1234 LETS RESUME THE TOY CATALGUE PLAN ... FINALLY!

2015
Since the toy catalogue plan, parts one and two, were written close to two weeks back, it seems wise to refresh our memories before I conclude with part three.  So, my plan for today is to offer up two posts for the price of one while waiting for my computer guru to arrive, when I'll watch in awe as the knowledge, absorbed within her mind, conjures up the magic necessary to solve problems, which mystify me to no end.  (Thank goodness for division of labor.  I mean, no one can learn everything ... And if we tried, our memory banks would surely rebel and explode!  Even so, it's my inquisitive nature to ask questions, non stop, so, this afternoon, my think tank is bound to sponge up as much knowledge as my brain can absorb until my memory bank rebels, closing the door on anything more until such time as my unquenched thirst for knowledge dials my guru's cell in hopes of making another appointment, some time sooner than later.  Why?  Because I've compiled a todo list of that which I yearn to learn.)

As for now, my trainer awaits.  And as my sciatica has been behaving, I'm eager to welcome him with a smile.

So okay, here comes parts one and two of a creative toy catalogue plan, which offered three active, little guys hours of quiet concentration.  And while they discussed their hearts' desires around our kitchen table, their leader whistled while she worked at whatever made our busy home hum as harmonically as a band that made beautiful music by practicing patience, self control and mutual respect with attention to consistency.

1981
It is sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving.  Picture Barry (12), Steven (10) and David (5) sitting at our round kitchen table, each holding a pen with black ink. All three wiggle with anticipation until the teacher-in-me sits down and passes around three Sears-Roebuck Toy Catalogues, each of which is as hefty as a phone book, and every page seems heaven sent to my three sons, because each is about to express wishes for everything that a child's heart could possibly desire without so much as a lick of guilt to trouble their minds!  As this has become an annual tradition in our home, each knows full well that he is on the cusp of experiencing pure joy!  I mean feeling sanctioned to experience unlimited greed free of guilt is rare, indeed!  And as not one child had a clue as to the slew of lessons that this annual tradition drummed into three open, young minds, year after year, their attentiveness to leadership made my spirit cartwheel with joy, as well.  I mean, seriously, the most absorptive learning takes place while young minds are receptive to having fun.

All four of us enjoyed this tradition, year in and year out, for this reason:
Page by page, the boys got to circle every toy that each young mind felt free to covet without a lick of guilt marring pure delight.

They also enjoyed discussing their choices with each other, at length
And for a short while, they felt as though their mother was empowered
To send all three straight to heaven
And here's why those hefty catalogues, which
I'd stopped at Sears to pick up, seemed heaven-sent to me, too:
I knew this yearly tradition, which
Delighted my three, wild and crazy guys, would offer
A busy working mom, raising three active kids
At least an hour of peace and quiet (several times) for this reason:
The boys knew that I'd follow through with consequences if
Anyone chose to disrespect any of the rules, which
They would recite to me before each catalogue was opened
 In fact, at the first sign of unruly behavior, leadership would

