I’ve been thinking about Santa Claus. Recently, while talking with friends with younger children I learned a lot about what younger parents are doing and letting their children believe about Santa. Before I weigh in on the jolly one, I’d like your thoughts on the matter. What were you told as a child? How is that the same or different than how you are raising your children? Your thoughts please, then stay tuned.
All the best,
KK
Thanksgiving Soup
I’ve been thinking a lot about what todays grateful item would be. Reading over the previous five I am hopeful that much more of what I’m thankful for has been woven throughout. I didn’t want today’s post to be the typical things like faith, family and friends. You did read those things into the other posts, right? If not, here they are; I am very thankful for my faith the holds me steady, my family that always stands firm with me, and my friends who encourage me and add so much to my life.
Today’s post is what I like to call Thanksgiving soup – a bunch of little things that are full of goodness and laughter that come together to give great flavor to my world. It’s the simplest of things and people I encounter each day. Times and encounters that can’t be plan, Fate brings them together. We need to be paying attention to catch them.
This morning I got up to watch the Macy’s Day Parade – a Thanksgiving tradition of mine for many years. Jay got up with me and we enjoyed a cup of hot tea, the Rockettes, and marching bands from all over the country. About half way through, Cole got up and joined us. There the three of us snuggled on the couch, laughing and playfully enjoying some fun. It is these moments I have grown old enough and wise enough to cherish in my heart. You can’t trade them.
I won’t bore you with the hundreds of other examples of the simple pleasures in life for which I am thankful. But I will encourage you to slow down enough to enjoy a few for yourself.
Happy Thanksgiving.
All the best,
KK
Today I am thankful to be both a mother and a wife. I have a teenage son who is becoming an outstanding young man. Don’t get me wrong, we have our moments where I have to stop, take a deep breath and realize he will grow out of some of the typical teenage attitudes. But for the most part it brings me great joy and great challenge to raise him.
There hasn’t been a stage of raising Cole that I have liked better than the other. I loved cuddling and caring for him as an infant. As a toddler and small child he was all smiles. The worst part of my day was leaving him at daycare every morning, but the best part of my day was picking him up in the evening. He was into super heroes for many years, so I never had to fear danger because Spiderman or Buzz Lightyear was never far away. Elementary years were when things got a little challenging because his questions got bigger. I realized I needed some wisdom to help him begin to enter the bigger boy world of friends, sports, and building character. Every stage has been enlightening and has driven me to my knees more than once. Next year we head into high school; I’ll keep you posted.
Believe it or not, I sometimes feel less equipped to be a good and Godly wife than I do a mother. Five years ago I married a wonderfully Godly man who loves me and Cole with all of his heart. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for either of us. Getting remarried in my forties, I found myself older and smarter about how to do marriage right. First of all, I know Jay needs to know I respect him. I appreciate all of his hard work to provide for us. I love his personal convictions and character. Secondly, we work together equally. If I need Jay’s help, he is available and willing. Just about every morning I ask him if there is something I can do for him. He is a very independent sort and he may not ask me if there is something I can help with. The other reason I am mindful to ask him is that I know it’s easy for me to get lost in my own to-do list and not consider others. Cole teases us because he’s never heard us fight. We don’t. We love each other and work very hard to think of the other person first. With both of us doing this, it really makes being a wife a joy. Don’t get me wrong, there have been times when one of us has hurt the other’s feelings. In those times a little communication goes a long way. The hurt doesn’t stew, we talk about it and each of us is quick to apologize.
These two men make it very easy to serve them as mother and wife. I am very thankful for the opportunity to do so every day of my life.
All the best,
KK
Evidently the older I get the more I appreciate the stories my elders tell of life long ago. I am blessed to have loved ones with great longevity; so there are tales from World War II and even before that are fascinating to hear. When my mother re-married (long after I was an adult), her new husband’s mother was still alive and close to 90 years old. Visiting her in the nursing home often meant stories of her taking the train to Chicago to see a picture show. Her father was in the early film business. She told the stories in such a way that I could, feel the steam from the train breaks and picture a young girl all dressed up and riding.
War isn’t a pretty thing, but there is something fascinating about the soldiers and the attitude of the 30’s and 40’s. I don’t know if life was simpler, every generation has their challenges. But living was different. My father doesn’t tell many stories of his time in the service (WW2), but he did tell me that when they came home, people respected the soldiers and their service to the country. Are we too busy to appreciate this anymore?
