16 NOT RESOLUTIONS for 2016

I don't like the whole concept of New Year's resolutions.  I mean, I get it.  I know that people see it as as a fresh start, a chance to be a different you.  To many people, they see the end of the calendar as a chance to be a new person.  It is as if everything that happened before now is gone.  What happened before January 1st, 2016, never happened.  It is the year 2016.  Blank slate.  New me.

It may be a fresh start but it isn't a start over.  This year I will not be making New Year's resolutions.
If I was, here is what they would be:

1. Have a clean house every night before I go to bed.
2. Read through my Bible in a year.
3. Run at least 20 miles a week so I can run a half marathon in under an hour in the half Ironman relay this May.
4. Drink only 2 Cokes a week.
5. Have both of my boys tucked in for the night by 8:30.

None of these resolutions individually are outside of the realm of possibility.  However, I am pretty sure that, to accomplish all of these, I would need to be 3 people, I think.  I may be able to do these for a couple months if I worked really hard at it.  But somewhere in the midst of resolving to make these happen, I will lose myself.  Something would have to give.  For all of these things to happen, I would have to let go of other things that I love-time with my boys, sleep, caffeine, confidence, reality, and sanity.

Instead, I resolve to see the new year in a different way.  For me, it will just be a turned page.  All that I have written before with my life is still there.  The mistakes I have made, the milestones I have reached, the people I have hurt, the people I have reached, the times I have been lazy, the times I have overcome, the good, the bad, and the ugly.  None of it went away.  It is not a new chapter either.  It is just the turn of a page.  Another new day.  So from my heart to yours, HAPPY NEW DAY, my friends!

Instead of resolutions, I have created goals.  My goals are within the realm of  possibility.  None of them say "every day no matter what."  They are not destinations to reach, but things to reach for.  There is no opportunity to be hard on myself, lose confidence in my abilities, or feel like a failure.  They are just things I would like to focus on as I move into the new year.  So here  goes!  This year I plan to...

1. Be more positive and content with the here and now.  Those of you who know me well, or have read my blog recently, know that I have desires to move my life in a different direction.  Instead of focusing on where I want to go, I want to focus on where I am.  I love my life, right here and now.  Truly, I do.  I have my family and that is all I need.  Sometimes I am so focused on the fact that I am not where I am going, that I forget how good I have it NOW.  I would like to be content with the place God has me, now, while I look forward to where I hope I can be down the road.
2. Read and reflect on AT LEAST one Bible verse a day.  I think that almost every year since I first accepted Christ into my life, I have made my "New Year's resolution" either to read the whole Bible in a year, or to have a "Quiet Time" every day.  It didn't take too long to fall short of that resolution, which led me to feel like a "bad Christian."  That  whole "bad Christian" stuff is a lie from the devil, but creating and failing in my "resolution" played a part in me believing it.  I plan on spending much more time in the Word than I did last year, but reflecting on one verse a  day at the  will do wonders for my spiritual walk.
3. Make prayer a priority.
4. Perform at least one intentional act of service per day for my family.
5. Spend quality time with each of my boys individually so they each feel wholly loved.
   