Whisk these coveted catalogues away until another day, and
Though three children felt eager to discuss their choices with me
All discussion was reserved for each other until
Such time as I decided the time was ripe to sit down and
Listen to responsible decisions that
They'd helped each other to make, and as
The catalogues came out of the cupboard four times
Before I'd discuss their choices and then
Begin to buy and hide Chanukah treasures around the house
We'd experience this comunal sense of delight, again and again
And throughout each session of this creative endeavor
It was clear to all that Mom was the leader ...
On the other hand, each child was allowed to caution his brothers
To remember that leadership would bring an early end to
That day's session of catalogue delight for all if
Any rule was broken by one, and
As they knew me to follow through
Their catalogues had been whisked away only once 
Needless to say, each child felt free to stop circling toys on
Page after page whenever he liked; however, generally
All three remained verbally engaged with each other's choices until
Leadership had need to set the timer for
Five minutes more before redirecting the peanut gallery to
Ready themselves for homework or a practice or
Dinner or bed ...
BTW, if a rule had been broken and if leadership had failed to
Follow through with the designated consequence of
Closing up shop, right there and then ...
Then frustration would have replaced communal delight, causing
The simplicity of the plan to fall apart ...
And as none wanted to cut short each trip to heaven
Everyone remained attuned to each rule, meaning that
*No one could ask when the catalogues would be placed on
The kitchen table ...
*If any begging or whining took place
No catalogue would be seen on that day
*Though the boys were busting to discuss
Their many choices with me, they quickly learned to
Develop the patience and self disciplined mindset necessary to
Divert their verbal interaction to their brothers until
Leadership decided that readiness to listen felt ripe for Mom
And as the boys had no clue which day
Leadership (in need of peace and quiet) would place
The catalogues on the kitchen table, again (with blue pens)
This band of brothers (anticipating
Future sessions of delight), chose to respect
Every rule including the rule of not begging leadership to
Engage in discussion until four catalogue sessions, each of which
Made use of different colors of ink, led to
The final session of heaven sent delight when
Leadership determined that it was time to sit down and
Listen to each child impart the wisdom that
Three well-groomed, young brains had ascertained while
This trio of Mouseketeers learned to work, together, as
A well-organized, mutually supportive
Self disciplined, wholly delightful band of
Not so wild and crazy, yet always high spirited brothers
And if you'd like to know what they did with
The blue pens, the green pens and the red pens before leadership
Sat down to listen to their decisions, please stay tuned☺️

Part 2
I've found that plans that work, sucessfully, depend upon
Smplicity, creativity and  consistency
Why do these plans develop within my head each time
A problem, which proves on-going, is seriously in need of solving?
Because otherwise, the problem remains on-going
And as things get better or worse but don't stay the same
That suggests on-going problems worsen, over time
I believe many people believe that when problems arise
Someone must be in need of punishing; must feel guilty of wrong doing :(
I believe that solutions to on-going problems require leadership to
Dive ever more deeply into the intuitive portion of the brain where
Insightful thoughtfulness, concerning human nature, awaits discovery :)
Once I became a parent (leader)  of children
My think tank came up with (and made good use of)
Simple plans, based in intuitive thought, which inspired my children
(And adults with open minds) to
Organize their think tanks in such a well balanced, self disciplined fashion
So as to join hands while we brainstormed together to accomplish
Heartfelt goals by weaving a sense of positively focused
Communal harmony into every solution-seeking plan, which
Considered needs, all around
For example, ultimately, the Catalogue Plan taught children that
Gifts were received, graciously, rather than greedily, and
Soon you shall witness how intuitive thought processing on
The part of leadership inspired three young minds to
Achieve that goal, though none but the leader had a clue that
In addition to experiencing pure pleasure, learning was taking place :)
(Another plan, which taught children to give, generously, will appear once
My description of the catalogue plan is complete :)
In order to implement the catalogue plan, leadership had need to 'acquire'
These solution seeking tools:
Positive focus
Simplicity of thought
Creative inventiveness
A childlike sense of wonderment
Patience
Good humor
Farsightedness
Clear cut short range goals, leading toward long range goals
Three hefty toy catalogues
Black, blue, green and red markers, times three
Three children

If you are curious as to how our catalogue tradition got started and
Why four colored markers, and which
Lessons were absorbed from this activity ...
All I have time left to say for today is this:
Problems are the mothers of inventiveness
Rules are necessary while on-going problems process toward solution
Rules are followed when
Leadership follows through with consequences based in
Common sense,, consistently
As for now, we're about to stop at the market to get fixings
For my special spicy spaghetti sauce, pasta and salad before
Picking up Uncle Barry, who's flying in to meet his very first
Niece who, within a blink of the eye, is one month old
And as David, who is totally smitten with Ravi, is
Still with us, we're all looking forward to enjoying
A family love-in with Steven, Marie and Ravi beginning at noon!
If you choose to stay tuned, here's my plan:
Once I have time to write at my leisure
I'll outline the rules, necessary for all to enjoy catalogue delight
I'll explain the reason for four separate sessions with markers
And I'll fill you in on the problem that caused me to invent
A sanity-saving plan so simple as to
Consider each person's every desire while
Teaching the concepts of self discipline and gratitude, thus
Culminating in peace of mind at every age, all around 😊
(And this plan, which satisfied our needs, is only one of many to come)😊

