Counting My Blessings

lists

parties

blogging

new friends

great books

second graders

Jeffrey's new job

sitting by the fireplace

two jobs in unsteady times

a trip to Disney this time last year

a pretty, cozy house that we can afford

a big backyard with a hammock and swing set. cows and barns just over the fence

a happy, healthy daughter. tucked in bed, sleeping sweetly

receiving and giving compassion

living on a budget and saving, too

the perfect ice. found only at Sonic

so many plays and Broadway shows

dreams I made come true. for myself, on my own. for others, just because.

dreams others made come true for me. for love.

feeling content. really and truly content

having enough. and then some.

you. and you. and you. and YOU.


I saved this image from the Internet a long time ago. I called it Fireplace by Pippa. Who in the world is Pippa? Anyone recognize it? I'd love to give credit.

Happy New Year!!

from Team Lawson,

my gorgeous parents,

and Sloane!

Wishing you and yours a year full of of blessings. May you have a home that rings with laughter, surprises that make you smile, time to just play with the ones you love, peace in all your decisions, and above all, love.

Merry Christmas, Everybody!!

The carols have been sung. The story read. The presents have been given, exclaimed over, modeled, and put away. The hugs and loves and thank yous have been said. The food has been eaten. The dishes washed. At this moment my family is playing dominoes and putting together our annual holiday puzzle. We're all enjoying fudge and peanut clusters. There's a lot of laughter ringing through the house. Christmas is winding down here in Missouri, but I couldn't let it end without taking a moment to wish you a very merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, dear friends. Merry, merry Christmas!!

This delightful vintage image belongs to the German National Archives and was found here.

Christmas on the Plaza

I'm not sure if I've told you how much I love the theater, but it is most definitely one of my passions. Have I told you that A Christmas Carol is one of my top ten favorite books of all time? Here's the point: Jeffrey gave me a perfect birthday gift. He bought us season tickets to the KC Rep. After much delighted squealing, I rushed to book our seats for A Christmas Carol two months ahead of time, and we commenced planning the perfect Christmas weekend.
Who doesn't love shopping and lights, crowds laughing and street performers caroling? Who doesn't adore great food? Who doesn't love to delight their child with something as simple as a carriage ride? Oh, that's my kind of weekend.
The production of A Christmas Carol was indeed amazing. Tears poured down my cheeks as the players stood on the stage with a reclaimed, reborn Ebeneezer Scrooge and sang carols. That wasn't the most magical thing, though. The real magic came when the audience spontaneously began to sing along. Merry Christmas, indeed.
Life often provides moments of magic and joy. Of sheer beauty. We are wise, indeed, when we realize that we are in the middle of those perfect moments. A week ago, I found myself in the middle of such moments over and over. Isn't life sweet?

God bless us, everyone.

I took all but the first photo. That was found here.

Something Funny

Click here. Have fun.

Of Jane and Wishes and All That Jazz

A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of. ~ Jane Austen

Yes, yes. We all know that the best things in life aren't things. We know that the best things in life are free and all that jazz. We also know that the word is full of lots of gorgeous goodies just begging to come home with us. And, if you are anything like me, you wish for just a little bit more money in order to buy that most precious commodity - time.

So, here's my question. What's on your wish list? If you could have anything you wanted for Christmas, what would it be?

Here's mine.

a pedicure followed by a two hour massage +high heels that don't hurt my feet

this dreamy garland to hang instead of bedroom curtains + a perfect water view from said window
tickets to see Chicago on Broadway + the voice to sing like that

another tote bag for my collection + at least one overseas trip this year

this perfect necklace + plus the wisdom to remember all the joyful blessings that are mine
one gorgeous calendar + more time to play with the two I love most

Your turn.

Happy birthday, dear Jane. Thank you for all the hours of pleasure. Pedicure photo taken by *Cinnamon.

Feels Like Christmas

I love Christmas! This Christmas, I wish for you cookies and milk, snowy walks, a ride in a one horse open sleigh, The Nutcracker, caroling, a quick trip down a long hill, candy canes, lights, much beauty, and time to savor it all. Of course, I wish you joy, peace, and goodwill toward men; even at the shopping mall. And most of all, love. I wish you love this Christmas and all through the year.

Merry Christmas, dear ones.



Click on the mosaic to view it larger. Click here to find out more about each picture and the wonderful photographers who lent their images. I love this Christmas song and this one.

I Want To Post Something....

merry and bright. I really want to.

But.

I try to keep my blog uplifting and encouraging. I try to keep my grumpies and my ickies to myself. I figure we all have enough of that in our own lives. Why spread it? But today. GEEZ!

I have been sick off and on ( more on than off) since Thanksgiving night. The only Christmas in our house is a naked tree and Sloane's bedroom Christmas tree. My daughter is feeling sad because Christmas hasn't really arrived at our house and Momma is always exhausted and vaguely cranky. Sweet Sloane has not complained one time, but I know she is longing for Christmas to be like it usually is.

I know that life is just like this sometimes. I know. But still.

Anyway. We have a full weekend ahead of us that includes a piano recital and a longed-for Christmas treat that I am afraid I am not up to. I guess I am just writing to say "Hello. Please pray for me to get well soon. Please."