6. Read one new book and one old book to my boys every day.  We do a lot of reading in this house.  Shea loves to read books.  However, he memorizes books VERY QUICKLY and has favorites that he wants to read over  and over again.  After trying to make room for new toys after Christmas, I realized we have a TON of books that we have never read to the boys.  So I plan on reading a new book every day to the boys before reading a book they have heard hundreds of times.
7. Work on my areas of weakness-forgetfullness, lack of focus, distractability, and absent-mindedness.
8. Be more accepting of my shortcomings.  I have a bad habit of beating myself up when I make a mistake.  I am even critical of myself when I do things out of my control.  Sometimes my medications or epilepsy cause me to say the wrong words, or forget what I am doing or talking about.  When I feel my mistakes are affecting other people, I let it get to me much more than I should.  I need to learn to shake things off and move on.
9. Complete at least one custom creative project, and one personal creative project per month.  Recently, I have been doing so many custom projects that I have not been able to complete any of the ideas floating around in my head for either my family, my online store (that I have closed temporarily due to the abundance of custom orders), or myself.
10. Train to run the WHOLE half marathon running portion of my leg of the Half Ironman.  At one point of my life, running WAS my life.  But that feels like a whole lifetime ago.  I ran competitively all the way up through college.  However, running hasn't really been much a part of my life anymore since Shea was born.  At the beginning of this school year, I was asked to complete the running portion of a relay half marathon race.  It is taking place in May and  I am just now getting back into running.  I don't have any time goal, but I do want to aim for running the whole race.
11. Drink less Coke than last year.  I have never even TRIED to stop drinking Cokes.  I know there is no way I could do that.  I love me a good glass or  bottle of Coke...mmmmm.  But I know they are not good for me.  So this year, I plan to drink less Coke than I did last year.  
12. Be more  organized.  I just wrote a whole blog post about this.  Go read it if you feel like it.  I thought it was pretty exciting.
13. Document my accomplishments. I think writing down my accomplishments will make me feel more positive and confident and proud.  I am going to do so in Milo...don't know who Milo is?  Go see.
14. Take better pictures of my work.  Believe it or not, those who don't know me or haven't known me for long, I once had a photography business.  I was pretty good at it.  I loved it.  But now I love a lot of things much more than I love taking pictures.  But I know from experience that taking good pictures of the things that I make will make a huge difference in the amount of sales that I make.  I have been skipping this step and taking pictures with my phone because I am too excited to take the extra step of taking good pictures to show off what I make.  I just take a quick snap with my phone and post it.  And oftentimes I have to write below it that it is even cooler in person than in the picture, or the colors are different in person.  I know I could sell much more if I had high-quality pictures to show the products just as my clients will see them.  Like these pictures that Lorie took of some of my blankets that are still
15. Have one month where my profit from my creative endeavors equals at least half of my teaching salary.  This is quite a lofty goal.  But my last goal is how I am going to get there.
16. Increase social media presence.  Some of you may not like this idea.  Some of my friends and my family may be a little tired of seeing my blog posts and pictures and crocheted blankets and quilts.  I get it.  However, if you are, now would be a good time to unfriend me.  My feelings won't be hurt.  But count on more of it in the coming year.  I am not doing all of these posts to make myself look better or to show off.   If that is the way it is coming across, I am  sorry.  But this is all just what it will take to get me from where I am to where I want to be.  My dream is to be able to make my side job into my job-job.  To get there, I have to put myself out there as much as possible.  So please be patient with me.  If, on the other hand, you like what you see, share it with all of your Facebook friends.  Pin my pictures on Pinterest.  Re-tweet my tweets.  Tag people on my Instagram pictures.  Make me busy.   Here is what last year looked like and what I want this year to look like.  And as I said before, these aren't resolutions, just goals to aim for. 

• Pinterest was my biggest area of growth.  Without focusing on gaining Pinterest followers, I somehow have 4,000 Pinterest followers.  Let me get this straight.  This does not mean that many people like my work, just that they like what I am pinning (it probably helps that I have 7300 pins, oops, don't judge).  For that reason, please pin and re-pin the pictures that you like from my blog.  The more you pin, the more people see what I make.  
• My goal is to increase my followers from 4000 to 10,000 by the end of the year.
• Facebook is where I get the most blog traffic from.  Most of my posts are read because one of you clicked on the link on my Facebook page.  If you know someone who would like my post or something I made, share the link with them or tag them in the post.  The more the merrier.  My Scrap Stash Studio Facebook page is something I have neglected.  I will update it more frequently this year.  When I do, I hope to go from 82 page  likes to at least 500 this year.
• I really hope to focus a lot on my blog this year.  I love to write and share my life with family, friends, and strangers.  My goal (not my resolution) is to write at least 3 posts per week.  I hope somewhere along the way I learn how to monetize my blog, but that isn't a must.  
• Here is an overview of my blog this year.  This year I had 5,685 views of my blog.  I averaged 470 views a month.  
• Here are the numbers for my top 5 most read posts:
• Work-in-Progress Wednesday (285 views)- This post focused on my Mermaid Tails that have been very popular.  This was the post that was on my blog when I received the most traffic.  This happened after Ginger Wesson (who has a very popular You-Tube Channel), shared the Mermaid Tail that I made for her.  
• Fed Up Friday (278 views)-This post was about my thoughts and feelings regarding the United States supreme court decision to allow same-sex marriage.  It was written while I was pregnant with Patten and therefore very emotionally raw and unapologetic.
• Sometimes Life is a Pill (210 views)-This post was about my journey with epilepsy and my quest for medicine that worked for me.  It was a story of ups and downs and real life.  It also drew extra views because it was featured on National Seizure Disorder Foundation's website.
• To teachers, moms, and  my high school crazies (209 views)-This was a post about the realities of being a teacher and the realities of being a mom who is a teacher.  I wrote this in response to a post from a mom writing to her children's teachers.
• Life in the Strauss House (133 views)-This is just a post about life in the Strauss house.
• There are two common themes in the top five posts on my blog.  I connected with people.  And I was real.  I think that is what people are interested in reading.  So this year I plan to make connections and be real.

