When I think about how quiet my life would be without the kiddos, it reminds me to enjoy the chaos while I can…
Category: LIFE
My First Haiku
I’m not sure what prompted me to google Haiku – perhaps my recent fascination of origami and other beautiful things originating in the Japanese culture. This Wiki-How article does a great job of explaining the difference between a traditional Japanese Haiku, and the English version (5, 7, 5 syllables) which is longer. It goes on to say that the 5-7-5 rule is no longer considered the standard, though that is what is still taught in American schools. I much prefer the Japanese view, that a Haiku should be able to be expressed in one breath (according to WikiHow that would be a total of 10-14 syllables). And who wants rules imposed in their creativity anyway?
With all of that in mind, as well as inspiration found in the rest of the same article, I looked out the window and my brain immediately formed the following thought – my first (10 syllable!) Haiku.
~~~~~~
Rain showers
A new beginning
Believe
~~~~~~
What do you think?
Flat Stanley Adventures Continue
Remember Flat Stanley? You can read about his last adventure here, when Alex sent him to Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. Most recently, our family was requested to host him right here in Chelsea, Michigan, so the Flat Stanley adventures continue!
A big thank you to sweet Dayton for sending Flat Stanley here – we had a great time with him, and hope he enjoyed his visit.
Flat Stanley returned to Dayton with the following letter:
Dear Dayton,
Thank you for sending me to Chelsea, Michigan!! I arrived on Wednesday, May 1, and it was 84 degrees and sunny. Surprising, since just a week or so before that it had been snowing. I sure am glad I had nicer weather for my visit.
I spent my time in Chelsea with the Davis family – Tressie and Rob, and their kids Riley (10), Alex (7) and Robby (5). Dominic is away at college so I didn’t get to see him (though I had a great visit with him earlier this year when Alex sent me to visit him at Wittenberg University in Ohio).
The Davis family kept me busy. The first thing we did was choose an outfit for me so I would fit in here in Chelsea. Do you like my University of Michigan t-shirt? There are a lot of UofM fans in Chelsea. There are fans of other Michigan schools too, but… those people don’t really count. (haha)
Chelsea is a really great city, with so much to do. A vibrant downtown boasts great food, art and entertainment. This is even more apparent during the warm months when Chelsea hosts Sounds and Sights every Thursday evening – sculpture walks, food, local brew, outdoor movies, and literally music on almost every street corner with diverse line up of musical artists performing at staged areas. It isn’t quite summer yet though, so spring sports and site seeing is what we did.
On Saturday Riley had a softball tournament that was an hour and a half away (first tournament for a long summer of softball!). I decided to stay with Alex and Robby and go to their hockey and soccer games since those were in Chelsea.
The first stop was Robby’s hockey game at the ArcticColiseum. Brrrr…it’s cold in there! But it sure was fun watching the super cute mini hockey players.
After the ice rink we had a little extra time before Alex and Robby’s soccer games, so we stopped at Pierce park, where the Chelsea ROCK is. The ROCK is a giant boulder that people in Chelsea paint to send messages of all kinds – from congrats, to happy birthday, or other fun things. The day we visited it matched my shirt – how cool is that?
I have sent you pictures of some of the cool sites in Chelsea. The clock tower is a favorite of many residents, isn’t it beautiful? It used to be a water tower for the Glazier Stove Company in the early 1900s.
Directly across the railroad tracks is the Chelsea Depot – a gorgeous historic train station built in 1880. Service at the station closed in 1981, but through the efforts of the Chelsea Depot Association, restoration efforts began in 1986. In 1987 Chelsea Depot was listed on the National Register of Historic places.
Just to the west of the clock tower is something very yummy. Did you know that Chelsea is the home of Jiffy Mix? Their cornbread muffin mix is my favorite.
There are lots of places that I wanted to visit, but didn’t get a chance to on this trip – like the Purple Rose Theater, The Chelsea Teddy Bear Factory and Timber Town.
Maybe next time I visit you can come with me?
Love,
Flat Stanley
xo
ps – want to see a cool video made about Chelsea by Jeff Daniels? You can check it out HERE
Every Day is Mothers Day
Sunday, May 12, 2013 is Mothers Day. At least “officially”.
But whether I’m sitting at the ice rink with my skaters, or cheering at a soccer/football/basketball game, or sitting down at my desk to pay bills and finding little notes that say “I love you Mom”, every day is Mothers Day for me.
In doing for my children, I reflect on the things that my mother did for me, and the things she now does for them. Indeed, I sometimes see in my own actions, those of my mother. Most often good, but occasionally with the thought, “oh crap, I sound just like my mother“. My choices in life may be different and we may not always agree, but my mother made me who I am and for that I am thankful.
There are many other mothers in my life. My mother in law raised the man who became my husband. With her guidance he has grown to be the kind of father we all wish for our children to have. She embraced me with all of my baggage and has surrounded my family with love.
I would guess that for my mom and mother in law, every day is Mothers Day too.
It takes a village of mothers to raise our children. That village is teaming with grandmothers, sisters, in laws, and our mom friends that share the joys and triumphs as well as the “OMG I can’t believe what happened” stories that remind us we are not alone.
For these moms I know, every day is Mothers day.
While the world sends cards and flowers to commemorate this one special day for moms, I want to add a hearty THANK YOU to every mom out there that touches my life every day. My mom and my mother in law (for everything, always), my grandmothers (love you), my sisters in law (you rock!), the mothers of my children’s friends that help out with rides and play dates and fun (I appreciate you!), my friends who are also mothers (thank you for laughing and crying with me!), and my photog friends (I treasure the pics of me with my kids!) – I could not successfully walk this journey without any of you.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!
Images below by Judi Morrissey Photography www.judipix.com
