Happy Spring!

    Springtime is a wonderful time to reflect on one's life -- the good and the bad.  It's a time of "renewal" for the spirit.  Just like the earth, turning brown, dreary landscapes to vibrant living colors in blooming flowers and lush, green grass and shrubs!  The earth renews itself as do we.  This is a time when I especially realize how very blessed I am.  Although life certainly isn't "perfect" -- when is it ever, and who said it has to be?  I may not be up for promotion (again) this year, and my house certainly isn't even close to being "mother-in-law-worthy-spring-cleaned" yet, and my son might have more toys than Toys R Us and Kaybee Toys combined that he refuses to put away... or my husband insists on buying so many die-cast collectible cars that he could be the No. 1 stockholder in Mattel, Inc.!  But all in all, I have so very much to be grateful for! 

   I am so lucky (and blessed) to have a loving husband who does "the-have-to-get-done stuff" all during the week's evening hours just so that he can spend time with me and our son on the weekends!  He cares about family time, doing "fun" things together.  He cares about us as a couple and knows that we are each better parents when we also make time for each other and our marriage. 

   I am so lucky (and blessed) to have an adorable, yet precocious 5 year old son who thinks Mommy can cure all ills!  He gives me joy every day like none I've ever known before becoming a parent...  There's just nothing like the adoration of a child, "your child"!  Playing cars is fun, but more fun when Mommy plays.  Drawing pictures is a good time, but showing them to Mommy is the best! Making Mommy a special glued or painted present is way cool, but it's really neat when Mommy unwraps the gift in total awe and cries because she's so happy! 

   And who could forget those muddied-pawed monsters-- Blizzard, Avalanche (aka "Moose") and ol' Scooby.  What would life be like without pets?  I'd hate to even think about it!  As much trouble as they are, feeding/watering, cleaning up after, barking, fighting, hairing up the entire house (it's all my fault, there's no place they're not allowed to go!), digging craters in the back yard big enough to... hold the mailman, maybe...  Even with all that, they are a blessing, too!  They make me laugh way more than they make me cry - and no matter what mood I'm in, they are always there to love me and make me feel like I'm the person they've waited to see their whole lives!   Their love and affection is contagious! 

   Springtime revitalizes me  -- it brings me to life, too.  I get to feel like I'm blooming!  And in feeling this way, I can chase the clouds away and see the blessings in my life.  In so doing, it's always a good time for me to share my good fortune and blessings with others.  I like to participate in charitable events around Christmas, too, especially for children, but Springtime is another time I get in a generous spirit.  This year, I am going to be contributing to the Arthritis Foundation.  A friend and co-worker of mine, Shelley Ellis, is doing a lot more than just contributing money... she is going to be walking across Ireland to raise money for this outstanding organization!  Her goal of $4000 is needed to ensure her participation in the "special walkathon".  The AF assures sponsors that more than 85% of the money will go directly to AF programs and research to find a cure or even better treatments for this debilitating disease.  Arthritis is not just "an old person's disease"... on the contrary, many young children, even infants have rheumatoid arthritis, the most crippling form of the disease.  I know this in a personal way, since I was actually born with RA and have suffered with it (and it's treatments) for many years now.  I feel like Shelley will be walking for me, and for all those who can't or who suffer the stiffness and painfulness of just getting up out of a chair.  It's a wonderful cause - won't you help, too???  You're reading this right now and hopefully thinking of all the wonderful blessings you've been granted   -- won't you help Shelley reach her goal and extend some blessings to those with arthritis? 

   To contribute, to become one of Shelley's sponsors or just for more information, please contact her at Shelley_Ellis@progressive.com!   By helping the Arthritis Foundation and knowing that your gift will definitely impact the lives of arthritis sufferers - I promise you, your spirit will be renewed also!  Thank you!

Visit the Arthritis Foundation Homepage at http://www.arthritis.org