Dear 2025,

Dear 2025, Thank you for the final lesson of your tenure,

the idea that some things need to break in order to heal.

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PPBF: Two-List Thanksgiving

Happy Thanks and Giving week! Today, a PPBF on a Monday, 

because that's how we've been rolling lately.

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Twinning at Thanksgiving

Holiday greetings from deep in the heart of Texas.

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The Pay-It-Forward Plate

Today I'm grateful because last week was so rewarding. On Tuesday, I took a plate of Pecan Puffs to my Baristas at Starbucks. When they tried to return the plate, I told them no, that it's a pay-it-forward plate, which meant that one of them could use it to treat someone else to a kindness from their kitchen. The cookies, which came off of this plate, were a huge hit, so I imagine that one of those baristas will take the plate home, wash it up good, and fill it with some other favorite tastes-like-Christmas delicacy. 

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All Cried Out

Today as I prepare to talk about friendships for an afternoon Tea I'm keynoting, my brother Mark's memory hangs heavily on my heart. 

Isn't he the most debonair Santa Mipps with that beard?

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Dancing The Holiday Hustle

It's almost December; ready or not, here come the holidays.

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Connections Countdown Calendar 2021

'Tis the season; let the holiday festivities begin!

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Inspiring Gratitude

Today I'm grateful. For every breath. For every step.

For family and friends. For fellowship and faith.

For another chance to make gratitude a verb.

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Thank Goodness

Happy 2021; today I'm grateful that we were able to get back to WI for a few glorious days, and wake up to this incredible wintry beauty. 

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Sharing Holiday Joy

Can it be Christmas Eve Eve 2020 already?

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Glimpses Of Goodness

Happy Wednesday; how are things going in your Corner today?

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That Christmas Energy

It's almost the 12th day of Christmas; who still has their tree up?

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Crowning Moments

It's almost here, the end of one year, the start of another.

Today, a few things before I unplug for digital detox. 

First, I wrote these prompts to make holiday cards

to take along on our vacation home to Wisconsin.

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An Awe-Struck New Year

Today it doesn't seem possible that Christmas 2018 is now just a distant memory. When you reflect on it through the rearview mirror, how was it? 

Did you find wonder and awe in the small moments?

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PPBF: The Smallest Gift Of Christmas

Happy winter solstice; today I'm excited because just yesterday, I found out that one of my favorite mindfulness resources, the flip-the-sequins mermaid pillow, is now available as a blanket. Talk about your year-round holiday hug!

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A Recipe For Hope

Today I'm excited because I've stepped out of my comfort zone to enter a holiday writing contest that involves writing a children's story. Fiction. Something I don't feel very confident about. But since it's about a Holiday Hero, it called my name and really challenged me to craft my 250 words into a timely tale.

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The Magically Refreshing Present

It was the best thing, to wake up on Friday morning

to this magically refreshing blanket of snow.

In south Texas. Weird, right?

That's what made it so incredible.

Just before bed, Joshua had sent this picture of the bikes outside of his dorm along with the news that it was snowing in College Station. In fact, they had several inches already and it was still falling.

Shortly after Joshua texted, Jacob called.

Giddy with delight, like a little kid in a big candy store, 

he was headed home to build a snowman.

It made this mama's heart so happy

to experience the college boys' child-like excitement

over something as simple as snow.

I fell asleep wishing we would get some snow too, but knowing full well that it wasn't likely since we only had a 20% of the white stuff falling this far south. 

But when my alarm went off, I went out back to find this:

Each snowflake unique,

clinging to each other, 

hanging on for dear life,

 and blanketing every branch so beautifully.

The wet, white wonder 

covering every blade of grass,

turning the drab into dreamy

and the ho-hum into heavenly.

Yep, 2017 has been kind of crazy for HoUSton!

The kids came in to school all bundled up, uplifted by the

fascination,

energy,

and joy

of nature's surprise holiday gift,

the magically refreshing present.

What an incredible feeling, the beauty of that miraculous moment,

proof positive that the best things in life aren't things at all.

In other news, The Corner on Character was chosen 

a Top 60 School Counselor Blog last week. 

Click {here} to read all about the distinction, to follow these amazing school counselors, and to add some new resources to your arsenal. 

I'm so grateful to be aligned with these passionate professionals.

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If Picasso Painted A Snowman

Today I'm excited because we have new neighbors, which means I have made a new friend. His name is Asher and he's this feisty little superhero who has totally stolen my heart. Yesterday when he came by, this is how it went:

Asher: Hello. Whatcha doin'?

Me: Picking weeds.

Asher (without giving it much thought): Boring!

Me: What?

Asher: I said Boring!

Me: Have you ever picked weeds before?

Asher: Boring!

I kept on picking weeds and before I knew it, he wanted to know which ones were the weeds. We had a fun little convo about weeds as we filled my bucket together before he announced that he had to go back to his painting. 

As he scurried off, he yelled, See you tomorrow.

I felt like I was in elementary school again.

And I secretly looked forward to this afternoon.

Speaking of painting, here's the second reason I'm excited. On the afternoon of Claude Monet's birthday, this soon-to-be-celebrated masterpiece arrived.

I'm super pleased to introduce you to If Picasso Painted A Snowman 

written by Amy and illustrated by Greg Newbold ...

Click image to read more about it.

... because it is absolutely picture perfect.

