Sunday, December 6, 2009

to good times




























this blog is beginning to feel more like my old paper journals, minus the drawing and sketches, still not comfortable sharing those! But, it is filled with newspaper clippings, notes, photos, all the things that are gathered throughout the day and week. in my book journals i wrote everyday, more or less. here, lately anyway, it feels like i've been posting once a week, distilling the monday through sundays happenings in a sweetly condensed version.


here then is the cream of my week...


~i finally got to see my two oldest sons and their apartment ninety minutes south of me. they are roommates. they are so clean, so handy, so competent. i am amazed. it is a very weird thing to go sit in your kids apartment. they are not my little boys anymore. they are men. i am still not sure what to say about this. (oh, i know, thank you God.)


~ i finally got to see my niece perform. watching her sit up in front of a crowd singing her heart out gave me chills. i learned that she didn't take after me (she can sing) and i also learned that bars are really for the young. and sometimes proud aunties. i hope all her dreams come true.



~ i received two letters from Zimbabwe. from maxwell and gift. i was and still am astonished that they wrote me back and their letters made it all this way. you might remember i wrote about them (and others) from our trip to africa back in may. i sent family photos and other small items. not the books yet, i wanted to make sure that the letters would be received. and they were. amazing! see, maxwell lives on an island, with only a small village, certainly no post office. he had given me the address of the crocodile farm where he works. now i can send him books. he hoped most for a dictionary.



~i went to a book signing for My Nepenthe. i met the author Romney Steele. she was even more charming than her book and she graciously signed not only my friend Anne's book, but she signed my giveaway winner Sally Anne's book, and then mine too! it was kind of like meeting a blog friend since we'd only talked online. i am glad to have met her and i hope to see her again.



~ i want to thank these people for liking my photo and putting it in their magazine.
thank you sincerely. (whoohoo) :)

here's to good times, family, friends, a toast to life.
cheers!


♥ lori

31 comments:

  1. lori! i'm commenting first when east coast time i should be in bed already. your weekend sounds great--so funny to see our kids as adults, huh? i still can't get used to it.

    so you made it to the book signing, you heard your niece sing (my niece sings too, in fact, remind me to tell you about her hollywood screenings sometime), and what a letter you received. it just sounds like a wonderful weekend.

    emily said to tell you throw brussel sprouts, not peas, when the situation warrants it. she said you'll know what she means.

    i love love you, lori!

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  2. Life is so rich..congratulations on your photo!

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  3. Sounds like a busy but a happy week :-)

    wIZZ

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  4. Sounds like a joyful week, Lori.
    I can just imagine your chest puffed out with pride at your beautiful boys and niece. I am so proud of your talent, I am so happy for you...you deserve every blessing that life has to offer, and then some. Much love, Natsy.xx♥

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  5. Whoohoo alright!

    Rock on Lori... life through your eyes truely is beautiful :)

    Yep I did have a wonderful weekend, thank you :)

    love to always
    x Ribbon

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  6. Sounds like a wonderful week Lori..it does feel a bit wierd doesn't it having our kids grow up and become adults, but such a good feeling too !I am so pleased you had a letter from your little friends in Africa...simple things bring the most joy.

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  7. Your post exudes peace, and I loved reading it as always. I missed reading your posts :)

    Love ya lots

    Chaitra ♥♥

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  8. Lovely to share these moments, isn't it?

    In a previous post you talked about publishing your blog, or pictures through a website called Publisher? Could you be so kind as to post about it again, or send me to the date when you did post it? I want to consider it for some of my projects.

    Thanks in advance, Lori ann.

    How is Hannah liking Portland?

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  9. You had a very fulfilling week didn't you Miss Lori! I was most impressed with the fact that your mail arrived from Africa. Taht must have sent chills up your spine. And how wonderful to experience your niece performing for an audience. I would say that your week was a good one -- and obviously one that you so highly deserve. You were simply reaping the fruits of your seeds sowing.

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  10. what a fabulous week of great big events thinly disguised - so great to hear all that good stuff! and congrats on the published photo - no doubt many more to come.xx

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  11. it's great when you get a week like that. When you go from one wonderful thing to another.
    here's hoping your having another one this week!
    xx

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  12. kj,
    i am still shaking my head over my sons...amazing...i have brussel sprouts, artichoke hearts and peas, just to be safe. love you both!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Thank you Diana!
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    dear wizz,
    i wouldn't mind this week to be a little quieter, :) i can only take so much excitment!
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    Dear Natsy,
    oh thank you my sweetie, those kids do things to us don't they? wait until yours move out too, you won't know what to think, it's amazing. i'm hugging you right now. a package is on it's way.
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    Thanks Ribbon, I really did feel like drinking champagne and when that truck pulled up in front of my work, i had to laugh!
    now, have a great week too dear.
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    Sally Anne,
    always the simple things, you are so right. did you see? your book is signed and flying its way to you right this minute!
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    Hi Chaitra! it's nice to see you again. i hope life is treating you well. and now you are back to blogging?
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    Rosaria,
    i sent you an email, let me know if you don't recieve it.
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    Thanks so much Lyn,
    and your right, the letters had me in shock. I am very happy they made it, both ways. now i can send more, books and school supplies that are so desperatly needed in Zimbabwe.
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    Thanks Val, Chuck brought me the mag to my work, it was hard to concentrate after that, so cool. He's a pro and used to it, but i am def not. I am more happy about the letters from Zim though, it's really great. They took forever to arrive according to the postmark, but they came. The rest is just GREAT stuff,yes.
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    thanks Mandy, i sent you an email, i hope you got it, sending all my prayers your way, it'll all be okay, i just know it.