Well, the least I can do is leave you with something beautiful. Know that I do appreciate you, my friends. Even when I'm sick and out of sorts, the thought of you lifts my heart.





This is just one of the many amazing pictures taken by Ben. This is the view from his apartment balcony.

Update: 12:01 AM - The tree is full o f lights (4,000 to be exact) and we decorate tomorrow. I guess sometimes you've just got to suck it up and get to work. I can't wait till Sloane sees it in the morning.

Update: 12:31 PM - The doctor took pity on me and gave me some Advair to calm this cough and help me breathe. I should make it through the weekend now with energy to spare. Thank you for your prayers.

Something Silly

You may know this already, but on Wednesdays I leave a little gift here on my blog for you. It might be something funny or helpful, playful or inspiring. Something For You is just a way for me to share some of the goodness I've discovered in my roams around the Internet. You can discover my other "gifts" by clicking the tag at the end of this post. This week's Something is silly. Very silly.

I don't know if I have ever mentioned this, but our family has chosen not to have a television in our home. We find it leaves is with so much more time for reading, walking, playing games; just being together. But. Every once in a while a cultural phenomenon will hit and I just have to know for myself what everyone is talking about.

It was that way with Lost. I started watching the first season on DVD and gradually caught up with the show as it aired. Eventually I discovered the episodes on the Internet. I love that freaky, weird show full of gorgeous people and a twisting plot. Love it!

So. For all the Lost fans, and anyone who is curious. These are for you:

• Sawyer's Nickname Generator
• One sexy commercial

And a question.

Sawyer or

Jack?

Or maybe Sayid?

Happy Wednesday.



Oobviously, I didn't take these pictures. No idea who did, but lucky them.

Christmas Traditions

This time of year always gets me thinking of Christmases past as well as those I want to create in my own family's future. Tonight I wanted to tell you about one of our traditions and ask you to share one of your own with me.

I was born in Germany, where my Dad was serving in the Army. The year before I was born, my mother bought a Nativity set with her future children in mind. It is heavy plastic, but looks like the finest art. I mean it. You have never seen plastic so pretty. When my mother found this Nativity scene, she bought it immediately, even though it was pretty steep for their meager budget. She had Momma-dreams for this purchase. Mom wanted a Nativity that her children and grandchildren could enjoy. Could play with. Could use to retell the Christmas story.

We did. Oh, how we did. We loved it so much that my younger brother and I actually had to take turns setting up the "official" version each year. When it was Brett's turn to set it up, I would sneak in and change it just a smidgen to see how long it would take for him to notice. He would do the same to me. But, I think, not as often. Oh how we loved that thing! Still do. In fact, Sloane plays with it now, and Brett and I get fussed at for rearranging her design.

When I was about 19 I began to think of marriage and children. Not all the time, but always at Christmas. I wanted to be well-stocked when the day came that I had my own traditions to create. I began my own quest for a plastic Nativity that was beautiful and not fragile. I looked for years before I finally found it. It's been about fifteen years since then, and Fontanini Nativity scenes have become collectibles. I don't care for that aspect of it, but I do love my Nativity scene. Sloane plays with it in the same way Brett and I did. My favorite part is that every Christmas Eve she acts out the Christmas story for our family, with more and more elaborate scripts each year. I love it!

What Christmas traditions and decorations do you cherish?



I don't have a good picture of my mother's nativity set, but I'll try to take one this year to share with you. The picture above was found here, and will give you a good idea of what Fontanini looks like. Of course,our set is not nearly so fantastic. The inspiration for this post came from here.

One of My Greatest Pleasures

There is nothing like sharing a book. Every day right after recess I grab a book and curl up on the couch in my classroom. Usually there are at least three squirmy seven-year-olds beside me, four leaning over my shoulders, and 10 or so at my feet. Sometimes on my feet. Such a lovely squish. We read storybooks, poems, non-fiction, magazines, short stories, things they've written, chapter books. Books about magic and wishes and dreams. Books about facts and science; another kind of magic. Books that make us laugh and a few that make us cry. We look at pictures and giggle at silly things. Oh, there is nothing like sharing a book.

Even better. Every night at home. One sofa, one cat, one little girl, one perfect man, one pile of books. Oh, there is nothing like sharing a book. Or twelve.



I've been wanting to post something all week. But. My well is a bit dry, my time a bit short. What to say? Then, I visited a friend. Now I've got it! Thanks, Elk.
The photo was first found here by Irene Suchoki. Her work is amazing. If you would like to hang her art on your wall, she has a sale going on right now.

Something Colorful

Each Wednesday, I post something wonderful that I've discovered recently. A small piece of beauty, laughter, or inspiration that I hope will add joy to your day.

As winter skies turn grey, I figure we could all use a jolt of color, a splash of cheer, and a heaping helping of silliness. Color Me Katie delivers. I recently discovered this happy blog and have fallen in love with it. What are you in the mood for?
Feeling sentimental? Find out what she has to say about the best wedding pictures. Feeling shy? Watch this video and be inspired. Feeling grey? Look at these images. Need some cheap chic for your home? Just click here.


I'm right, aren't I? Katie's great! Color me happy.



All the delightful photographs were taken by Katie Sokoler.