…

realistic…

and kind.

To yourself…

and others.

Life…

circumstances…

and choices…

can be complicated…

and complex.

The principles…

of Leadership Education…

are clear…

simple…

and organic.

When they are allowed…

to remain in these forms…

they are most effective.

When the expectations…

hopes…

and demands…

of a New Year…

reach a volume…

that can sometimes be deafening…

and are full of complexity…

that often overwhelms…

I hope you will..

“separate the parts which compose a complex idea”…

and…

“reduce to first principles.”

See you Friday,

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!  ~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836

Back when…

I had a tendency…

to lip off…

(many think I still do…and that’s okay)…

I would tell my mother…

“I will never …

have a child in December.”

I was right.

I had two!

And clearly…

I am a December child myself.

My mother-in-law…

also holds this honor.

Here’s what I have observed.

Son #1 is December 3.

The general sentiment…

at this point in time…

during the month…

is “Let the Good Times Roll!”

People are happy…

they’re festive…

they’re lovin’ the season.

My birthday is the 12th.

A portion of the spirit…

is wearing slightly thin.

People are looking…

at lists of “To Dos”…

that are…

at least a quarter of a mile…

in length.

They’re behind the eight ball…

under the gun…

busy.

Son #3…

was born December 18th.

Yes.

Exactly one week…

out…

from the big day.

If I could do penance…

I would.

Not for the kid…

but for the date.

Just clarifying.

Every year…

my dear…

friend-that-is-like-family…

Vicki…

treats me…

to a lovely outing for a day.

It means the world to me.

She is one…

constantly busy…

lady.

It also…

doesn’t go unnoticed…

that my family…

takes up the slack…

in my absence.

All moms…

need and deserve…

double sided allies…

such as I have.

This year…

we went to Orange County.

You either love it…

or hate it.

I love and adore it.

It is one of my favorite places.

Nestled in…

the hub…

of this bustling county…

is The McCharles Tea House.

This Victorian bungalow was built in 1885.

Audrey and Vivian…

are the lovely owners.

I cannot adequately describe…

their attention to detail…

their hospitality…

their sincerity…

their talent…

and their love…

for celebrating life.

They are mother and daughter…

and compliment…

one another beautifully.

Audrey paints…

and within each of her paintings…

are stories…

and memories.

In fact…

as she so aptly pointed out…

most all of our memories…

of Christmas…

are firmly rooted…

in the past.

Vivian…

does the cooking…

and together…

they make…

a heavenly combination!

The grounds are spectacular…

the decorating magical.

I was so blessed…

to sit and visit…

with a friend…

I dearly love…

but have limited time with.

I was refreshed…

in both body and spirit…

by delicious food…

and nature’s…

surrounding splendor.

People who strive…

to bring beauty…

to the world and others…

are special, indeed.

I pray…

that this season…

you will experience…

being refreshed…

so that you in turn…

may refresh others!

Mothers…

invest in the future tirelessly…

so that change can occur…

in the world.

It is a high calling.

We went home…

with a beautiful lithograph…

of Audrey’s painting.

It was a lovely gift.

May you gift yourself…

with even…

a couple of hours…

for a friend…

or family member…

in order to be refreshed?

Can you celebrate…

the beauty and splendor…

that abounds…

this time of year?

I hope so.

p.s.  don’t forget to comment, as I am giving away a lovely book!  More on that Wednesday.

You can even just say “hi!”

Today…

we officially enter…

double digit days…

in December…

and there are only 15…

of them left until Christmas!

Last evening…

I reflected…

upon one holiday specifically.

I had three children.

They were 7, 5 and 2.

Our Christmas tree died.

So…

in between…

everything else I was doing…

I had to remove…

all of the ornaments…

and lights…

drag it through…

the living room…

down the hall…

and out the front door…

to the recycle bin.

Needles abounded.

Three sets of sad…

sorry…

eyes…

watched…

while I fumed.

I was tired.

I had a lot to do.

I thought…

perhaps we might all…

be coming down with something.

Less than 24 hours later…

the flu virus…

hit with a vengeance!

Hero Hubby and I…

“took turns” being “sick”…

while the other guy…

helped…

the three little boys!

We somehow managed…

to get the second tree…

decorated…

only to have it…

die as well!

Fast forward…

to last night.

I had taken…

Son #2…

to the home…

of longtime friends…

so that he could purchase…

his first car!

As I rode home…

alone…

in my Excursion…

made for eight passengers…

I reflected…

on how very quickly…

the years fly by.

In the moment…

fifteen years ago…

I often felt…

as if moments were days!

This evening…

I found myself…

alone in a very large vehicle…

yet feeling crowded…

by wonderful memories…

that seem like yesterday.

It became a melancholy time…

when it dawned on me…

that this weekend…

when we will most certainly…

get our tree…

and attend our dojo…

holiday party…

that for the first time ever…

we will not all be together…

at these events.

Commitments…

obligations…

work-related retreats…

all clamor for attention…

and physical presence.

If you are weary…

dear mothers…

and fathers…

please try…

to relish the moments.

Be grateful…

for the presence of family…

togetherness…

seemingly insignificant…

events and routines.

All too soon…

those “little” children…

will be pursuing…

their dreams…

penning their goals…

taking their place…

in the great conversation.

I’m grateful…

that…

whether they are…

present or not…

I can connect…

through technology…

where they still make me laugh.

Son #1′s Facebook profile…

with the caption…

“You’d better be nice to me…I know people!”

I am privileged…

for the opportunity…

to see them cherish relationships…

with no peer parameters.

Time is fleeting.

A day is coming…

all too quickly…

when I will regularly ride…

and pursue…

things alone.

This year…

take some time…

to be sentimental…

and by all means..

make it a Christmas…

to remember!