Seeds for Thought: Top Five Blog

Top Five Reasons to Say "That's All, Folks"

2008-07-08T12:14:00.002-05:00

after just over 400 posts...

1. i've said my piece for now.
2. my motivation for this project has waned.
3. this blog isn't the important creative outlet it once was for me.
4. my attention is shifting to other creative pursuits.
5. moving on feels like the right thing.

...thanks for reading!

Top Five Stolen Moments

2008-07-04T19:38:00.003-05:00

i crave "time to myself," but i often only focus on the long stretches of time i can't have rather than appreciating the stolen moments woven into the day...

1. Day-break: i have a long list of things i'd like to cram into the time before the kids awaken--peace-finding things like yoga, solitary coffee drinking, writing my morning pages--but i've stolen a moment even if it's just enough time to say a quick prayer in stillness.

2. Dish-doing: i truly enjoy watching sesame street with the girls, but i also use part of that time to tidy up the kitchen. doing the morning dishes is meditative, and i often find a way to recenter in this stolen moment.

3. To-and-fro-driving: i'm certainly not alone and rarely is it quiet, but my focus is on the road and i have the chance to mentally escape in this stolen moment.

4. Bathroom-break: claire often takes ages in the bathroom, singing and reading to herself. away from her talkative presence (wonderful as she is), i can retreat inwardly in this stolen moment.

5. Day-ending: when the kids are in bed, the house is straightened, and my working work is completed, i have a window of time before sleep becomes me. to decompress, i steal a few moments from the remains of the day...to reflect and let go.

...what moments do you steal throughout the day?

Top Five Ways to Grow

2008-06-30T20:47:00.004-05:00

"Every blade of grass has its Angel that bends over it and whispers, 'Grow, grow.'"
-The Talmud

1. open: the mind, the body, the doors we slam
2. notice: details, beauty, the present moment
3. trust: thyself, God, the love given and received
4. breathe: deeply, consciously, into the openings
5. pray: centered, scattered, with every fiber of being

...what else spurs growth?

Top Five Affirmations

2008-06-23T20:06:00.002-05:00

turning negative thoughts into positive vibes...

1. Sometimes I feel tired, mentally. But I believe in what I work for.

2. Sometimes I feel plain, physically. But I believe in the complex beauty of my soul.

3. Sometimes I feel uninspired, creatively. But I believe in my potential.

4. Sometimes I feel adrift, spiritually. But I believe that I am not blind to Truth.

5. Sometimes I feel insignificant, financially. But I believe in the worth of my presence in the lives of the two sunny souls we're raising up.

what negativity can you outshine today?

Top Five Frames

2008-06-18T21:05:00.002-05:00

random thoughts with a common frame...

1. one thing i love is the way claire's bangs and fly-away curls frame her face

2. when i was a kid, i always picked out goofy glasses frames.

3.i like to frame each day with moments of peace and stillness

4. is Truth fixed, or based on frame of reference?

5. if i could review freeze-frames of myself at the end of each day--facial expressions, emotions, words, energy levels--i might learn much to build on for tomorrow.

...do you have any frame-able thoughts to add?

Top Five Hands That Feed Me

2008-06-16T21:01:00.003-05:00

i'm nourished by...

1. my muse (she's been quiet recently)
2. my parents (in different ways now that i've left the nest, of course)
3. universal creative energy (or God or whatever you call it...)
4. jenehr family farm (quite literally)
5. john (he puts the food on our table, yes, but he also nourishes my heart and soul)

...who/what feeds your body, mind, and soul?

Top Five Falls

2008-06-12T20:41:00.003-05:00

descending...

1. right now, i'm watching the night fall
2. i try not to let my standards fall
3. this evening, we sat in our "basement" while the rain continued to fall
5. i used to live in M- Falls
6. several times today, i watched eliza fall

...did you fall today?

Top Five Things on My Hands Today

2008-06-11T20:49:00.002-05:00

not what i was holding, but what was physically on the skin of my hands...

1. bike-chain grease
2. soap suds
3. sand
4. tortilla chip salt
5. germs

...what was on your hands today?

Top Five Tails

2008-06-04T06:10:00.003-05:00

tailing another word's usage...

1. pin the tail on the donkey
2. tail between the legs
3. heads or tails
4. tail end
5. cattail

...aside from animals and embryos, where else do you see tails?

Top Five Ups and Downs

2008-06-02T20:35:00.007-05:00

physically speaking...

1. eliza falls down a lot, but she scrambles back up quickly.

2. claire has to look up at most people, but eliza is one person she can look down to see.

3. the kids have been getting up at a more reasonable time, and they go down at night fairly easily, too. (oh shoot, did i just jinx myself?)

4. if she's out of her comfort zone, eliza wants "up," but if there's something to explore, she wiggles to get down.

5. claire loves to dress up as Felicity, a character in the books she doesn't want us to put down.

...what have you been up to?

Top Five Matters

2008-06-01T05:50:00.002-05:00

we aren't talking about a serious matter here...