HAPPY NEW DAY, my friends!

What are your GOALS or RESOLUTIONS for 2016?

Translation Tuesday-The Raven Translated (Edgar Allen Poe)

This week, I had the pleasure of teaching my students the poem The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe.  I LOVE this poem.  Gothic poetry isn't really my thing, but the poetic devices Poe uses in this poem are fantastic- internal rhyme scheme, alliteration, repetition, symbolism, metaphors, theme, and mood.  I can't help but swoon over his words of doom and gloom.  This isn't quite the typical inspirational picker-upper of a post that tends to find it's way to my blog.  Nevertheless, it is my life in the classroom at the moment and I thought I would share.  Maybe it will help a student out there, or a class out there, or a teacher out there.  This poem is not an easy one to teach.  But here is my best stab at it. 

Below is the original poem in basic font, and underneath his lines in bold I have translated each line into more modern simplified language.  I tried my best to preserve the original structure and rhyme scheme because Poe composed it so beautifully.

 

The Raven

By  Edgar Allan Poe  

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

                Once upon a dark, cold night, while I thought sadly about my life

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—

                Of many little and depressing things that have happened here before

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

                While I thought and drifted off, suddenly I heard a knock

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

                Someone softly, gently rapping, rapping at my door

“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—

                “It’s just a visitor,” I told myself, “tapping at my door—

 Only this and nothing more.”

                Only this and nothing more.”

 

 

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;

                Ah, I definitely remember, it happened in the dark December;

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

                And as the fire was going out it left scary shadows on the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow

                Eagerly I wished it was tomorrow;--in vain I had hoped I could borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—

                From my books, an escape from sorrow—sorrow for my lost Lenore--

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—

                For the unique and beautiful woman who the angels name Lenore--

Nameless here for evermore.

                No longer here anymore

 

 And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

                Then came the silky, droopy, mysterious rustling of the purple curtain

Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

                It thrilled me and filled me with fears I never had before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating

                So that now, to calm my racing heart, I stood repeating

 

 “’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door—

                There must be someone at the entrance of my door--

Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;—

                Some late night visitor at my chamber door--

 This it is and nothing more.”

                It’s just a visitor and nothing more.”

 

 

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

                It was then my bravery grew stronger, I didn’t fear any longer,

“Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;

                “Mr,” I said, “Or Mrs., please forgive me," I ask through the door;

But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,

                "I had just started napping and that’s when you came rapping,

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,

                And so faintly I heard you tapping, tapping at my door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you”—here I opened wide the door;—

                I was sure I heard you"—so I opened wide the door;--

Darkness there and nothing more.

                Darkness there and nothing more.

 

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

                Deep into the darkness I looked, long I stood there thinking, fearing

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;

                Doubting, thinking things no human ever thought before

 But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,

                But the silence stayed unbroken, and the stillness did no hinting

 And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore?”

                And the only word that was fitting was the whispered word, “Lenore?”

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenore!”—

                This I whispered, and an echo mumbled back the word, “Lenore!”

 Merely this and nothing more.

                Only this and nothing more

 

 Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,

                Back into my room I’m turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.

                Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before

 “Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice;

                “Sure,” I said, “surely that is something at my window sill

 Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore—

                Let me see what this thing is and the mystery explore--

Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—

                Let me calm down a moment and this mystery explore--

 ’Tis the wind and nothing more!”

                I’m sure it’s the wind and nothing more!”

