Saturday, January 30, 2016

Celebrating After All



              I'm celebrating each Saturday or Sunday with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build. Come join in to share your own special celebrations.


           Sometimes my life is so busy, then Saturday arrives and I think I have nothing to celebrate, or I think I have everything to celebrate. A good week fills with nice things, and along comes a chink in it, and I hope for goodness in the weeks ahead. A family member is ill, will begin treatment soon, and while I celebrate the wonderful parts of my life that continue, I am sad for this part, and hopeful for good news in the weeks ahead.

         The teacher I work with gave a wonderful lesson this week, followed by a good conversation.
          Imogene comes to stay after school on Wednesdays. Imi is an active four year old, running, climbing, tumbling. She loves books, too, but the first thing we did this time was rush to a new playground before the sun went down. She ran and climbed and laughed, and it was a joy to watch. 


I also had the joy of seeing a beautiful sunset. If you know me on Facebook, you know I'm crazy about sky pics. We walked along the stream looking for ducks, no ducks, but imagined coming back in the summer so we could wade in and look for other animals that might live there.


And I worked again at the bookstore, and had some lovely conversations about books with customers.

And Ingrid came on Friday. It's been very warm lately, so we went for ice cream. Last Friday we spent ordering some used beginning readers. I want to celebrate the motivation that a book can have. By the end of the day no books had arrived yet, and Ingrid was disappointed. She is an early reader so we read a few I already have at home, then I read some new picture books to her. We ate and left for home. My mail comes late, so we stopped to get it, and there were two books in the mail! One is one she really, really wanted, a story about a leopard and the sky god (her unit is big cats this year). Somehow she had heard it before and was thrilled to find it. It's a little harder book than she's been reading. On our drive home, with a little flashlight I keep in the car, she was determined, began reading, and spelled the words she didn't recognize. She kept going all the way home, continued saying, "Isn't this a great story, Grandma?" I celebrate choice for all kids in reading. If they want it enough, they'll figure it out! 

So here I am on Saturday, looking at my little celebrations and feeling like it was a week worth smiling about.
         


26 comments:

  1. Love, love, love the image you created of that little reader so determined. Made me smile bright!

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    1. Thanks, Carrie. It is a true example of how choice can help one grow. She was so, so excited.

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  2. What a gift you are to your granddaughter, and what precious times you have together!

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    1. Thanks Jane, I believe it's a mutual gift, and I savor the times we have.

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  3. Every day moments become special when you reflect through the celebration lens. Time with the grand girls is the best!

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    1. Yep, they are coming for a sleepover tonight. We'll have a good time I'm sure. Thanks, Elsie.

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  4. I hope that these happy moments, these good weeks, provide some sort of comfort during not-so-good weeks.

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    1. Thanks for the wish, Earl. I imagine they will. Every minute counts, doesn't it?

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  5. Never underestimate determination! If they want to do it, they will!
    Love that you have a flashlight for her :)

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    1. It was just the proof I know, but loved seeing it in Ingrid, too. The light is a little one I carry, worked out beautifully!

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  6. So grateful for your celebration practice. Reading about the bright spots (grandgirls) alongside those darker moments give me perspective and appreciation for good things we receive daily.

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    1. Thanks, Julieanne. It is amazing to me every week that when I begin writing those small moments appear, and I think, Yeh, that was a nice thing.

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  7. I leave your post with a picture of Imi reading with such purpose, and I'm smiling, Linda. You've had a week with such lovely moments to celebrate!

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    1. Thanks, Tara, it is nice always to find the good things.

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  8. Definitely a week worthy of smiles. I love that image of Ingrid working so hard, pushing through the struggles and even using a flashlight. I can just see it.

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    1. Thanks, Crystal, such a fun memory I know I'll keep.

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  9. Wishing a successful treatment to your family member. Ice-cream in winter - an image hard for me to put together. Ordering books I am always able to picture. Smiling as I think about it.

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    1. Yes, ice cream. The days this past week were in the fifties and sixties. Today we've had snow, and it's below freezing. Yikes, the changes are always interesting!

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  10. It definitely was a week worth celebrating, Linda! Little Ingrid reading by flashlight and pushing her way through words....beautiful!

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    1. Thanks, Jennifer, what a fun experience it was!

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  11. I love your "retired" life and love to read about the happenings in it. There is always such joy in your descriptions. Here's to another wonderful week.

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    1. Thanks, Deb. I envisioned retiring as sitting by the fire, yet the days fill up quicker than I can imagine. It's great so far!

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  12. I, too, LOVE sky pictures. I've been wondering about the sky. It seems more beautiful and breathtaking lately...or is it that I'm seeing it more? What a lovely week!!! Always love reading your celebrations!

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    1. And I love what you post of the sky, too, Michelle. I don't see so much anymore unless I'm away from my home, too many trees. We do say here in Denver that when it's a bad air day it makes the most beautiful skies. A contradiction I guess. Thanks!

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  13. There were indeed many celebratory moments in your week, Linda. You sunset is beautiful and Ingrid's love of learning evident. Isn't it wonderful to watch a young curious mind grow into a reader?

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    1. Absolutely a joy, Carol! And I must admit too that I love my sunset picture especially this time. Thank you!

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