1. what's the matter?
2. it doesn't matter
3. as a matter of fact...
4. the Matterhorn
5. states of matter

...are there any other matters of interest?

Top Five Important Trees

2008-05-27T05:30:00.000-05:00

beautiful, symbolic, marking my past...

1. 3 knee-high pines grown tall by now, one planted for each sister in our new yard.

2. a low-branched tree plowed over by now, a make-shift treehouse in the empty lot next door.

3. charleston's Angel Oak observed in quiet reverence, a witness to the past and a lesson in longevity.

4. two intertwined trees in the north woods, a symbol of two linked souls growing stable and strong.

5. a creek-side tree bearing two carved names, the site of love's pledge and a wedding proposal.

...what holds symbolism for you?

Top Five Roads to Travel

2008-05-26T12:38:00.000-05:00

choose a path to walk...

1. you could take the long and winding road
2. or opt for the straight and narrow.
3. you could choose easy street,
4. or end up on rocky road.
5. but, perchance, you may just want to wander off the beaten path.

what other roads could you travel?

Top Five Invasive Species

2008-05-23T06:17:00.004-05:00

garlic mustard grows rampant in our outdoor neighborhood, but these could overtake a home landscape...

1. the ho hums
2. junk mail
3. impatience
4. ceiling corner cobwebs
5. plastic bags

...which invasive species do you try to eradicate?

Top Five Poses

2008-05-19T05:59:00.002-05:00

not quite yoga, but moments of stillness...

1. The coffee pose: cup in hand, mind awakening, slowly present
2. The reading pose: child in lap, page turning, quietly together
3. The water-break pose: feet off pedals, upright-standing, scenery paused
4. The embrace pose: hearts close, tightly holding, strongly loved
5. The lying-flat pose: end of day, almost sleeping, finally still

...what are your favorite poses of the day?

Top Five Walls

2008-05-15T05:25:00.000-05:00

literal and figurative...

1. pink floyd's the wall
2. the runner's wall
3. the berlin wall
4. the wailing wall
5. wal-mart (silent shudder implied)
...can you hit on any other walls?

Top Five Books on my List

2008-05-14T18:00:00.002-05:00

cleared off the old list, on to new ones...

1. in defense of food, by michael pollan
2. into the wild, by jon krakauer
3. the heart of yoga, by t. k. v. desikachar
4. lyra's oxford, by philip pullman
5. the open road: the global journey of the 14th dali lama, by pico iyer

...what are you reading...or planning to read?

Top Five Mothers in Literature

2008-05-11T21:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day...

1. passionate and fatefully-tempted: Eve (Biblical mother of us all)
2. outspoken and nerve-wracked: Mrs. Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)
3. providing and fiercely-protective: Mrs. Weasley (the Harry Potter series)
4. sweet and always-supportive: Marmee (Little Women)
5. strong and quietly-wise: Hester Prynne (The Scarlett Letter)

...what other famous mothers live between the pages of a book?

Top Five Sounds of the Morning

2008-05-08T06:10:00.003-05:00

the audio of that waking-up hour...

1. the alarm clock, of course: the jarring beep which i may or may not hear

2. the coffee pot: the gurgling and steaming which promise to de-fog my brain

3. my own deep breath: the lung-filling slowness which clears my mind for the day

4. early birds: the songs and calls which tell of a world already in full swing

5. eliza's morning wails and claire's slide-thump down the stairs: bitter-sweet wake-up sounds which end my morning hour.

...what sounds do you hear in the morning?

Top Five Current Sight Lines

2008-05-06T20:01:00.000-05:00

when i look up from my computer, i see...

1. a picture collage of john and i, reminding me of those growing-up years we weathered together (and here we are!).

2. dusk falling, reminding me that even the nicest days come to an end (and that i must enjoy the present).

3. an unsightly mark on the apartment-paint-jobbed wall, reminding me that we still don't own a house (but this sure is home!).

4. a half-glass of water, reminding me that i have an outlook choice (and that i should keep hydrated!).

5. a pile of clothing on the floor, reminding me that i STILL haven't thrown in that load of biking wash (but i will...).

...what do you see, right now?

Top Five New Appreciations

2008-05-04T20:03:00.002-05:00

went for my first long bike ride today (56 mils!),
over a loop of the Ironman Wisconsin bike course,
in preparation for the TOMROV...

1. i have a new appreciation for what those Iron folks do out there on race day--the course is harder than i ever imagined (hills nicknamed "The Bitch" and "The Lance Armstrong Hill" are way harder on the bike than in the car, it turns out).

2. i have a new appreciation for the term lactic burn--my quads were okay the first 40 miles but reacted with painful protest on the final leg

3. i have a new appreciation for the beautiful countryside surrounding madison--"the middle of nowhere" is practically in our backyards, it turns out, with varied topography, beautiful homes, and abundant farmsteads.

4. i have a new appreciation for snack sticks--salty protein never tasted so good.

5. i have a new appreciation for something John truly loves--he's done this same ride countless times before, and it was amazing to experience it with him (sandbag though i was).

