I was mistaken when I believed life would slow down once my sons moved out. It hasn't. In fact, I'm not quite sure how I had time to raise children. I imagined time for lunch dates with girlfriends, and sleeping in on my mornings off, but this seldom happens. And this is actually one of the reasons I often look forward to going to work. I've heard it said that we really do make time for the things we want to do. And, I think that's true about relationships as well. They take intention, and sometimes, they take some schedule swaps, tree climbing, and meal planning. My friend Jean and I have gone from Irish dance nights at the Gaelic League with our families, to climbing trees and collecting osage oranges to repel spiders in our basements, to patient care in our ICU rooms at ... View Post
18 Christmas Mornings
Eighteen. That's how many Christmas mornings I spent with my family growing up before moving out on my own. Of those 18 Christmas Days, my fondest memories involve the excitement surrounding Christmas Eve. Yes - Santa. We were kids, so of course we were excited about Santa. But midnight Mass was always cool. There was something neat about seeing your friends in the wee hours of the night. The snow always fell behind the altar at St. Robert Bellarmine in Redford, Michigan. It was so very Christmas card worthy! And remembering the birth of Jesus always came first! The rush to get home in the silence of a snowy night was always exciting to me. Exhausted from staying up so late, my sister and I would fall asleep easily in our new flannel nightgowns, even while listening for ... View Post
Ice Cream & Onions
Every six months or so I make a TJ Max run to purchase another couple of packages of 1.5 strength reading glasses. Oops, I mean 2.0. Next time, I'll likely need 2.5 strength. They're relatively inexpensive at only $9.99 for 4 pair, and they come in enough colors to match most of the clothes I wear (why not have fun??) I can leave a pair in each room of the house, and a couple of pairs in my locker at work. My eyesight keeps getting worse and worse, and I now need them to eat, so my readers have now also become my "eaters." I'm going somewhere with this, I promise. Yesterday morning on my way home from the gym I stopped at Randazzo to get a fruit smoothie. I don't eat enough fruit, and it's such a treat - no added sugar. (Hello, my name is Rita and I'm addicted to ... View Post
My “I’m Glad This Year is Over” Holiday Letter
Holiday Greetings Everyone! It's been at least a decade since I wrote, printed, folded, and sent out a New Year letter to friends and family. Tonight as I lie here on my couch staring at my Christmas tree, decorated only on the front side that people will see, I figured - it's time. Yeah, that's right. I only decorated the front. See, I have only half the ornaments I used to have since I gave the kids the ones I'd collected for them over the years. So, if you come over, be sure to sit directly in front of the tree - not to the right, and not to the left. And also don't laugh at the top. I know it's bent over. I can't reach the stupid thing. (And please don't gift me with any ornaments - I'm in this "giving everything I own away" phase of life). Seriously! I have ... View Post
Rachel’s Pumpkin Muffins
I got this recipe last week when a classmate brought pumpkin muffins to class. They just looked....... Well, orange! But they were so delicious. Holy Moly! Oh, and EASY! Here ya go.... INGREDIENTS: One small can of pumpkin puree & one yellow cake mix. DIRECTIONS: Stir it up and plop into muffin tin (with paper of course, cuz they're so much cuter!). Bake till toothpick comes out clean from center. (Don't add all the ingredients the cake mix calls for - just what's in the box!) ADDED BONUS: I threw in a handful (okay, 2 handfuls) of chocolate chips. Also, my friend Laura says she uses a spice cake mix instead of a yellow cake mix, and it's delicious! And yes, your muffins will be the hit of the party. You're welcome ;) LOL ps) Thanks for the ... View Post
Smashed Pumpkins
My granddaughter was sad today. Overnight, some neighborhood kids smashed every one of the pumpkins my son and his wife used to decorate for the fall outside of their home. Lyla pulled her chair up, sat in front of the door, and just kept saying that it wasn't very nice. Not at all to my surprise, my daughter-in-law wasted no time in recognizing this as a teaching opportunity, and I'm so glad she did! It doesn't matter how old my sons and daughter-in-law are. I still have a whole lotta Mama Bear in me! Like Holly, I can't help but to be disappointed in the behavior of some. But! As I always told my kiddos - Sometimes we have people in our lives who provide really good examples of how to treat others. And every now and then, God places people in our lives to show us how not to ... View Post
Dumpster Devotional
Bravely, I decided to take my garbage out to the dumpster at the end of my court this morning at 7 a.m. It was still mostly dark out, and I figured no one would see me sneaking down there in my housecoat. But I watched as this figure of a young man bee-lined across the street and began walking towards me. Great. Someone's going to see me in my housecoat. I hope it's nobody I know. I think my hair is going in about 6 different directions right now. When I could finally see it was a young boy obviously on his way to the bus stop, back pack in tow, he yells out to me, "Ma'am, I can take that garbage to the dumpster for you!" He went out of his way to cross the street to be kind to me. Wow. This is unusual! We had a very short chat. I asked him where he lived and ... View Post
Get Over The Loss of My Baby???
Each year when young women post their stories for October's "Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month" on social media, I hesitate to share my story of infant loss. Why? Okay, this is a bit embarrassing. Well, because it's been almost 28 years since my daughter, Jacquelyn, was stillborn. I should be over it by now. (What? Did I actually just THINK this ??) Wait a minute. What ??? I love younger women, and I love to support and encourage and love them through difficult circumstances, and I would never, ever, ever, ever tell anyone whose had a stillbirth, a miscarriage, or even been unable to get pregnant not to worry because eventually they will get over it. So - why did I just tell that to myself ???? Just as soon as I caught myself thinking 28 years was ... View Post