My father grew up in the 1920’s in a town next to the Ohio river. He shares stories of messing around the river all afternoon with his brother; taking the trolley downtown to see a baseball game for a nickel! How fun!
My favorite shows to watch are set in other times. Ok, so I know these are cleaned up “Hollywood style”, but there is an element of truth to them.
Tell me your story of days gone by, did you grow up during the depression or during economic boom in the 50’s or the free thinking days of the 60’s or the 80’s when all women wanted was a corner office?
All the best,
KK
A couple of weeks ago I went to a well-known craft store (the mecca of crafters in the Louisville area). I am not a crafter, but I recognize the value of this store. We needed a piece of black photo matting and spray adhesive for a project my son was working on.
As I walked in a whoosh of the aroma of glue sticks, paint and artificial flowers overcame me. Having shopped in this store I knew the direct path to the photo/framing area. A sales lady greeted me and wanted to help me quickly (20 minutes to closing). There was little chit-chat. She understood what I was looking for, but kept trying to sell me far more of the mat board than I wanted. This would have saved her from having to custom cut a piece. Nonetheless, she finally relented and understood that for my purposes, a custom piece was the best buy. She went to make the cuts.
Prior to her exit, I asked where I could find spray adhesive. Remember I’m a stranger in this land of craft supplies. Her answer taught me just how much I didn’t know about where I was. She said, “Follow this aisle at the back of the store past the craft items; it will be down the aisle on the left.” While I listened to all of the directions, when I turned to follow the back aisle, it occurred to me that in my inexperienced mind, ALL of the aisles were craft items. I didn’t realize there were sub-categories of craft items. I had to wonder, are there other things I needed to know, like the language and crafting etiquette? Watch your manners…
Having only five minutes left in store hours according to the overhead speaker, I began the journey looking down EVERY aisle. Before I got too far off the one aisle I knew would lead me back to my custom cut board, a friendly clerk asked to help and led me directly to adhesive spray and even made a suggestion.
True confession: going to a craft supply store makes me want to buy, take up a craft and create something.
Store was closing – whew – bought only what I needed and left. No new hobbies. To my friends who are crafters, you have my admiration and appreciation for your talents.
What are your hobbies?
All the best,
KK
One of the first things we learn is to say, “please” when requesting something and “thank you” when receiving. 
These two phrases work wonders in making progress on a task, duty or need. While these manners are taught young in life somewhere along the way they seem to wane and by adulthood for some they are entirely absent. Saying please and thank you shows respect for the other person and puts a value on what they are offering or can do.
Common courtesies and respectfulness to other humans seems to be losing out to everyone’s efforts to just ‘get a task done’ and selfish thinking. Instead of going through the day working our jobs and along the way building relationships, people are isolating themselves with a laptop and a cell phone and are all about just getting the job done. Its a very self-centered existence. This may please employers in a cut-throat environment, but it’s no way to build a life. Maybe the workplace has become so competitive there is little mutual respect because tomorrow the next guy may have your job. Seriously though, is that anyway to live AND build a career?
Back to the original thought, have you ever walked up to a counter to place an order only to be greeted by a server who is obviously harried and busy with customers. As the customer, you are thinking, that server’s job is to serve. But what about your responsibility in the exchange. Your role is to place your order. Given your observation of the server, what can you do to help the order-taking and the order-receiving process be 
positive for both? Just be kind and considerate — please and thank you. Try it sometime and see what happens.
As long as we are talking about basic manners, let’s venture into the world of technology. It is a wonderful thing and does provide opportunities to communicate and connect with others, but it is absolutely no substitute for person to person interaction — a phone call, visit or even hand-written note. Texting and email have their place, except when sensitive information is being shared. That is just rude. And if there is a problem being worked out, pick up the phone and call the person, don’t just pass emails back and forth. There is a great deal to be lost in the tone (real or perceived) in an email. If settling the problem and making things right with another person means that much, then it’s worth the time and effort to pick up the phone.
Thank you for reading my thoughts on the matter. Please take a minute to comment or even click follow on the right side.