...what do you have a new appreciation for, in your life?

Top Five Sesame Street Parodies

2008-05-01T20:39:00.007-05:00

i love this show...

1. Furry, Happy Monsters (REM)
2. RSI: Rhyme Scene Investigation
3. Outrageous Makeover: Home Addition
4. Don't Know Why (Norah Jones)
5. GNN (Anderson Cooper)

...click the links to watch the clips (the presence of kids is optional).

Top Five Backs

2008-04-29T07:59:00.003-05:00

returning...

1. i went off coffee for awhile, but now i'm back! (couldn't stay away...)

2. now that i'm working at the farmer's market again, we've been back buying good milk. (it's hard not to support local farmers when you have the chance to meet their gazes and hear their stories)

3. we went back to the waterpark (an indoor one we tried last year) over the weekend. (both kids, it turns out, are water bugs!)

4. our good friends are moving back to our area! (hooray!)

5. yoga has been strengthening my back. (and my mind, too, along with the rest of my body)

...what have you been back to?

Top Five Dish Thoughts

2008-04-26T21:08:00.005-05:00

trying to be in the moment,
to "get" the dish-ness of the dishes...

1. rag circling, patterns in the suds
2. glass clinking, a symphony discordant
3. water tapping, source to pipe to hands
4. reflection sharpening, grit becomes shine
5. fingers wrinkling, mind may wander but i am here

be in the moment, with something simple.
...what do you experience?

Top Five Unwanted Spring Cleaning Jobs

2008-04-25T21:16:00.002-05:00

maybe if i voice the list, it'll get done...

1. purge the toys (oh, the clutter!)
2. scrub the carpet (oh, the splatter!)
3. organize the laundry room (oh, the jumble!)
4. clean the closets (oh, the tumble!)
5. sort random papers (oh, the disarray!)

...what to-do-list chores do you wish away?

Top Five Beginnings/Endings

2008-04-23T21:37:00.005-05:00

there is much beyond the linear reality...

1. sunrise/sunset: but the night is full, too
2. birth/death: but all does not go dark
3. first page/last line: but the imagination spins on
4. hello/goodbye: but the soul-to-soul imprint remains
5. start line/finish line: but another race awaits

...what else exists beyond tangible beginnings and ends?

Top Five Careers I Could Hold

2008-04-22T08:03:00.004-05:00

still haven't decided what to "be,"
when that time comes for me...

1. freelance writer
2. letter carrier
3. yoga instructor
4. creative editor
5. massage therapist

...what are your dream jobs?

Top Five Images I Hold in my Mind of You, Tom and Pat

2008-04-21T06:10:00.003-05:00

celebrating 40 years...

1. seeing you both in the bleachers at an important high school track meet--it meant a lot that you were there for me.

2. joining the family at christmas year after year--your family pride was evident

3. seeing you stand on either side of John at the altar on our wedding day--you were beside him throughout his life, and i knew that you'd always be there for us

4. knowing that you were with Claire when Eliza was born--your support and love during that time will always be seared into our hearts.

5. witnessing today the love you hold for each other and for the family you've created--the commitment, patience, compassion, and strength in that love is beautiful.

...Happy Anniversary!!

Top Five Universal Conditions

2008-04-16T21:24:00.003-05:00

these i try to call to mind when i'm about to judge someone...

1. everybody needs
2. everybody loves
3. everybody fears
4. everybody breathes
5. everybody dies

...what do you see, when you look at all others?

Top Five Recent Firsts

2008-04-14T21:25:00.003-05:00

spring, a season of all things new...

1. eliza had the first haircut of her life
2. claire got the first scraped knee of the season
3. john and i had our first overnight getaway since eliza was born
4. i'm working at this year's first outdoor farmer's market this weekend
5. the leafblowing landscapers showed up today for the first time since fall, and neither child expressed fear (for the first time)

...what firsts have you found so far?

Top Five Tonics I Could Take

2008-04-11T05:55:00.000-05:00

miracle cures...

1. eau de fence: inner walls instantly crumbled
2. eau de fuddle: universal Truths instantly defined
3. eau de cision: the proper path, instantly illuminated
4. eau de legate: self-made loads, instantly lightened
5. eau de mote: stubborn self righteousness, instantly dissolved

...which instant antidotes would benefit you?

Top Five Gifts I'd Love to Give You, John

2008-04-10T07:55:00.006-05:00

all the things that money can buy,
(but more importantly, what it CAN'T)...

1. keys to a new mustang...but you know you have the keys to my heart.

2. the deed to a beautiful house...but i know you cherish the beautiful love that fills our home.

3. plane tickets to a coastal getaway...but i know you'll enjoy a simple evening here.

4. that top-end triathlon bike you drool over...but i know you're thankful for your breath and your strength and your health and the inward soaring you experience with every ride.

5. all the best and latest electronics...but i know you're entertained (and more importantly, warmed) by the two tiny girls whose fingers you're wrapped around.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY LOVE!

