Happy New Year, friends!

Admin Posts : 1431 Join date : 2009-11-08 Age : 49

I hope everyone is having a marvelous beginning to 2015! I'm on my second chai latte and watching the menfolk bustle in the kitchen, making breakfast. Cheers to all of you beermugs

Looking forward to catching up here after taking a break. It was time to let the winds blow through and clear some clutter out of my mind, and heart. I feel a bit restored Smile

Best,
Lise

Guest

Happy New Year to you, Lise. It's a good time to thank you for establishing and sustaining this forum as a place of healing encounter and sharing of stories. Peace to you and yours in this coming year.

As for me, my life is taking a new and focused, interesting turn. My daughter is pregnant with twins. While we (mostly my wife) have been providing day care for the three and a half year old granddaughter. Now we ( both of us) are going to be in serious child care business three days a week with the advent of twins (a boy and a girl) in March, in addition to the very dynamic and active soon-to -be four year old. This will enable my daughter to continue at least 2/3 time in her important chosen profession as oncology nurse in our local hospital and to allow her husband to make a much needed living in railroad management. And we grandparents will be able to express this most important purpose of transmitting to this new younger generation the nurturance and fruits of a lifetime. For a time we will be seriously involved again in feeding, diaper changing, and rocking infants, expanding to be much more as they grow. It feels like life is coming full circle for me as my grandparents were seriously involved in my childhood security and helping out my single mom and her three children. Their home was our home for most of my growing up. I'm glad I can give something of that security and nurturance to my own grandchildren, and they can grow up knowing me and my wife.
Bill Ryan

Admin Posts : 1431 Join date : 2009-11-08 Age : 49

Bill, how marvelous Smile

Twins, that is lovely for your daughter, her husband and everyone in the family - esp. the big sister, who will hold a very important place in the family. Blessings to all.

I admire what you and your wife are doing. I don't know how I would cope at this point with changing nappies and doing everything babies need. It's a labor of love, of course, and I guess you will get to catch up on your rest every so often. Love what you said about life coming full circle - we should all be so lucky.

Best to you in the coming year,
Lise

Guest

Thanks for the kind words, Lise. For me and for my wife, there is nothing more satisfying and more purposeful than nurturing new life and the coming generation. We are both retired and have the space and a the time to do this. And I know how much it will mean to my daughter and her husband, and their new family.
Blessings,
Bill

Subject: Re: Happy New Year, friends! 1/4/2015, 3:12 pm

Happy New year to you Lise, and to you, Bill! It sounds like your are both doing well. I too, am looking forward to this next year!

Admin Posts : 1431 Join date : 2009-11-08 Age : 49

hi Steve, we'll see what the coming year brings, I hope good things for all. I've been reflecting on the year past, probably everyone does this to an extent. Many blessings, some sadness and loss, plenty of ordinary life to carry all of it along.

A few things I am thankful for, from 2014 -

Son is happy at university, is settled in his new life and studies hard. His empty room tugs at my heart, but he visits us when he can and fills the space with love & laughter. Jack and I are getting to know each other in new ways and are making a new kind of life as partners. So thankful for him.

My Buddhist faith has been constant. It doesn't need a name, an affiliation or a teacher, it's just quietly there. It gives me new things to think about and helps me release what needs to move on.

I am feeling a little easier about accepting endings. We lost elder family members who were very dear, but they loved us and we loved them, and for me that doesn't end.

I would love to hear others' thoughts on the year past and the one just beginning -

Subject: Re: Happy New Year, friends! 1/4/2015, 9:49 pm

Happy New Year to one and all.

My hopes to you and your wife Bill, and your daughter and son in-law and grand children. I'm sure it will be lovely and difficult and immensely rewarding and renewing. If a bit exhausting at times.

2014 was a funny old year, more difficult for my wife, looking after me, than for me. But I did learn a great truth about doctors. First they slit your throat - then they expect you to say thank you!

Guest

Thank you for the kind thoughts, Mark. My wife and I have had a run through already with the older granddaughter, both with the infant care, which is easier, (feeding, rocking, changing diapers, comforting when fussy, etc) and with the toddler and terrible twos when they become mobile and have a mind of their own, which can require the most energy and patience. So next we get to go through it with the two new babies together, along with their older sister's adjustment. The double dose will doubtless be a challenge for the two of us, and doubtless exhausting at times. It is different of course than when we went through it with our children. It will not be normally 24/7 but we will do it in shifts and can hand them back to their parents at the end of the day. And usually it will be three days a week. So we'll see.

I'm sorry about your health challenges this year and hope that you find improved health and healing in this coming year.

So good to hear also from you, Kozan. Many blessings to you and your continuing growth and goodness in life.

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