I so want to believe that there is life out there...ones who are superiorly more intelligent than those inhabiting this planet. I imagine that they look at Earth and say, "what a beautiful place that is being destroyed by those entrusted to be the keepers." I think they would have to be awfully puzzled by the combative nature of humans...thinking where on earth is the humanity?

I imagine that they would look at us in wonder while wondering why can't those people just get along already. Watching us fight over race, religion, politics....and other things that are just incomprehensible. I'm sure they shake their heads as the watch us with each new headline of shootings that sadly come daily. I'm sure they find the 5 o'clock news a daily horror show filled with all the acts of mankind not being so kind.

I'm sure if we ventured to their planet that we would be just as welcomed as "Cousin Eddie" in the Vacation movies....a moment of ....well, there goes the neighborhood.

After losing my two German Shepherds - Sam and then Brandy I swore I would never ever go through that pain again. Pets are not "pets" they are family....if anything they own us. Both lived long happy lives and knew that they were loved beyond measure. Sam went first at 14 and the following year just a few weeks shy of her 14th birthday Brandy followed. That heart crushing soul deep mourning was rough.

Last year I thought...life is short why would you not want something so wonderful to be a part of your life? So....I started looking and call it being in the right place at the right time...As I was looking on a local site an ad was posted....I saw this adorable litter and immediately reached out to the owner. He said that I would have first choice...and I told him they are all beautiful but that little red one....they were just 4 weeks old so we arranged a time and off I went. When I saw them I told them yep that is the ONE! He said every one was asking about her and I told him well she is mine.

Four weeks later she was ready to go home with me and it was perfect timing. On my last day of school I went and picked her up. She was 15 pounds when I brought her home. She will be 9 months old on the 30th and is close to 75 pounds now. She is smart as a whip, a great watch dog and tons of fun. She has made life a joy.

She loves to run and play and go to doggie day care. It is really funny when we are watching the local news and every time the newscaster/sportscaster or weatherman says "Houston" she raises her head and stares at the tv. She loves to jump and catch balls and her jam is that Zillow commercial song "Love You". She drops everything and runs in to the room every time it comes on turning her head watching and listening to it. Blew her mind when I played it on the computer.

A girl named Houston brought happy into my life in amazing ways. I am thankful. I am blessed. She is my happy.

I had the fun task of being Spelling Bee Coordinator for our campus this year. The classroom rounds are written and the top spellers move on to the school's oral round....I was helping a teacher go through and check the papers so we get could get her top spellers. I had to laugh at a couple of papers....the word was few and two students had written "fyou" which hey....lol...I get it. The best was yet to come....one scholar had jumbled letters on their page and as I skimmed down I saw none formed any resemblance to any words at all ....but for the word phone our little scholar had written "porn"....first we stared then we laughed....Kids rock!

In a hurry to slow down as time marches on. Just killing time.

(wouldn't accept 6 words)...

This challenge is something that I routinely have as a conversation with myself. I have always believed in letting go of things that we have no business holding on to in life. If something was said or an action was done by someone else - I have no control over that...I do have a choice of dwelling on it or not. Do I want to waste my time on something that 99% of the time boils down to something so petty - ohhhhh hellllll no. Life is too short. I have good friends and family that still rant or hold a grudge over something that was done to them years ago....what a waste of precious time. I always tell people - do you think they have wasted one second on what they said or did? Nah, they are living their life and probably don't even remember what you are still hopping mad over. We all know people who do that...so much wasted time.

So....I'm going to continue to let go of the things that just simply don't matter. I am going to stay in my lane...I'm going to do me. That said - I always strive to do a better me each day and yeah some days I don't nail it. I have an El Arroyo billboard print (y'all if y'all don't know about El Arroyo - it is a TexMex restaurant in Austin that is known far and wide for putting up the best most hilarious "sayings" on their sign. Most of them are just flat out funny and at other times they manage to say a whole lot in just a few words. (You can find them on Instagram, twitter, Facebook and their site.) O.K. let me get back on track - my print says, "It cost $0.00 to be a Kind Human Being." Not rocket science as we all know this...I don't understand what we all have a potential buttload of within us that we sometimes just fail to tap in to this valuable resource. What if we were kind to everyone....what a nicer place this world might be. Instead of political craziness, instead of grownups acting like reality show nuts, instead of being the unreasonable people we see getting filmed for just being a jerk...we all just chose to be kind. There is an easy way and a hard way....being kind is just easier.

Lukas Nelson (yep, Willie's boy, has a song, "Turn Off the News And Build a Garden" that is spot on....be informed but get away from the TV/electronics and just get out and be a part of your community....cut loose of the negativity and be happy. Just live life. That pretty much sums up what I want this year. I'm going to do more gardening...I'm going to plant a better attitude, be kinder, be more understanding and tend to my garden.

Wishing all a Happy New Year. May it be filled with amazing adventures and tremendous goodness.

I believe in God and that he sent his only son who endured the unthinkable because of his love for us. I feel his presence in good times and even stronger in difficult times.

I do not see religion as a dreaded conversation...people have free will and can choose to believe and accept Him or not. God does not force himself on any of us - it is a personal relationship.

My walk in faith is believing in what I cannot see but hold continual comfort in knowing He is with me in each breath I draw.

To y'all and to all our fellow travelers on this journey - I sincerely from the bottom of my heart hope, wish and pray for all to have an amazing 2023.

May y'all walk in good health and happiness. May goodness and tender mercies line your paths. We have experienced a time like no other and during these pandemic years we have all gone through so much. May our days ahead be brighter.

Let our beings be filled with empathy, kindness, respect for others and let us respect our self and our abilities. May hearts not hold a grudge but offer forgiveness....may we go that extra mile for others. If we ask ourselves have we grown as a citizen not just of our country but of the world...have we done something to give back to make a difference - and I believe we have - may we continue to hold on and build upon the foundation we have started. Our work is certainly cut out for us. So many wrongs in society that need to be changed. I believe we are up to that task.

To the amazing people here, I thank you. I thank you for sharing your talents. Your words - your very voice is precious. The word is so powerful y'all come here with the amazing ability to create laughter, touch one's heart moving one to tears. They also have the capacity and depth to make one think by considering and understanding the different views we all have. The power of the word in y'all is beautiful. Write on. May your pen hold power and joy. Thank y'all. Happy New Years!

Hands up

hope takes flight like a bird

with it releasing a weight

too long anchored to me.

If the purpose was to fight a good fight

I did

I lost me in the process

but found a better and stronger version

Yeah, it is true

what doesn't kill us makes us stronger

battle worn and weary

We take those next precious steps for ourselves on our own

Let's let go of feelings of hurt

along with feeling not good enough

those old seeds of self-doubt

all things negative - Tell 'em bye simple like that

I surrender any and all things negative.

I surrender because I hold that power

I am here, I matter, I count

I know which path to take

Sweet surrender

Deep breath, closed eyes and heart strong but calmy beating

Each beat tells me

Stay light and shine bright

Sweet surrender

Surrender to good

Sweet surrender. Sweet surrender.

I know it is better to give than to receive

but it's awful exhausting too...

so many wishes.... some that I could never achieve

my sweet children young and old around this world I only want good for you.

I take those special things requested

and on bended knee

lift them to the Lord

and I pray for each one of you to be blessed.

The Reindeer, elves and I are doing what we were made to do

Spread joy where we can in a not so gentle place

Remember Christmas is a spirit that lives in you

Use it throughout the year, whenever and wherever you can put a smile on a face

Let us think twice

when we act or speak - let us think it through

It's so much easier to be nice

It's good for our world and for you.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Love,

Santa