Top Five Cheap Thrills of Childhood

2008-04-09T05:50:00.002-05:00

who needs toys...

1. emotional tug of war
2. spinning
3. jumping on the bed
4. wind
5. listening to self talk, scream, sing, make rude noises

...what free fun do your kids find?

Top Five Less and More's

2008-04-07T21:32:00.005-05:00

less IS more, as they say...

1. less talking and more listening
2. less doing and more being
3. less complaining and more thanking
4. less looking down and more looking up
5. less feeling right and more making changes

...what would you reduce and ramp up?

Top Five Ways to Eat Fast

2008-04-04T06:23:00.000-05:00

a problem i have...

1. gobble up
2. scarf down
3. snap up
4. wolf down
5. inhale

...how do you eat?

Top Five Sounds of Silence

2008-04-01T06:00:00.004-05:00

kids still sleeping, all is quiet...

1. clock, softly ticking
2. baby monitor, quietly rushing
3. furnace, intermittently kicking
4. computer fan, wordlessly whispering
5. early-spring birds, tentatively singing

...what sounds of silence serenaded you this morning?

Top Five Ways I Irritate My Husband

2008-03-29T13:41:00.001-05:00

sorry, John...

1. apologizing for things that are not really my fault
2. taking a long time to make up my mind
3. refusing to admit i'm wrong
4. taking everything too seriously
5. reacting defensively to criticism

...in what ways do you drive your loved ones nuts?

Top Five Building Blocks

2008-03-28T21:17:00.003-05:00

beyond molecules and matter...

1. food and love, the building blocks of children
2. words and metaphors, the building blocks of literature
3. energy and stillness, the building blocks of optimism
4. trust and commitment, the building blocks of marriage
5. hope and faith, the building blocks of change

...what do you use to build?

Top Five Things Best Ignored

2008-03-26T21:23:00.003-05:00

focusing elsewhere, away from...

1. the ego
2. the said and done
3. the clutter
4. the commercials
5. the piles of chocolate in our cupboard

...what do you try to ignore?

Top Five Things That Need Attention

2008-03-25T07:09:00.001-05:00

i try to focus, sometimes successfully (sometimes not), on...

1. the kids
2. the breath
3. the news
4. the clouds
5. the words i choose

...what do you direct your attention towards?

Top Five Under-statements

2008-03-20T20:28:00.006-05:00

bringing this out from under wraps...

1. we were under the weather.
2. there's a lot of junk under the bed.
3. eliza understands more than she can say.
4. i need new underwear.
5. we're all over worked and under paid.

...what under-statements can you make? (you're not under pressure)

Top Five Mistakes Easily Made

2008-03-19T05:58:00.005-05:00

all recently...

1. toenails, cut too short (ouch!)
2. important document, misplaced (shoot!)
3. left turn, wrongly made (argh!)
4. simple word, misspelled on something non-reprintable (seriously!)
5. milk, left out much too long (guzzled by baby, oh no!)

...what little errors have you made recently?

Top Five Five-Syllable Words

2008-03-17T06:26:00.003-05:00

the first five off the top of my head...

1. congratulations
2. humidifier
3. imperceptible
4. actuality
5. chronological

...quick, can you think of any?

Top Five Drops in the Bucket

2008-03-16T20:23:00.008-05:00

small...
(but SIGNIFICANT)...

1. this earth is just a molecule of water in the ocean of the universe.
(appreciate it)

2. this house is just a speck of dust on the map of the world.
(love it)

3. this beating heart is just a grain of sand on the shore of souls.
(live it)

4. this blog is just a point of light on the milky way of cyberspace.
(read it)

5. this moment is just a note of music in the symphony of time.
(savor it)

...what other tiny parts of the whole can you identify?
...(and deem important)

Top Five Things

2008-03-14T07:35:00.004-05:00

a word your english teacher told you not to use...

1. if it's not one thing, it's another
2. you poor little thing
3. it's all or nothing
4. give it everything you've got
5. "And Sally and I did not know what to do. So we had to shake hands with Thing One and Thing Two..."

...come on, i'm sure you can think of a little something!

Top Five Artificials That Don't Quite Cut It

2008-03-09T21:27:00.003-05:00

an attempt, but just not good enough...

1. artificial sweetener when you're craving true flavor
2. artificial light when you're dreaming of the summer sun
3. artificial smile when you need genuine kindness
4. artificial flowers when you long to see soft petal attached to living stem anchored in fertile earth
5. artificial intelligence when you're searching for real conversation

...what imitations don't quite compare?

Top Five Eights

2008-03-08T19:51:00.003-06:00

following seven and preceding nine...

1. the 8-fold path
2. Romona Quimby, Age 8
3. Around the World in Eighty Days
4. Crazy 8's
5. V8

...what are some other pieces of eight?

Top Five Forces

2008-03-04T17:41:00.003-06:00

sure, there's gravity and whatnot, but consider these...

1. the force from below, anchoring us to the earth (and the daily grind).

