The North Pole

Back at the beginning of December, we took a quick trip to the North Pole. When we purchased our tickets in July, we had no idea the weather forecast would involve a 100% chance of rain on the night our travel was scheduled.  I suppose the North Pole is experiencing global warning because we were doused with rain instead of snow. 

To make things more interesting, the train had some mechanical issues, and we were given the option of accepting a refund or waiting an hour (in the rain) for repairs.  Needless to say, we were good and soaked by the time we boarded the magical train and embarked on our trip to see Santa. 

The duo have cute pajamas and cute raincoats, but they do not necessarily work together.  When facing a colossal downpour in the cold, we prioritized function over style.
 

As for me, I was glad to have Skip's raincoat with a hood (instead of my nicer, dressier one without a hood).

William George, who loves trains, was just happy to be aboard and in motion.  "Is it raining? Who cares?! We're on a train!!!"

No one can say travel to the North Pole is easy, but once we saw Santa, the trip was worth any inconvenience. 

12-27

Today is my birthday, and therefore, a fitting day to resurface.  There are lots of pictures to post from the month of December, but since today is my official lazy day, I have been indulging in all sorts of activities... like watching last year's Kennedy Center Honors and the various covers of Led Zeppelin songs.  The finale, "Stairway To Heaven," is a particularly moving rendition: 





At the 3:30 point, at the beginning of Page's legendary solo, Plant can be observed telling Page, "Not too bad." Watching the band's reaction is as good as the performance itself.

If you are also having a lazy day, you can watch the full set here.
 

Friday's Quote

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. 

Psalm 112:4

Many Thanks

Please accept my note of thanks for the many kindnesses shown to our family over the last several weeks.  We are deeply humbled by the attendance at my father's memorial service, the cards, e-mails, flowers, offers of meals, so many kind and thoughtful words, and your many prayers. We cannot thank you enough, and you will never know how much strength has been drawn from those kind gestures. For our dear readers that we may not know as well personally, thank you for thinking of us.

Our faith provides significant comfort, and we believe Dad is in a better place. He has been relieved of his duties here and is now beginning a life of eternity, where he has no more pain, discomfort - no limitations of any kind. That last sentence cannot be overstated, and the magnitude of that concept could be discussed forever. I know these things on a cognitive level, and yet the loss is hard to accept. Last month, when Skip tracked me down to tell me the news in person, he said quickly but as gently as possible, "It's your Dad...he's passed away." In the three or four weeks since then, those two short sentences have played through my mind a dozen or more times each day, despite my best efforts to not hear them again. Acceptance is hard. Thanksgiving was hard. Christmas is hard. 

Gratitude helps to quiet those two sentences. I'm forever grateful to have parents who provided a loving home and had a successful marriage for 32 years. I'm grateful for summers spent playing outside and for winters spent playing board games. I am thankful for endless words of encouragement, motivation and reassurance. In recent years, my dad concluded many of our conversations with a recurrent message: Keep doing what you're doing.

I am thankful for pitch-perfect encouragement. 

Friday's Quote

While vanity clouds my eyes and burdens my heart, gratitude clears my vision and lightens my load.

-Dr. John White