All Tricks and One Treat this Halloween

I was in the middle of editing… the video for the great at “BE”ing Movement, when suddenly I am disrupted and looking at a blank computer screen. I received some great pictures and just finished the Trailer Preview, which I posted on You Tube. Just prior to the disruption the lights flickered several times, and now the power is lost. Ugh, I thought, (well maybe oh sh**) because I am hoping I didn’t lose any valuable time spent on the video so far. I surmise, probably not, as the program saves projects in real-time.

I exit my office and go directly into the kitchen. I notice through the dimly lit room, the clock on the wall reads 6:38 (pm). This could last all night, if history has any factor in determining the length of time our power is out. I make my way into my bedroom closet and reach for the heavy cardboard box that holds all things candle-like. Opening it up, I grasp an armful of candle jars, hoping not to drop one as I make my way back to the kitchen. As I put my hand in the kitchen cupboard, almost knocking mugs onto the floor, I find our child-safety lighter. I sprinkle the house, most importantly the bathroom, with the lit candle jars. At this moment, I am grateful I filled our bathtub with water for flushing.

The family gathers into the front room. I continue to feel gratitude that we already ate and cleared dinner. The house feels warm and other than my husband wondering where he is going to watch the hockey game, all is well. We enjoy our time chitchatting and spending time together. Or maybe it was just myself, as my oldest son kept wishing the power would go on or he could go somewhere else. We stay up until about 11 pm and decide the power will not go on anytime tonight, so we head to bed.

The following morning I am greeted with the continued hum of our neighbors generator. Not a welcoming sound, as this tells me, we still have no power.

My husband and sons, clear the 12 inches of heavy, wet snow from our driveway. I begin the daunting task of emptying out the contents of the refrigerator into coolers of ice. Hours later, I hear the rumbling of an engine. Peeking out the window I catch a glance of my husband and son escaping on the four-wheeler to investigate the neighborhood. They return with the bad news. Heavy snow is blanketing the branches and they are lying over the power lines. There are several trees and poles down. We hear the high school is being used for a shelter, to the many who cannot stay in their cold homes.

About now, I am wishing we invested in a much-needed generator, because I am in the beginning stages of having little patience, for lack of caffeine running through my body. All the while thinking, it would be great to “BE” caffeinated! Then I am certain I am having a delusional moment, when I see my husband ascending the stairs holding a stainless steel coffee pot. I soon realize it is not a delusion at all, as the scent of freshly brewed coffee fills the room. “It’s a gift from Veronica and Brian,” he comments. I continue to feel gratitude, despite these unfortunate events. This time it is toward our neighbors, who unknowingly began my day by awakening me with the humming of their generator, but now has vindicated the episode with the delivery of a fresh pot of hot coffee. My husband pours me a cup, in my favorite mug. I grasp its sides, warming my hands, as the cool air begins to creep through the house, like an unwelcomed ghost on Halloween night. Only this time, he has arrived a day early, from a snowstorm that blanketed the northeast this October 30^th.

Postscript:

My husband never did see the hockey game that night. He was only able to get updates on his smartphone. And as the timing of this post our home is still without power (52+ hours). It is not predicted to come back on for another two days. This unusual snowstorm on October 30, 2011 has successfully cancelled Halloween in our town. Additionally, we are expected to accumulate 3-4 school days, that will need to be made up this coming June.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Better to "BE"... Misunderstood?!

I think all anyone really wants is to be understood. We can feel so enraged when others don’t “get us” or “get it.” Usually, our first reaction is anger. We want to explain it to the point we can bring them to “our side.” Often, relationships are severed because of a misunderstanding, and our stubborn pride resists any possibility of repairing the damage.

Once, I had every good intention to have my son attend a retreat that was a requirement for a class he was attending. About a week prior, something happened that would prevent him from going. So I sent an email notifying his teacher of this unfortunate event. Well, needless to say she was not happy. To the point she sent me a chastising email that involved trying to make me feel guilty. I had disappointed and upset her. My first reaction was anger. I was thinking, “Really!? After all I do to teach my children and live what he would have learned from the retreat. While other students whose parents don’t even try to live what they are sending their children to the retreat to learn! You’ve got to be kidding me.”

I wanted to email her back, with some snappy response that would help her to understand it could not be helped. Then I thought… No, I am not going to. Some things cannot be explained and should not be attempted. I didn’t need to justify my actions to a person who would never consider seeing the world through my life. Nor should I have to. She didn’t need to hear the details of a situation that I would have preferred was avoided. She did not have to hear my woes. The one that may have certainly have helped her understand.

It simply did not need to be said. I know I didn’t do anything wrong, and I didn’t need to justify it to her. It would be better to keep her guessing. Wondering how I reacted to her email, wondering if she upset ME. Sometimes it's better to hold back our reaction. It can be better to keep them wondering and "BE" Misunderstood!

IGTB Carded!

Our New Postcard to be handed out here, there and everywhere ;-D

Lasting Memories that Matter

To show our children that they matter is the greatest gift we can give them. It becomes a gift to the world as well. The world will be a better place if our children feel love, and by our example, learn how to give love to others. First, I think we would all agree it is important to feed, shelter and provide for our children. And certainly, this is a sign of love, but what I am indicating will go beyond providing the necessary means of survival. Also, it does not mean giving them each and every materialistic gadget they want. What our children need the most from us is to be able to live their life feeling safe, and a sense of worth. A feeling that who they become and what they do matter to us. A way we can accomplish this is to create memories that they will want to carry with them their whole life. These memories do not have to be big, expensive vacations, or for that matter, cost any money at all. Often, the actions we do unconsciously, end up having the greatest impact on how our children view themselves, and the world around them.

What I do that impacts my children the most, I believe, is something I have done since the day my children were born. Every time I placed my infant child in their crib. Or even now, at the ages of 16, 14, and 13, when they come to say goodnight, before putting themselves to bed. I make a sign of the cross on their forehead, while quietly saying the prayer, "May God bless you and protect you always."

This has become something they have come to expect. A moment shared that makes them feel safe, and that they matter. I say this because of an occasion I had with my son, many years ago. The dinner table was cleared, baths and bedtime stories complete. As I busily gathered three small children to their bed, my son said, "Mom, did you do that thing to my forehead yet?"

It was at this moment I came to understand, it was something he has come to expect. For him to have asked, told me he found comfort in knowing I was doing something special. I shared with him what I was doing. When he heard this, he expressed peace. His eyes had a look of safety; he smiled and shook his head in approval, while walking silently to bed.

If placing a sign of the cross, on your child's head, would not be your faith belief, then I would encourage another act of love. Before long, our children will grow, and become further from our reach. Venturing into a world, where more often than not, they will feel unsafe and with people who don't make them feel as though they matter. We can at least have some comfort in knowing we have given them a gift they can bring with them. They will always have the memory of "BE"ing loved and "BE"ing safe. And when they feel as though the whole world is against them, they will know they matter to the people who love them the most.

great at "BE"ing MOVEMENT

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 it’s great to “BE” YOU

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