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  The Everlasting Art of Transformation Transformation: to alter or change dramatically in form or appearance The word played out in multiple ways for me this week.    Everyone...even the grands  are working! First, my youngest daughter and her husband bought a new house. Actually it is an old house, but new to them. Built when I was in grade school, the house has had many additions and makeovers through the years. We spent several days removing wallpaper from the dining room, bedroom, and hall. There is more to go.    As we work, we talk about ways  the space can be further updated. Remodeled. Transformed.     It is a work in progress. Then again, aren’t we all?   On Sunday, my mother and I went with my oldest daughter to the theater to see a Broadway production of  My Fair Lady . It was a Christmas gift from Allison and well worth the wait. If you don’t remember the premise of the story, Henry Higgins boasts he can transform ...

  Fun, Full, Fantastic, February   I don’t know about you, but typically, I dread February.    It may be the shortest month of the year, but with long dark days, colder weather, and twenty Valentine movies I’ve watched way too many times, February seems to stretch itself out like a long desolate highway to nowhere.   The mood swing can become so prevalent it is often given a name. It may be referred to as “the winter blues,” or “February mood swings.” Of course the serious cases are treated as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).   Mood markers may include low energy, chronic fatigue, or even weight gain. Okay, that could define any number of disorders, but suffice it to say with limited sunshine, I dread February.   Usually. But…not so much this year.    We had a crazy, cold, bring-everything-to-a-halt snowfall the first week of the month, but other than those two or three days of cold, the sun is shining and so is my mood.   Sun and ligh...

THE KINDNESS CLUB My oldest granddaughter approached the principal of her school with the idea of starting a “Kindness Club.” The idea was to gather a group of students who would commit to writing encouraging words and notes to classmates, tucking them into their desks or lockers randomly.    I don’t know about you, but I think a year of receiving encouraging notes without cause is better than one fancy Valentine card in February.   The timing for me was interesting. My Bible study group is studying people in the book of Acts—Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament. This week we examined Barnabas. We don’t often look at what some consider the minor characters in the Bible.    When Barnabas learned of Jesus he gave himself over fully to the cause of Christianity. He was, in our modern thinking, completely “sold out.” We know from the book of Acts he supported the growing church financially. That alone is major, but if you read the text carefully, you see he was...

The Groundhog Day Movie Challenge:  Making the Most of February   My youngest grandson called me as February approached. He was taking a survey. “Do you think the groundhog will see his shadow or won’t see his shadow?” he asked. I told him I hope he doesn’t see his shadow. “Me, too,” he said. “If he doesn’t see his shadow, spring will come and I can go barefoot outside!”   We talked a few minutes about how animals know more about the weather than we think. He’s five. And smart. Then he was off, tallying the marks on his survey. Everyone on his list, it seems, wants an early spring. And summer.   I don’t actually trust the predictions of a rodent but for some reason Groundhog Day shows up in my writing. The first time was in  Breathing on Her Ow n.  Here is the excerpt:    The radio alarm clock, set for 6:00am, sounded with  I’ve Got You Babe . It reminded Molly of  Groundhog Day . What would happen if Laney had the chance to relive that ...