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  13. What a rich, busy, and blessed life you lead! And how beautiful to have two sons that turned out wonderfully...thanking God is always good, but make sure you take some credit too, okay?? :)

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  14. your blog post is like a news week round-up! i love it! i'm going through writer's block on my end. urgh. hate it when it happens. congrats on getting in to the magazine!

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  15. Life is sweet. I'm so glad it is so good for you. You certainly deserve all good things, Lori.

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  16. Lori, you have a good amount of credit for your kids ( now adults) education!

    Oh, what a wonderful feeling when we get letters ... especially from such a far place that you´ve been to.I felt the excitement as I read your words!

    Have a blessed week, dear Lori!

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  17. Thanks for the cream of your week, and for all your beautiful images and thoughts, Lori. You're so generous to share them with us. Thank you!!

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  18. Such wonderful things going on for you...makes me smile to read these things...:)...I more than understand the part about seeing your sons as men. I have 2 of them myself and they are such wonderful men...and then I see my 3 daughters as the grown women that they now are and I am amazed too. I look at these 5 children that are now grown up and these incredible people and all I can do is say thank you God. I am thankful that you know this feeling too! :)

    Congrats on your photo being in a magazine. Bravo!

    How blessed it is to get your letters. Happy for you!

    Hope you have a peaceful week! XX Lori

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  19. chin chin! glad to find you well and happy Lori xx

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  20. Lori Ann you deserve the best of everything. I love you.

    Could you please send me your home mailing address and I will delete it, just put it in the comment on my blog.

    Love Renee xoxo

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  21. Lori Ann I found the address, you do not have to resend.

    And yes kj is a total doll.

    Love Renee xoxoxo

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  22. Wow, you have been busy and congratulations on your photo being in the magazine.

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  23. Hi Lori! I know what you mean about seeing a young person perform. It's amazing to see the talent, and to know that it's all new. I love to listen to my daughter when she performs at school or at home. Her emotion is communicated so directly to my heart. I'm especially sentimental because she will be going off to college-out of Puerto Rico in the next school year. We have so much to prepare for! And how will I be now that I am so much of a mother...? I think I am just going to have to go easy for awhile. I seriously considered getting a job in the area she finally decides to study...but then what about my students, husband, and older son? sigh...I'm still needed here. (When will my older son become a man? :-) take care xx

    So nice to see a bit of your life. I just love to give books too.

    I think the last four gifts I gave were books. (Oh, I got my nephew a large puzzle mat that makes a rode to drive trucks on!)

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  24. Something tells me that God couldn't decide which Angel to send to watch over you so He is doing it Himself. You have a lot of blessings in your life from family to friends that literally cover the planet. The impact you have made on other peoples' lives is coming back to you ten fold. It couldn't happen to a nicer woman.

    On another note, you will definitely being some snowy pictures in the next little while 'cause we are blanketed in the stuff! But I am loving every minute of it.

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  25. Wow, Lori, you have had one fabulous week! Your niece is very pretty, and I'm sure very talented, too. Still cannot believe you have two adult sons. No freakin' way. And congrats on the photo. Wooohoooo! It's nice to document all the highlights here so that you can realize how many blessings you actually have. I should take a lesson from you. Have a great weekend!

    xoxo

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  26. Which photo, which photo????
    Congratulations on a wonderful week and thank you for lending your softspoken peaceful tone to everything you mention, be it a letter from Zim, a song sung by your nightingale niece or the neatness in your sons' flat.

    I miss you (and emailed you)
    Lola xx

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  27. thanks Phoenix,
    i'll remember what you said, even if it is hard to take credit. :)
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    Kavita,
    i have it too, really! it must be the compulsive journaler in me that keeps tip taping away here.
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    thanks Nancy,
    it's the same for everyone i think, the good and not so good,some days or weeks feel alot more full than others. But, yes, life is sweet.

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    thanks dear Mina,
    I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
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    Thanks Reya,
    it's my pleasure, i'm always happy to see you here, and learn from you at your place.
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    Dear Lori,
    you are so kind. i know you know just what i mean about my boys. isn't it wonderful and strange but mostly wonderful?! thank you so much.
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    It's so nice to see you Joanne! I hope all is going well with you and your family?
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    Renee,
    are you staying warm enough? is there snow outside, where you live? i'm thinking about you. i love you too. i hope you know.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Des,
    thank you. we watched Dan in real life last night. i thought of you.
    hope your doing well.
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    Cynthia did your daughter choose a school yet? will she be near me? you have to let me know. and i do know just what your going through. it gets eaiser. i promise.
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    Gosh Bogey, you sure do say the darndest things. thank you sir. it is an honor to me that you come here and read my blog. really.
    did you say snow?? i'll be right over!!
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    Bella, sweetie, from what i can see you already do that. anyway, your paintings are an absolute joy and anything else you add would just be icing on the cake.
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    lola, hug hug hug. it's so nice to see your pretty face again. i have missed you. i got your email, that is why i'm dancing. see? :)

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  28. oh, lola, it's the last photo here, the one where it says Sherman's Travel. That's the photo and the mag. :)

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  29. Hi Lori, I'm very late here, but what a great post! I just threw 2 weeks at my latest blogpost in some kind of a journaling way it seems to help me to keep track of my life which is whizzing by so fast! But wow, you had a fantastic week - you must be so proud of your family, and I love the fact that your new friends from Zim wrote back. Congrats of course, on the photo! x

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  30. hi Karen,
    mmm, your not late, no dear. we must be on the same wave length, it's a fine way to catch up i think! i'm thinking i'll probably keep doing this till the new year. :)

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xoxo lori