2. the force from above, willing us higher (in soul-space).

3. the forces from every lateral direction, pressing with expectations (and standards).

4. the force from within, expanding outwards from the heart (to keep the self from collapse).

5. the force from two souls adjoined, radiating a patch of beauty (into our gray world).

...what forces do you feel?

Top Five Extracurriculars

2008-03-03T18:52:00.002-06:00

activities i'd squeeze into every day, if i could...

1. physical motion: biking, yoga

2. stillness: meditation, prayer

3. mental motion: writing, contemplating

4. escape: reading, movie watching

5. connecting: get togethers, phone calls

...outside your day-to-day duties, what do you like to do?

Top Five Shreds

2008-03-02T21:07:00.004-06:00

in tiny amounts, but definitely there...

1. shreds of decency, offered from one to another

2. shreds of dignity, left after some kind of horror

3. shreds of paper, strewn about after a search

4. shreds of light, illuminating Truth

5. shreds of hope, buoying our souls

...what other shreds does the world hold?

Top Five Types of Thoughts

2008-02-29T13:07:00.004-06:00

a variety of thoughts stream constantly though our minds...

1. remembering
2. planning
3. analyzing
4. judging
5. observing

...how do you categorize your thoughts?

Top Five Reasons to Close Your Eyes

2008-02-28T12:14:00.001-06:00

lids down, we lose ourselves...block things out...

1. in dreams
2. in pain
3. in bliss
4. in anticipation
5. in fear

...what else causes us to close our eyes?

Top Five Things Everybody Wants

2008-02-26T05:43:00.002-06:00

above all, our souls crave...

1. to have one more breath: to try again, to sense the world
2. to be encircled: by love, by acceptance
3. to have some guarantee: of safety, of survival
4. to be free: from hate, from fear
5. to have a little room: to make mistakes, to change, to forgive, to be forgiven.

...what needs would you call basic, intrinsic, universal?

Top Five Projections from my Younger Self

2008-02-25T07:05:00.002-06:00

when i was 17, i could hardly fathom 27...
i thought i would be:

1. together: you know, like without doubts and stuff. (still working on this...)
2. figured out: yep, i'd have, like, a plan (still working on this...)
3. mature: i'd be totally grown up and everything (still working on this...)
4. married: to john, duh (got this one!!)
5. happy: because...why not? (got this one!!)

...another year gone by!

Top Five Word Sentence Game

2008-02-21T20:32:00.003-06:00

it's a game, let's play...

1. i'll make up the starting sentence: She Wrote This Post Quickly
2. next sentence is composed of five words, each word beginning with the last letter of the previous sentence's words.
3. so, the next sentence uses these letters: E E S T Y
4. and next sentence is: Each Elephant Squeaks Toward You
5. post a comment with your sentence, using the last letters in each word from the previous commenter's sentence. (first commenter, use above sentence, letters = H T S D U)

...it's not complicated, really. humor me--join in!

**game made up by someone else**

Top Five Orders

2008-02-20T06:35:00.004-06:00

in no particular order...

1. birth order
2. chronological order
3. alphabetical order
4. law and order
5. monastical order

...i'm placing an order for more--can you think of any?

Top Five Seasonal Exchanges

2008-02-17T13:37:00.002-06:00

i'll gladly accept the annoyances that may accompany a warmer season...

1. i'll take the terror of the monthly tornado siren test over the scariness of night-time snow plow visits (claire's fears)

2. i'll take a profusion of sweat and melting makeup over dry skin and staticy hair.

3. i'll take the boredom of a rain day over the insanity of cabin fever.

4. i'll take hot and sticky sheets over constantly freezing feet.

5. i'll take mosquito bites over jack frost's bite.

...what do you promise not to mind about summer, if it ever comes?

Top Five Arts

2008-02-14T17:47:00.005-06:00

in mastering these, we become artists...
in attempting these, we grow...

1. the art of doing nothing
2. the art of self forgiveness
3. the art of raising a child
4. the art of constructive criticism
5. the art of balance

...what art forms do you aspire to learn?

Top Five Points

2008-02-11T20:48:00.000-06:00

a pointed discussion...

1. Eliza's demand : a finger point
2. the present moment: a potential turning point
3. a tool, a weapon: the pencil point
4. love : a life point
5. a basket, a goal, (the dishes done?) : a scored point

...can you point out more?

Top Five Contagions

2008-02-10T15:56:00.000-06:00

1. sneeze on me and i'll catch your cold;
2. smile at me and mine will unfold.
3. yawn near me and i will, too;
4. storm at me and my own will brew.
5. speak your mind and mine will weigh;

how else do we infect one another's day?

Top Five Dreams of Spring

2008-02-07T05:49:00.000-06:00

under a new foot of snow, i dream of...

1. sandals, bare feet, the feel of significant sun on my skin
2. walks, bike rides, the freedom of distance and motion
3. buds, bird songs, the sense of new life abounding
4. parks, sand boxes, the possibilities of a new world to explore
5. breezes, open windows, the breath of life invigorating us all

...what do you anticipate about the new season?

