2011 was a busy year for family, personal restoration and business.
I have done so much yet feel as if I have done nothing. I hope you can relate.

In 2012 many of us will make New Year's resolutions. I, however; will not.
All I can do in 2012 is to remind myself to do my best.
Some days my best will compare to the sun's brilliance,
other days my best may look suspiciously close to a pile of crap.
No matter which my best turns out to be on that particular day or task,
the sun's brilliance or a pile of crap,
I know each plays a part in creating beautiful things in and around me.

My 2012 wish for you:
Celebrate your sun's brilliance and those piles of crap for each will create beauty in and all around you.

Little Man,

I am sorry you've had to deal with so much death recently, especially at the tender age of 5. It breaks my heart to see you so upset about your pet fish dieing day after day. I know it's hard for you to watch your sister happily playing with her pet. She's never known the sadness of loosing a pet.
I heard you've been sharing the death toll with your friends and teacher. I am sure your teacher wonders how I've managed to keep you alive if I can't even take care of goldfish. Truth be told I am amazed children's services hasn't dropped by yet.
Honey, I've tried everything from magic pet store potions to water changes but I fear nothing can stop the tank of death at this point. You know I love you and would never let anything hurt you - right?
Today when you found Goldie Locks floating lifeless at the bottom of the tank I looked into your alligator tears and knew we needed a 'do over.' So despite everything I have taught you about trying to work through problems, fixing them the way they should be fixed and not giving up I have decided to declare a 'do over.'
'Do over' you ask? Do overs are tricky. No, no it's not giving up ... you can deffinately have more fish. The way I look at it a 'do over' it isn't necessarily 'giving up' just trying again with a clean slate. So what do you say we toss everything in the tank, clean it up good with chlorine and take another trip into the pet store tonight for all new everything. You can pick out new fish, new decor and we'll have fun naming you new pets on the way home. What do you think?

A couple of nights ago we watched (well, attempted to watch) Walk the Line with Joaquin Phoenix & Reese Witherspoon. A favorite of mine and need I repeat ... Joaquin Phoenix!

It was near perfect ... the kids were in bed, we had just settled in for the second half of the movie when the power went out. No apparent reason ... just gone, complete blackness and the screams of our not quite to sleep yet kids bellowing down the hall.

As husband tries to find the flashlight, I attempt to find my cell phone, yellow pages and light a candle all while telling the kids to calm down ... well okay ~ yelling from the kitchen. Proof once again, women are better at multi-tasking.

20 minutes later the power company has been called, the kids are back in bed and husband has declared he can't use the bathroom until the power is on because "it's pitch black in there!"

Call it a moment of inspiration based on the nights movie choice or just a desperate plea not to have to clean pee off the floor; I decided to come to husbands rescue.

Armed with a handful of tea lights and my trusty lighter I headed to the bathroom. Yup ... you guessed it ... the ring of fire was born! I exited the bathroom with a big grin and mentioned "I lit some candles for you." Moments later one could hear the subtle hum of Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash.