It is early morning and the house at White Picket Gardens gleams with ribbons of pale sunlight. My prism covered windows seem to bow to the return of the sun...although in fact it is the air from the furnace which is causing their slow dance.

My New Year's Resolutions have come and gone...I made several...even started a new journal for them. Except for a few days, the slate is clean and I can probably just cross out 2006 and replace it with 2007 for next year. Let's see......never miss a passage (already broke that one)...write my blog every day (oops!)...four days a week at the gym (am I kidding myself?)...eat only healthy (are M & M's really that bad for me?)...lift weights when not at the gym (does Jonah count?) return all phone call and emails within 24 hours (OK, now I am thoroughly depressed). I think I might as well just toss the journal, another year probably won't make any difference.

Sometimes it is good to evaluate and think about all we should be doing...then I get to thinking about all the things I am already doing. No wonder I can't add a lot of new stuff!!

My trip to Philip's at Christmas was as wonderful as I knew it would be. We were both sick with colds and coughs, but it was nice to be sick together, kind of romantic (I am a silver lining girl, am I not?) We enjoyed family and friends most of all and winter island customs. New Year's Eve was spent in Raleigh for First Night listening to our favorite musical group, Molasses Creek.
Did I ever mention that Philip's son-in-law in the fiddle player for that group? Early on that Monday I was on a plane flying north. It was hard to leave, it always is. I miss him.

But so many projects keep my life full....teaching, storytelling, friendships, my little ones, Jonah and Matthew. Jonah is just now learning to talk...not your normal words, but then again, Aaron is not your normal Dad. Jonah can say elk and deer and butterfly and I love you, Nannie (that would be me). With his silky red hair and his giggle, he has won my heart!

This week end Ellen and Marcia have come to spend the week end. Both are from Indy. Ellen and I have decided we have been friends for about 19 years (how can that be?), and have spent many adventures traveling the past few years.
Marcia is a newer acquaintance that we have so welcomed into our storytelling circle and our friendship.

They arrived on Friday night and I decided we would spent the week end without the use of the automobile. (At $2.50 per gallon who needs the car?) I love spending days carless, and it is possible in my town. We left late morning to visit Aaron and Karen (we cut across the neighbor's yard, their house is for sale and they aren't living there!!) and then headed for downtown Angola.
That seems quite formal for such a little town with a circle and a monument. We shopped at the antique stories, the little gift shops and the second hand clothes. (I think I had already bought all the good stuff at the second hand shop, my favorite clothing store!) We lunched at the deli, had hot chocolate at Rachael's, spent time at the "hippie" shop and meandered home for dinner. By 6:30 we were out walking again to the movies. We saw The Family Stone and cried our eyes out, and then decided to have a beer at Skip's. The live music was heavy metal rock 'n roll. Ellen cut out early, but Marcia and I stayed until I actually had to put my fingers in my ears because the noise hurt so much.
I did learn some interesting tricks that I might try in my storytelling with the microphone pole. Put it this way, it was never on the floor!!

We all will say our good byes at noon as I leave for a baby shower for my nephew Cameron and Amy...then off to Kokomo to inspire teachers for an hour and a half tomorrow morning at 7:30....I am not sure I will inspire anyone at that hour...I can only hope my storytelling skills will keep them awake!

The week is full...theatre, meetings, family night in Fort Wayne....
Maybe I will get to the gym once this week, and if I eat the rest of the M & M's then I won't be tempted any more...I might get over to swing Jonah around a bit, but if you send me an email (and I love it when you write about the
passage) you might not hear back for a day or two! What can I say? Resolutions are made to be broken or we would all be perfect, and what fun would that be?

Birthday wishes to Uncle Dean this week who is now back in Florida!
Have a wonderful day, Uncle Dean!

And because on this beautiful morning as I sit in my charming old house with the streaks of sun and clouds, I can only think of Emily Dickinson, "I'll tell you how the sun rose, a ribbon at a time."

Love to all,
Lou Ann