And now that we're up to snuff
Let's hope my guru solves my problems, this afternoon, so that
I can conclude part three of this plan, tomorrow ... unless readiness to move forward retreats ...
PS. You might want to print parts one, two and three and file this plan of action away for future reference in coming years :)

1233 TOIL, TROUBLE AND POSITIVE FOCUS

2015
I've been absent for good reason
Having trouble with my computer and iPad
Computer stalled while downloading a new program
iPad puzzling me ... Refusing to publish post penned, yesterday
Toil as I may, my mind hath not the knowledge necessary to repair these problems
So after tinkering unsuccessfully on my own for the past two days
Here's my simple three step plan:
Call my computer guru ... Done!
Feel lucky that her schedule can fit me and work her magic, tomorrow!
Resume my spirit's blissful state of mind by thinking of Ravi's smile ... Done!
As for now, I'll leave you with this riddle to consider and wish you a five star day:
Do you know the names of the additional dwarfs who
Cavorted with the first seven before ending up on the cutting room floor?😊
Somehow they found their way into yesterday's post, which
I hope to publish successfully, tomorrow
Your positively focused friend, Annie
PS
Happy birthday to my dear, sweet friend, Debbie!!😊
(Once again, smiles showing up as squares ... Another question for my guru!)

1232 GIVE GENEROUSLY RECEIVE RESPECTFULLY

2015
If, after reading today's train of thought
You ask why this post proves sharply pointed rather than soft and sweet
I'd reply:  It's been my experience that to give is better than to receive until
You've bent over backward to give graciously of yourself without receiving respect
If receiving disrespect, passively, seems okay to you then
May I respectfully suggest it's time to strengthen your connection to self worth
And now, in hopes of making that last point stick
Let's see if my besotted brain has readies itself to wrap around
A series of insights, concerning giving and receiving, so that
Penning part 3 of The Toy Catalogue Plan does not feel like pulling teeth

BTW
Though it's true that my mental acuity has been on sabbatical
Here's why that does not equate with losing sight of clarity:
The fact that my brain is besotted does not mean I've forgotten that
A question, which popped out of the comment box, is still up in the air
Suggesting that besotted need not be confused with dysfuntion☺️

Uh ... One more thing...

It's unlike me to pen a sharply pointed post without

Ending on an up beat note
So, I'll soften my tone with this sweet surprise:

If a picture, concerning the fragility of life, is worth 1000 words
Then let's greet the new year with a gracious sense of respect for this fact:
There are exceptions to every rule for good reason ...
For example, let's consider the circle of life:
We nurture the very old, who have already given their best
And with attentiveness to that slice of knowledge
Our smiles hearten while caring for them, though
Their reactions demonstrate growing discontent
And if you ask to what end do patient smiles pay off, I'd reply:
The younger generation pays mind to your state of mind
And when those who follow our footsteps grow up in a home where
An appreciation for compassionate respect is valued with consistency
 The best is yet to come☺️

If you're picturing me gazing lovingly at Ravi wearing an eye-sparkling grin

You got that right!☺️

1231 AHA! SUCCESS! BY THE SEAT OF MY PANTS, AT LAST!

Nope!—I've not yet taken the photo shop class

All I did was try to post these two photos by the seat of my pants, one more time

And lo and behold, much to my delight—try, try, again—worked!

How did I succeed, this time, after so many disappointments?

I have no clue!