Top Five Notes From a Good Year

2008-02-01T06:07:00.000-06:00

Happy First Birthday ELIZA JANE...

1. you know, eliza, if i had a penny for every night i've been up with you...well, let's just say i'd be probably $3.50 richer, give or take. i may have circles under my eyes...but i have you.

2. we all come into this world "naked and alone," as they say...but your sister has been a part of nearly all of your waking moments. she is your partner, your pal, your go-to girl, your best friend, your protector, your teacher. your mutual adoration warms my soul. i'm so glad you have each other.

3. those early months were not easy--i don't miss all the bouncing, walking, jostling to sleep...the 20 minute naps...your hysterical car rides...me as your only source of comfort and nourishment...nursing at the keyboard while working. but from that 'high-needs' beginning, i can appreciate more fully the steps you're making towards autonomy. you've already come so far.

4. you are a climber and a "getter;" nothing is forbidden to you (in your mind). but even when you're in a go-go-go mood, you love to stop for a quick cuddle. you greet us with similes and 'hugs' when one of us arrives home. you 'tuck in' towards us when you're tired or shy. . simply said, you are so sweet.

5. you already have so many obvious preferences--Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb, cheese, lions, Laba, fish, peekaboo. i've seen you timid and brave, shy and outgoing, independent and clingy, quiet and loud, angry and happy. you're about to walk. you are proud of the words you can say. you love baths, you hate diaper changes. you enjoy the stroller and the snow. you think you're bigger than you are. this year, we've learned a bit about who you are...i can't wait to see what you will become!

...we love you!

Top Five Revealing Books

2008-01-31T06:35:00.000-06:00

a literary peek into my life...

1. If you've ever read The Golden Compass, you'll understand me when I say, "I'm pretty sure Eliza thinks she's my daemon."

2. If you've ever read Harry Potter, you'll understand why I think Claire will be our very own Herminone.

3. If you've ever read Eat, Pray, Love, you'll understand why I've been drawn to explore meditation.

4. If you've ever read The Velveteen Rabbit, you'll understand why, as a child, I always wanted the manufacturer's tag cut off my stuffed animals.

5. If you've ever read anything by Barbara Kingsolver, you'll know the kind of writer I aspire to be.

...what books reveal something about your life?

Top Five Ways You Can Tell I'm a Stay-At-Home-Mom

2008-01-29T07:05:00.000-06:00

a few indicators...

1. i go to the bathroom not alone...but always with someone following me!

2. i try to get up earlier than the kids not because i have to...but because i savor those few quiet moments.

3. i build muscle not by working out...but by carrying kids!

4. i go to work not with dread...but with the lightness of being alone for awhile.

5. i am paid not with anything of monetary value...but with love and life lessons.

...what are some signs that you do what you do?

Top Five Water Metaphors

2008-01-27T13:48:00.001-06:00

ok, technically similes, too...

1. just a drop in the bucket
2. peace like a river
3. waves of nausea
4. water under the bridge
5. as certain as the tide

...how else do we use water figuratively?

Top Five Feasts

2008-01-22T20:07:00.000-06:00

a feast for each sense:

1. the sound of complete Hush after much ballyhoo
2. the sight of a summer's eve sunset hue
3. the scent of wood fires burning on a cold, cold day
4. the taste of chocolate (i know, it's cliche)
5. the feeling of another's hand clasped in mine

...how do your senses love to dine?

Top Five Loooong Term Goals

2008-01-18T20:01:00.000-06:00

dreaming big...

1. run a marathon (used to seem so possible)
2. publish a book (if only i could think)
3. travel overseas (just need the money)
4. achieve some kind of enlightenment (still searching for a path)
5. make a quilt (better learn to sew straight)

...what are your far-fetched (but attainable!) goals?

Top Five Things I AM

2008-01-17T20:39:00.001-06:00

i'm NOT a lot of things, but i can say that i AM...

1. together
2. awash
3. here
4. full
5. real

what are you?

Top Five Things I'm Not

2008-01-16T06:10:00.000-06:00

i am a lot of things, but not---

1. alone
2. organized
3. the same
4. ready
5. done

...what about you?

Top FiveThings I Try Not to Think About

2008-01-10T06:47:00.000-06:00

i try not to dwell...

1. what if's (they'll make you crazy)
2. what dust bunnies are gathering in unseen--and seen--corners (they're inevitable)
3. what time it is, when i'm unable to fall asleep (only makes matters worse)
4. what other people think of me (i need to listen to my own voice)
5. what will bring about the end of the world (it's just too scary)

...what do you try to keep out of your head?

Top Five Favorite Things

2008-01-06T22:50:00.001-06:00

sound of music style...

1. beds that are made with freshly washed sheets
2. kids in pajamas that cover their feet
3. the first green buds that emerge in the spring
these are a few of my favorite things
4. creaky wood flooring in old resale bookstores
5. rounded glass fragments that wash up on lake shores
blog reading friends who are ready to sing:
what are a few of your favorite things?