 

 Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

                I flung open the shutter, then with lots of flap and flutter,

In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;

                In stepped a grand Raven of the good days of before;

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

                He did not get close to me; he didn’t come in for me to see

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—

                But perched with a look of a gentlemen or lady above my door--

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—

                Perched on a statue of Pallas just above my door--

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

                Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

 

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

                This black bird fascinated me and got me smiling

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,

                With the strict and serious look it wore

“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,

                “Even though your feathers are trimmed and shaven,” I said, “I’m sure no cowardly

Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore—

                Scary ugly old Raven flying around the darkened shore--

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”

                Tell me what your name is on the darkened shore!

Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

                The Raven replied, “Nevermore.”

 

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,

                I was amazed by this clumsy bird to hear him talk so plainly

Though its answer little meaning—little relevancy bore;

                Though its answer meant so little—could almost be ignored    

For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being

                For we can all agree that no living human being

Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door—

                Was ever blessed with seeing a bird above his bedroom door

Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,

                Bird or beast upon the sculpture above his bedroom door

With such name as “Nevermore.”

                With a name like “Nevermore.”

 

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only

                But the Raven, sitting lonely on the statue, spoke only

That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.

                That one word, as if the word came from his soul’s core.

Nothing farther then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered—

                Nothing more did he say—not a feather then he fluttered--

Till I scarcely more than muttered “Other friends have flown before—

                Until I hardly more than muttered “Other friends have flown before--

On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before.”

                Tomorrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have left before.”

Then the bird said “Nevermore.”

                Then the bird said, “Nevermore,”

 

  Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,

                Startled by the quiet broken by a reply so rightly spoken,

“Doubtless,” said I, “what it utters is its only stock and store

                I said, “I bet that what it is said is the only word it can store

Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster

                Learned from some unhappy master met with a cruel disaster

Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore—

                Followed fast and followed faster until this song sang from his core

Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore

                Until the songs of his Hope that depressed load he bore

Of ‘Never—nevermore’.”

                Of “Never—Nevermore.”

 

 

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,

                But the Raven still held my attention and had me smiling

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;

                I pulled up a comfy chair in front of the bird, and statue and door;

Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking

                Then upon the cushion sinking, I found myself binding

Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore—

                My ideas to his, thinking what is this gloomy bird of before

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore

                What this ugly, clumsy, scary, boney, and gloomy bird of before

Meant in croaking “Nevermore.”

                Meant by saying, “Nevermore.”

 

 This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing

                I sat there busy guessing, but no words was I expressing

To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core;

                To the bird whose fiery eyes now burned into my soul’s core;

 This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining

                This and more I thought with my head rested reclining

 On the cushion’s velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o’er,

                On the cushion’s velvet cover that the lamp-light shone over

But whose velvet-violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o’er,

                But the cover with the lamp-light glowing over

 She shall press, ah, nevermore!

                She shall press, ah, nevermore!

 

 Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer

                Then, I thought, the air grew thicker, perfumed from an unseen incense

Swung by Seraphim whose tinkled on the tufted floor.

                Swung by Angels whose steps sounded on the carpeted floor

“Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee

                “Poor thing,” I cried, “your God has sent you—by these angels he has sent thee

 Respite—respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore;

                Wait—wait and lend me potion to forget my memories of Lenore;

Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!”

                Drink, oh drink this potion and forget this lost Lenore!”

 Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

                Said the Raven, “Nevermore.”

 

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!—

                “Psychic!” I said, “thing of evil—psychic be still, if you’re a bird or devil!--

Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,

                Whether the devil sent you, or the storm threw you here on the shore,

 Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted—

                Abandoned but unafraid, on this desert land hypnotized--

On this home by Horror haunted—tell me truly, I implore—

                In this home haunted by Horror—tell me honestly, I beg of you

Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!”

                Is there—is there relief in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I beg of you!”

Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

                Said the Raven, “Nevermore.”

 

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!

                “Psychic!” I said, “thing of evil!—psychic be still, if you are bird or devil!

By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore—

                By Heaven that is above us—by that God we both adore--

Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant garden of Eden

                Tell my soul filled with sorrow if, within the far off

It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore—

                It should hold a maiden saint who the angels name Lenore--

Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.”

                Grab a rare and beautiful woman who the angels name Lenore.”

Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”                   

               Said the Raven, “Nevermore.”      

 

 

“Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!” I shrieked, upstarting—

                Make that word a sign of your leaving, bird or friend!” I shrieked, starting--

“Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore!