And look at the icons—one posted as a smile, one as a pair of squares, suggestive of

Our need to embrace life's many puzzling imperfections in a

Peaceable, well balanced fashion while our spirits work determinedly toward

Achieving long-range goals of self actualization, step by step

Though in days of yore, peeps might have believed two miracles had taken place

I figure that, by some stroke of luck

My fingers must have struck the right combination of keys

And as I have no clue as to what created this change for the better

You can see why my plan to enroll my brain in photo shop class proves necessary 

RAVI AT FIVE WEEKS OLD

Sweet little football fan 😊

Sleepy little rocker chick☺️

Horoscope:

If you were going to plan a rebellion

What or whom would you rebel against?

For most people, the one who most requires conquering is within …

Revolt against whatever belief has been getting you down or

Whatever fear is holding you back from

Actualizing your heart's desire …

If you give up on a dream

You'll surely watch your heart's desire fade away, forever and a day

The ultimate achievement of long range success suggests

Brainstorming until mental blocks within your belief system are

Identified and overcome

If your high spirited pursuit of 'the best is yet to come' is ever to

Climax in reality's eye-sparkling smiles then may I respectfully suggest that

'Better late than never' is the belief to embrace😊

With no clue as to why my retrieval of these photos met with success, today

Here is why my plan to master a photoshop class, step by step, remains in effect

Though delighting in today's hit or miss achievement

I know that peace of mind depends on

Lining up all my ducks in a row

And being that peace of mind is my ultimate goal

My  brain is determined to be well trained

PS 

By making good use of the Line of Control

I'll discipline my think tank in hopes of

Resuming my description of

The Heavenly Toy Catalogue Plan, quite soon

NGU

PSS

Did the photos of Ravi entice your smile?

Or

Am I a monkey's uncle? 

1230 TO FLY BY THE SEAT OF MY PANTS OR LEARN TO CREATE CHANGE FOR THE BETTER?

At times, intuitive intelligence creates a problem-solving plan
At times a problem resolves by itself
Then there are times when I have no clue
How to solve a problem for this reason:
My think tank's memory bank is lacking
The knowledge necessary for solving
A problem that proves as challenging as
Calculus would be if taken before algebra
In short, problems that prove complex
Are best solved in a thoughtful manner
One step at a time
When a problem proves highly complex
My sense of humility seeks guidance from
One whose brain has been trained in
An area of expertise, which is still Greek to me
For example, I've been trying to
Organize my iPhoto app by the seat of my pants and
For quite some time, this is all I've achieved:
A heightening level of frustration!  Grrrr!
Though my technique of hit-or-miss has not yet lasso'd
Those two photos with which I'd hoped to
Entertain your sense of fun in yesterday's post, here's why
I'm planning to lessen my heightened level of frustration by
Enrolling in another iPad class as soon as I publish this post:
I've been wanting to organize my photos for years; however
My need to take action did not feel compelling until
Ravi was born, and if you ask why that positive change
Readied my need to act, right now, I'd reply:
For years my sense of intuition 'knew' that the birth of
A beloved grandchild would reawaken
My desire to record the life of another precious person
In the same organized fashion as had been true while
Assembling photo albums, showcasing the childhood of
My three rambunctious boys
I mean, if asked who had assumed the role of
Family photographer, all fingers would point to me
And so, once again, hindsight offered me insight into foresight
As to when my think tank's sense of readiness
Would feel eager to absorb the knowledge necessary to
Organize albums in a fashion that will
Simplify the process of posting photos whenever
A picture proves more eloquent than writing 1000 words
And now that readiness has ripened
I'll seek guidance while working toward
Accomplishing a goal that
I've wanted to achieve for quite some time

So, if the little football fan and sleepy little rocker chick, which
Proved unretrievable, yesterday, happens to show up, today
You'll know that by sheer determination, your friend, Annie
Has somehow managed to lasso two funny photos while
Flying by the seat of her pants through
Her disorganized photo collection, again
And if the football fan and rocker chick do not appear, today
You can be assured that they'll pop up in a future post
Once I've mastered that photoshop class
So okay ... here goes ... One last uneducated try ...