Top Five Blind Phrases

2008-01-04T20:24:00.000-06:00

another word! i can't stop!

1. i was blind sided
2. you're in my blind spot
3. we've been blinded by the light
4. i once was blind but now i see
5. open the blinds

...don't be blind, there are more to find!

Top Five New Year Resolves

2008-01-02T06:54:00.001-06:00

a new list for a new year...

1. sleep improvement (yes, Eliza, this involves you)
2. bike enjoyment (focusing not on miles or time, but fun)
3. spiritual movement (continuing on the Path)
4. self contentment (a lifetime goal, really)
5. clutter management (unattainable, perhaps)

...what will you work on or change in 2008?

Top Five Daily Breads

2007-12-28T06:35:00.000-06:00

give us this day...

1. food...and all those physical things we need--warmth, a roof, sleep (?)
2. love...the ability to give and receive
3. purpose...to give direction on the footpath
4. safety...so our defenses can rest
5. peace...through prayer--or deep breathing--or long, solitary walks--or whatever brings calm to the soul.

...what is your definition of daily bread?

Top Five Christmas Tunes

2007-12-21T20:46:00.000-06:00

my favorites...

1. The Little Drummer Boy (my favorite as a child)

2. Happy Xmas (War is Over), by John Lennon (you should see claire dance to this one)

3. Gloria in Excelsis Deo (fills my soul! reminds me of children's choir, too.)

4. Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer (claire gets the biggest kick out of it)

5. White Christmas, by Bing Crosby (i just like the sound of this guy's voice)

...which Christmas songs make you sing (or dance)?

Top Five Halves

2007-12-19T07:22:00.001-06:00

part of the whole...

1. half marathon
2. half baked
3. half hearted
4. better half
5. half price

...it only take half a minute--any others?

Top Five Places I Hold Tension

2007-12-17T20:58:00.000-06:00

physical buildup...

1. in my knuckles, where i grip the wheel (snow!)
2. between my eyes, where i furrow my brow
3. in my jaw, where i clench frustration
4. between my shoulder blades, where knots abound
5. in my quad muscles, where i can't unwind

...relax, relax, relax: easier said than done
where do you hold tension?

Top Five Didn't Even's

2007-12-13T21:45:00.000-06:00

a pretty good day...

1. didn't even need that afternoon caffeine jolt--tired today, but less so.
2. didn't even mind the mall today--fewer folks ambling around at opening time.
3. didn't even wait in line at the post office--love that self-serve kiosk.
4. didn't even do dishes today--John took care of it!
5. didn't even go to bed too late--heading there now.

...what didn't you do today?

Top Five Baby Toy Alternatives

2007-12-11T06:39:00.000-06:00

there is so much Eliza can't have that she loves to get into...

1. the dollhouse: all those small people! they're begging to be eaten...
2. the barn: all those animals! they're so nice to chew...
3. crayons: so many colors! maybe they taste just as pretty...
4. anything in the kitchen cupboards: a whole world of toys behind each door...
5. anything claire is playing with: must get in on the action!

...what does (or did) your littlest one love to get into?

Top Five Ones in Many

2007-12-06T19:12:00.000-06:00

seemingly insignificant, but truly important...

1. a single puzzle piece is just one of many, but if it were missing the whole would be incomplete.

2. a single car in traffic is just one of many, but if it were to swerve the disaster could be fatal.

3. a single star above is just one of many, but if it were extinguished entire worlds might go dark.

4. a single word is just one of many, but if it were deleted the new sentence could crush.

5. a single face in the crowd is just one of many, but if you left my life a piece of me would disappear.

...can you add to my list?

Top Five Christmas Memories from Childhood

2007-12-03T12:13:00.000-06:00

claire's excitement about decorating this weekend made me smile in remembrance of my own childhood...

1. putting up the tree as a family, Christmas music playing in the background
2. singing in the Christmas Eve mass children's choir
3. definitely hearing hooves on the roof before finally drifting off to sleep
4. waking super early Christmas morning, sorting the presents with my sisters, waiting impatiently for mom and dad to awaken
5. breaking Oplatek with the extended family

...what Christmas memories do you recall from your childhood?

Top Five Recent Attempts

2007-11-29T07:39:00.001-06:00

giving it a go...

1. tried facebook--fun!
2. made kale chips--actually, yum!
3. tweaked my appearance--nose piercing re-done!
4. shopped for the holidays--but i've barely begun...
5. attempted sleep changes for Eliza--but the jury's still out on this one...

...what have you tried recently?

Top Five Foot Functions

2007-11-28T08:51:00.000-06:00

inspired today by the topic of Elmo's world...

1. cold feet
2. fancy footwork
3. six feet under
4. football
5. footage

...where do you see feet in everyday language?

Top Five Lazy Word Constructions I'd Like to Edit OUT of My Vocabulary

2007-11-23T16:34:00.001-06:00

let's articulate, people...

