Recovery Continues Elsewhere

He's out, done, released, fini, turned loose, discharged, dispensed, unshackled, vented, extricated, exculpated, unchained, bailed out, cleared, unfastened, absolved, delivered, unfettered, unbound, casted loose. Liberated! And he didn't even do it A.M.A!! (against medical advice)

He had open heart surgery on Tuesday, was ready to go home yesterday and was released today. And prayer works.

But he says, "Now I really need your prayers, I have to live with somebody and be taken care of. Now the hard part begins."

That's my Dad: Mr. Independent. I told him to eat some humble pie and let Janice take good care of him.

We are thrilled with his progress, but not at all surprised.

We love you, Dad!!! You're a champ.

KKS

Beholden

One of my most favorite parts about California was how different the plants are from anything we have here in Maine.

• Prayer
• Apple crisp
• nature
• the ability to communicate
• A husband who can cook
• naps
• erasers (and repentance)
• A funny Liam
• Ed Helper
• rain (rain in fall makes the forest smell so good)
• our local ski mountain and their great deals
• Cold Play
• stability
• The Library of Congress
• hard wood floors
• my baby's dimpled hands
• Lundi's compassionate heart
• the Priesthood
• the internet
• the different plants that grow in California
• my camera
• the sun
• a deep freezer full of berries (that we either grew and/or picked ourselves)
• my family

KKS

Eleven/Three/Two Thousand and Ten

A Blessed Day!

I am thankful for....

• A great day of learning
• Great Cub Scout leaders
• socks
• hot cocoa
• paper towels
• a library within walking distance
• a stapler that works (I finally fixed it)
• Caleb's wit
• the telephone
• modern medicine
• my Daddy (who had heart surgery yesterday and is recovering like the champ that he is)
• Janice
• a safe neighborhood
• long, uninterrupted showers (so rare)
• bloggers who inspire me
• kids who still fit on my lap
• a big washer and dryer (because I got a weeks worth of laundry done in three loads)
• the crisp Fall air
• Audrey's curls
• The Lower Lights
• My iPhone
• Laurette's 150(+) year old pot (because it makes the best soup)
• good books

KKS

le 2 novembre

Je suis reconnaissant pour:

• la langue française
• connaissances
• couches
• rires
• mes sœurs qui sont fiables
• mon droit de vote
• Liberté
• Mon travail maris.
• Temps
• le feu
• la musique
• des oreilles pour entendre
• lotion

KKS

A Whole Month of Thankfulness

November 1

• Fire in the woodstove.
• "Christmas Milk" (aka, Eggnog)
• Liam's giggle
• Maple trees
• Aunt Kathy's lentil soup (which we are still eating today. It has become a favorite recipe.)
• Our beautiful home
• The Holy Ghost
• Miracles happening in our (extended) family
• A good visiting teacher
• A forgiving husband
• Two reliable vehicles
• Sisters
• Good health

KKS

What Do You Do?

When Halloween falls on the Sabbath?

First, you go to church.

Then you come home and have a scary lunch.

Next, you watch The Adams Family on Netflix, all day long.

And if you are lucky enough to be in our family, the Papa will build a good fire on the wood stove (turned fireplace when the door comes off and the screen goes on), the mom will boil hot water for hot cocoa (or tea) and the lights will go out, candles will be lit and Papa will read Edgar Allan Poe until dinner is ready.

Perfect

(well, almost)

Because well planned events like this seldom go as planned. So of course we had at least one cup of spilled hot cocoa, at least one toddler who wanted to wrastle and play and squeal, more than one frightened girl who wanted to ask "Is this real?"and several kids who wanted to blow out the candles.

Like I said.....

Perfect (for us).

KKS

Halloween

I hate it. No, I mean- I really hate it.

I hate shopping for costumes, which is almost always put off until the very last minute.

I hate the candy.

I hate the trick-or-treating.

I hate the make-up and the hair color.

So this year I told the kids: I am not spending any money on costumes this year. I think we have enough dress-ups around the house for everyone to find a great costume.

And so they did. It was so much better. The kids had a lot of fun creating their costumes and nobody complained.

Best. Halloween. Ever.

Why didn't I think of this before?

KKS

Invictus

INVICTUS

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

Read about this inspiring poet here.

Liamism

The girls are having an exclusive tea party.
Liam continually asks: "Lundi, can I invite you guys?"
(when he really wants to say: "Can I be invited?")

How can you say no to that?

KKS

Inspiring

"Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other." Marvin J. Ashton

KKS