All the best,
KK
For the last eight years February was the beginning, March was the get ready and April was GO! The ritual hasn’t changed come rain, sleet, snow and sunshine, THIS is the start of the big season. Over the years the prep time has grown to the point of not really feeling like the season ever ends. Are we finishing that one or getting ready for this one? And over the years, while still full of hustle and bustle, the season has become more enjoyable; so much so that even I am looking forward to getting things going.
We’ve made our annual pilgrimage that feels (and costs) a lot like buying school supplies, to the sporting goods store. We’ve checked the list and made sure the supplies are ready…
Pants, check. Socks and belt, check. Cup, check. Water bottle, check. Stadium seats, check. Sunflower seeds, check. Camera, check. Clothing for any and all kinds of weather, check. Hand warmers, check.
The season of which I’m referring and currently planning for is none other than youth baseball season! You were thinking that, right?
This will be the first year for metal cleats. That’s my boy behind the plate, don’t you slide into home and into his pretty face with those spikes! Thinking it, not saying it…I learned several years ago the best position for me to play during the game; number one fan! I’m at just about every game in the stands and cheering our team on. Win or lose, good game or bad, I’m proud of my player and his team for preparing and showing up to play their best on the field.
Little league and now collegiate baseball is amazing. We watch our kids grow from picking flowers in the outfield when they are five years old to being young men who play their position with skill and precision. They stand tall and are proud of the team they represent. Win or lose they show the character of the men they are becoming when they encourage the opposing team.
The coaches, us parents don’t always understand their game strategy, but we trust them with our boys not only because of 
their knowledge of the game, but because they will help us show our sons what it is to be a man with values and integrity. Our boys need good coaches and we have been so blessed to have many. Some of the parents get a little weird and a little over the top when the umpire is having a bad day. But within minutes after the final run is scored, it’s the boys who are bugging around talking highlights, tossing a ball around having already forgotten the bad calls.
I do love all the things that make youth baseball great: the game strategies, being outside on a sunny day watching our boys play with absolutely nothing electronic but the scoreboard, the crack of the bat or the whap when the ball hits the catcher’s mitt and the excitement when the perfect play is made.
With the final flakes of snow melting away, our team will take the field this weekend having shaken the dust off their bats, grown in maturity, taller in stature, and better in skill. I can’t wait to see what happens! Win or lose, it will be a good season.
All the best,
KK
Rarely is pride spoken of in a positive manner. “Pride goeth before a fall,” a most familiar proverb, is a caution to not let self absorption take over so as to lose sight of the bigger need or picture. But consider the good that is found in taking pride in a job or task well done.
In doing a job, project or task that turns out well what is that surge, the emotion that wells up inside and is evidenced by standing a little taller. Doing well breeds confidence. Confidence in wise hands continues to build success. However, confidence and pride overstated can be blinding.
What is the balance? What legacy is left if there is a trail of half-hearted projects or work? What is taught to the next generation if the appropriate balance of humility and pride is not learned?
Is pride a bad thing? Heavens no! How honoring it is to parents, teachers, mentors to see those in their care try hard and do their very best.
Think about it,
KK
There were several ideas I worked on for this week but nothing that excited me. Today, January 29th, it was a windy, cloudy, humid, balmy 67 degrees and so I strolled the yard to see how th
e garden was wintering.
There among the dead remnants of last summer’s colorful splendor, I found hope for the coming spring. It seems the tulips have peeked out to check out the situation for further growth. The site brought immediate encouragement that in spite of the crazy weather — up and down temperatures — the renewal of spring will come.
So, my friend, take a deep breath and relax, the gray blustery, non-snowy winter will serve it’s purpose and move on at the insistence of spring’s arrival.
All the best,
KK
I’m pretty sure that January first is the most optimistic day of the year. For most it’s a holiday; a day without a schedule. One person wrote that it was their first “stress-free” day of the year. Unlike starting a new page on the calendar, we start a new calendar, 365 days free from all the obligations that will come with the reality of tomorrow.
Today, many will make resolutions and set goals; some of which will stick and they will be better for it. No one ever resolves to take up a bad habit or sets a goal to gain 10 pounds. The resolutions and goals are positive changes of general self-improvement.
Today we look forward with hope with tunnel vision toward the good that coming days will bring. Will all of the days be as “stress-free” as today? Not a chance. But today there is hope for more good days than bad; more successes than failures and wisdom enough to appreciate both.
Happy new 365 days.
All the best,
KK
KK's Candor 