In this newcomer, an incredibly adorable little hamster takes us on a gallery walk through the way it imagines that famed artists would paint their snowman. Each one is better and more spot on than the next. I shared this title with our new Art teacher and she instantly fell in love. It gave her the idea to make a list of all of the books that she would recommend to her budding artists.

Click image for a review and check which artist this represents.

I especially like the glossary of sorts in the back of the book with bios of all of the artists that are creating a snowman in the text. On the final page, an invitation for the reader to paint his or her unique interpretation of a snowman.

Check out this precious portrait of a snowman.

It's clever. 

It's creative.

It's intriguing.

It's interesting.

It's enthusiastic.

And it's engaging.

And I predict it'll melt your holiday heart. 

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Finding Our YES

This evening as I sit in quiet reflection, I feel at once 

serene, 

satisfied 

and sort of sad. 

We're back from our trek to my childhood home, where we spent five majestic days enjoying family togetherness. The snowfall on our first full day in the Frozen Tundra frosted everything so beautifully.

One tree prettier than the next. 

As dusk fell ... 

so did the huge flakes of dense, wet snow that we trudged through on foot 

to pick up our Friday night perch at the Corner Cafe.

We woke up to this snow-covered scene the next morning.

That evening, a clear reminder that all is well.

 Silent night. Holy night.

The next day, we layered up and treated ourselves to some Christmas Eve magic at Lambeau Field, the cherry atop our holiday fruit cake. 

Nothing says home for the holidays like a Green Bay Packers win.

Bidding adieu is never easy, but {for some reason} 

this time around it was particularly difficult.

I always joke that I'm good at checking my feelings at the door,

but this visit is indelibly etched on my heart, for sure.

The lights on our Christmas tree will soon burn for the final time and, unless the Packers make the playoffs, the outside lights will come off of the house this weekend, attic-bound. Gifts are neatly packed away, card games at the table are now just a memory, Hallmark Christmas classics have had their final run, and the stores already have Valentine's Day candy hearts for sale on their shelves. Yes, it's safe to say that Christmas 2016 has now come and gone. And you can likely see why my feelings are all jumbled up as I enjoy the reflection in the rearview mirror.

So now it's time to look forward to the new year, 

to another fresh start, another chance to find our YES.

My thoughts for inspiring our National Honor Society inductees next Sunday are percolating. What does it mean, exactly, to find our yes? Just how do we do that? And when we find it, how can we make the most of it for ourselves and for others? I plan to suggest this three-fold head, heart, hands approach: 

Y is for yearn.

     E is for embrace.

S is for share. 

Yearn to learn. Believe that anything is possible. Pursue your passion.

Embrace the present. Experience it. Feel it. Appreciate it. Make it yours.

Share and show gratitude in all things. Live generously. Love wholeheartedly.

Still simmering; I promise to let you know how it goes.

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The Best Things In Life

Today I'm energized at the thought of two glorious weeks off of work, to spend with family and friends. Before I sign off and unplug my device for the holidays, 

I've got a few reflections to share.

First, our picture from church last Sunday.

My husband invited me to play along with the orchestra he's in,

so I dusted off one of Kaitlyn's clarinets and said yes.

It's true what humorist Art Buchwald is credited with saying about the best things in life. I've found that they're really not things at all, but experiences ... 

and loved ones to go along with them ... 

like this outing with the kids in Aggieland to enjoy Jacob's Jazz Band as he performs a trumpet solo in his last Christmas concert. So many lasts.

Sometimes it's hard to say goodbye ... and then someone who understands sends you a copy of Todd Parr's new book, priority mail, to help comfort you. 

Sometimes the best thing is a word picked especially for you and inscribed on a Giving Key by someone you adore. 

The idea is to wear it for a while, then give it away to someone else, 

someone who inspires me or who might need some inspiration.

I'll be honest; that's not going to be an easy thing to do.

Sometimes it's a kindness that someone special picks up for you 

because they think it has your name written all over it.

The tag attached reads: A good deed can go a long way. Our tokens acknowledge that we must freely give of ourselves by performing 'random acts of kindness' without expecting anything in return. Why not do something nice for someone today? Pass along the Pay It Forward token and hope that they too will do something good for someone else.

These may be a bit easier to share.

Sometimes the best thing is a tradition; look who just came by with a sweet treat on his annual Friendswood Fire Truck trek through our neighborhoods.

Seriously, I think I got every bit as more excited than the boys!

Sometimes it's an opportunity. I'm so grateful to Free Spirit Press for the chance to write for their readers. Click the graphic below for my most recent post.

I've been so blessed recently with speaking invitations.

We worked on boosting self-care routines in as Wellness Workshop that I was blessed to lead last week with some amazing school counselors in Brazosport; on our first day back from break, we'll be discussing growth mindset and grit with two school families in Clear Creek ISD. Then I'll give the address at the FHS National Honor Society induction ceremony January 8th before heading back to CCISD to speak with some parents at a PTA meeting on the 10th. So many fun opportunities for me to plant seeds and watch them take root and grow.

So today I'm wondering: Wouldn't it be the best thing 

if every moment of every day could be like Christmas?

Just for fun, I put this message on my new Light Box mini-marquee. I'm super excited about using this gift to motivate and make people think.

So that's a wrap, except to remind you, dear reader, that every day is a gift; don't forget to unwrap the present. Savor every second as if it were your last and appreciate the best things in life as we celebrate the reason for the season.

Merry Christmas. 

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