Phooey!  Foiled, again!😳
Back to the path of ,,,
Seek knowledge and Ye shall find solutions that simplify your life! 😜 

BTW, those little squares are icons, symbolizing smiles and frowns …
If you ask why they post as squares, I'll reply:  I have no clue!
See what I mean about life offering our minds countless mysteries to figure out …
Good thing I know to call a home run hitter when I strike out☺️
It also helps that my think tank is well trained to end
Most trains of thought on an upbeat note, buoyed by hope ...
I mean, seriously ... Though life offers
An endless string of uncertainties to one and all …
Who wants to walk around feeling glum and
Looking like a frustrated sourpuss?
Not me!😄
PS
Huh!  Upon publishing this post, I found that one icon actually
Showed up as a smile!  So what are we to make of that!??????

1229 LET'S GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO 2015 :)

2015
While rereading a family travelogue penned to a dear friend
It came clear that what I'd written would make
A perfect post with which to embrace the new year, so
Here it is:

Over the holidays a family-love fest
Was enjoyed at our house
Barry flew in for three days
David joined in the fun for more than a week
And throughout that time span
We all enjoyed Steven, Celina and Ravi, almost daily
When Ravi's in my arms, I'm besotted
She gets milk drunk; I get baby drunk
My cheeks ache from smiling.
Actually, we're all that way.

It's hard to believe that six adults can feel wholly engaged, utterly joyful and content beyond reason while gazing at a sleeping infant for hours.  Recently, her eyes began to focus, and yesterday, Ravi smiled.  Not just sleepy, full-tummy smiles, but eye-sparkling smiles, suggesting her bright little spirit's instinctive spark of connection with ours.  And though each spark of eye-twinkling connection proves fleeting, we delight in the concept that action speaks louder than words each time her whole, tiny body squirms with pleasure.  Needless to say, our hearts melt with the purity of her innocence.

David, who has already flown home, twice, is amazed at the depth of his love for this precious child.  Each day while he was with us, he'd pace outside our house, waiting for his little niece if Steven arrived later than planned.   He says she's addictive in the best possible way, and I agree.  My mind is actually exhausted with five weeks of constant gladness.  Though you can count me as present, physically and emotionally, mentally, I'm out to lunch! :)

Each day, we laugh to see her dressed in costume, looking like a real live doll.  So far, Ravi is quite content with life.  She's gained three pounds and slept through the night, twice this week.  Celina and Steven feel truly blessed, as do we all.  I'll show you a couple of photos at the end of this post, so you can see her five-week old sweetness for yourself. (though I'd thought to post two specific photos:  One of our little football fan and one of our sleepy little rocker chick, for some unknown reason, that proved problematic. When I figure it out, they'll appear on your screen, and I'll be a monkey's uncle if you don't crack a smile :)

Thank goodness, Will feels well, and three months after his last radiation treatment our relief was palpable when his first psa test was good.

I hope you can feel my heartfelt wish that the New Year will offer happiness, good health, peace of mind and countless reasons to share cheek splitting grins with those we love, both near and far …

Wishing you happy everything as 2015 kicks off!

Your friend, Annie :)

Sleepytime gal

If my eyes are open, it must be time to feed me, please!

PS  As to completing my description of Toy Catalogue Heaven, that will take place once my mental state floats down from cloud nine :)

1228 RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR!

2014

So much I want to write!

So little free time!

Family love fest still going strong!

Cheeks still aching, smiling with gladness!

Taking a nap in readiness to

Ring in the New Year with family and friends

Wishing you peace and good will as
2014 rolls right into 2015 and
We celebrate the 'precious present' by offering each other
Bright smiles, warm hugs and change for the better

Your joyous friend

Gramma Annie :)