1. prolly (probably)
2. i'mmunna (i'm going to)
3. wanna (want to)
4. hey (okay?)
5. doncha (don't you)

...what slangy speech would you eliminate?

Top Five Ways to Give

2007-11-22T06:41:00.000-06:00

1. thanksgiving
2. forgiving
3. misgiving
4. caregiving

5. lifegiving

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!

Top Five Favorite Places to Go Alone

2007-11-20T20:10:00.000-06:00

places i'd like to go sans kids, by myself...

1. library
2. coffee shop
3. church
4. bookstore
5. woods

...where do you like to go alone?

Top Five Harvest Crops

2007-11-18T06:33:00.000-06:00

last farmer's market of the season: we're stocked up...

1. Hakuri turnips--raw, i'm not kidding, they're amazing
2. golden beets--roasted with garlic, mmmm
3. squash--thinking of soup...
4. celeriac--raw! soups! roasts! hooray!
5. rutabaga--i'll admit, i've never cooked with this one...
...but i'm ambitious. (plus, i love the word)

...what harvest crops do you give thanks for?

Top Five Traps

2007-11-15T19:44:00.001-06:00

another word post: i'm trapped in a rut...

1. lint trap
2. Venus fly trap
3. booby trap
4. The Von Trapp Family Singers
5. holiday trappings

...can you trap some more?

Top Five Low's

2007-11-10T10:43:00.000-06:00

no, I'm not talking about that huge store...

1. give me the low down
2. how low can you go?
3. the cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes
4. feeling low
5. swing low, sweet chariot

...i know you're not low on ideas--let's hear some more!

Top Five Places to Pray

2007-11-09T07:21:00.000-06:00

in the dark: before I slip into dreams
in the shower: thoughts rise higher with steam
at the table: before sharing a family meal
in a quiet car: thoughts hum from behind the wheel
outside: the beauty of nature reveals God's face
...what do you name as your praying place?

Top Five Night Writes

2007-11-07T06:05:00.000-06:00

a few thoughts on those dark hours...

1. night rite: bedtime rituals are important to us all
2. night plight: this too shall pass, but eliza's wakings can be a trial
3. night sight: without contacts or glasses, the world is a blur
4. night fright: i admit, i'm afraid of the dark
5. night bite: midnight snacks are sometimes necessary

...what can you write about night?

Top Five Fifths

2007-10-31T06:31:00.000-05:00

a list of lists...

1. Jan-Feb-Mar-Apr-MAY
2. a-b-c-d-E
3. paul-gerri-maria-sarah-CHRISTINE
4. Genesis-Exodus-Leviticus-Numbers-DEUTERONOMY
5. hydrogen-helium-lithium-beryllium-BORON

...what else comes fifth in line?

Top Five Collections

2007-10-30T07:15:00.000-05:00

as a child, i had a rock collection. these days, it's a little different.

i collect...
1. memories, for soul-food use
2. kid smiles, for happiness proof
3. word constructions, for blog use
4. dust bunnies, for busy-ness proof
5. sleep hours, for energy use

...what do you collect?

Top Five Break-able Phrases

2007-10-24T06:14:00.000-05:00

i enjoy investigating the way we use our words....

1. break a leg
2. move at breakneck speed
3. reach the breaking point
4. break dance
5. it's daybreak

where else do we use the word "break"?

Top Five Films I'd Like to See

2007-10-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

not that i EVER watch movies anymore, but...

1. The Secret (i'm belatedly curious...)

2. An Inconvenient Truth (hey, did you know Al Gore won a Nobel prize for his work on global warming?)

3. Shrek 3 (I know it wasn't rated highly, but it's such a well loved series in our house, we've got to see it through)

4. Pride and Prejudice--the 5 hr version (but who has that kind of time?)

5. Harry Potter 6 (i know, i know, it won't be out until late next year....but i CAN'T WAIT!!)

...what's on your must-see list?

Top Five Things I Make on Most Days

2007-10-16T07:26:00.000-05:00

though i will admit, i rarely make the beds...

1. i usually make dinner (though John certainly does his fair share)
2. i make money tutoring (a little bit)
3. i try to make time for myself (to stay sane...and whole)
4. i make believe with claire (in her many and various pretend scenes)
5. i make all the milk eliza drinks (which, i think, is pretty darn cool)

...what do you make?

Top Five-Lined Poem

2007-10-14T08:53:00.001-05:00

a little ditty i wrote long ago...

i run in circles, chasing shadows
who i am, who i was,
who i want to be.
suddenly, Light:
i am alone.

...do you have any you'd like to share?

Top Five Pits

2007-10-10T06:50:00.000-05:00

yet another mulit-use word...

1. armpit
2. gravel pit
3. "the pits"
4. pit of despair
5. "what a pitty"

what other pits can you find?

Top Five Balancing Acts

2007-10-07T21:13:00.000-05:00

finding a middle ground between...

1...giving and receiving
2...earning and spending
3...stillness and motion
4...talking and listening
5...separation and immersion

...on what other continuums do you seek balance?