                Go back into the storm and the Nighttime shore!

Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!

                Don’t leave black smoke as proof of the lie you have spoken!

Leave my loneliness unbroken!—quit the bust above my door!

                Leave me with my lonliness!—leave the bust above my door!

Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!”

                Take your beak out of my heart, and get away from my door!

Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

                Said the Raven, “Nevermore.”

 

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

                And the Raven was never leaving, still he’s sitting, still he’s sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

                On the statue of Pallas just above my door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,

                And his eyes seem like eyes of a demon that is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

                And the lamp light over him beaming makes his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

                And my soul came from the shadow that lies there on the floor

 Shall be lifted—nevermore!     

                Shall leave—Nevermore!

 

 

And if all else fails, check out the Simpson's version of The Raven.  It's not so bad.  It paints a less dark picture but still gets the point across.  Hey, anything you can do to get these millennials engaged, right?

 

If any teachers, students, or readers got something out of this, I would love some feedback or advice.  We will be studying Poe at least for the rest of the week.  He was a complicated man, after all.

Dear Meredith, daughter, mother, lady

I will begin with a public service announcement. Let's assume son=daughter, father=mother, and young man=lady.

1 John 2:12-15-I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. 

I write to you, dear children,

    because you know the Father.

I write to you, fathers,

    because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,

    because you are strong,

    and the word of God lives in you,

    and you have overcome the evil one.

He writes first to me as a child

He is my father

He sees me as I see my sons

I'm his daughter 

He knows I've messed up

Failed to drink from his cup

Not reflected him enough

But he says I'm forgiven

My sorry's enough

He sees past all of the times I've screwed up

He says I'm enough

Then he writes to me as a parent

Reminds me of my commitment

When we chose to have kids

Reminds me I KNOW him

And I KNOW how I should live

To show them how they should live

Then he writes to me as a young adult

My hair isn't yet silver and I'm not yet old

Though not advanced in my years

He says, "Lend me your ears

You have ALREADY overcome 

You are here so your job isn't done

But you've been forever changed by my son

And you are enough

Without all the fluff

And though you aren't perfect

You are whole since rebirth

You may not have all the answers

Or the gracefulness of dancers

Or your to-do list completed

Or your shortcomings deleted

Your house may not be cleaned

It could use some vacuuming

But, my dear, you have already overcome

By the blood of my son

You are all you need to be

So fix your eyes on me

AND JUST BE

Love, me"

Then he writes to us as children again

If we, as parents, know him

So will our kids

And because our kids know him

We see him in them

Then again, he writes, "young woman,

You are strong

In your heart is my song

In my lap is where you belong

You are strong

You are enough

You are strong enough!"

Today is Just Tuesday

Today is just Tuesday

Today I have no plan or significant words To share with whoever is interested

Or bored

Or needing inspiration 

I don't blog or write out of habit

Or necessity

I don't feel the need to post every day

Or every week

Or month for that matter

I am not making profit per view of my site

But if someone would like to teach me

I'm game for that 

I normally only write when I am inspired

Or angry

Or excited

Or hurt 

But today I am none of those things

Today is just Tuesday 

And for some reason I was compelled 

To share this nothingness with whoever

And something tells me 

Someone needs to read it

Maybe it's you

Or maybe it isn't

Today was nothing special

Nothing extraordinary 

Today I just taught

I just was

There were no breakthroughs

I didn't have all of their attention

I didn't have one of those

"That's why I'm a teacher" moments

No one made me lose my temper today

I didn't cry over someone else's pain

I didn't feel like teacher of the year

(Even though I had my day planned out

And an essential question on the board

Which is a miracle in itself)

But I don't feel like I failed them either

I picked up my boys

Hit the good ole Soddy Daisy Wal Mart 

For some blue and gray yarn

For my next afghan order

Got some seizure meds from Walgreens

Watched my son play catch

Read him a book or two

Fed my other son a bottle or two 

And wrote up this blog for you 

Maybe, or not

All this to say

Today was just Tuesday

And that is okay with me

I lived to love another day

Maybe tomorrow will be

More than just Wednesday

Or maybe not

Maybe it will be wordless

Or maybe filled with thoughts

Maybe I will be inspired

But tonight this is all I've got

But, I must say this guy is mighty cute.

...And this guy