Category Archives: friendship

The End and The Beginning

December 31, 2011friendship, nostalgia, writingKirsetin

My littlest son came stumbling into the kitchen this morning, giving me a cheery “Good Morning” hours before his big brothers will roll out of bed. I was already downstairs because I snuck down early this morning to get some work done. I figured it was my best chance for productivity today. Despite the fact that it’s New Year’s Eve, our weather is lovely so the rest of the day will involved hiking the trails and heading to the park—not the best place for my laptop! So I rose early and tiptoed downstairs to write. And to enjoy a peaceful morning, drink hot tea, and listen to birds sing in the background (presumably about this wonderful weather). What could be nicer?

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It’s also the day for those pesky resolutions. I haven’t put any on paper yet, but the ideas are tumbling around in my head. If I have extra time today, I’ll be checking in with my favorite bloggers to see what they’re saying. I love a little sisterly inspiration! How about you? Do you resolve? Or eschew the very idea?

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Thinking forward prompts me to look back. As I do, I know that one of the best moves I made this year was joining Meagan Francis’ writing class, not only because Meagan had lots of wisdom to share—although she does—but also because my classmates are such smart, interesting women. Our interests and life experiences are diverse which gives a depth and breadth to our class that I cherish. Here’s a shout out to some wonderful women bloggers and writers—check them out this year:

Aubergine

Crunchy VT Mommy

Expatria Baby

Hoobing Family Adventures

Sticky Feet: Part Deux

Velveteen Mama

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My 2012 wish for them: all they can imagine. Plus, a little luck and lots of joy.

Happy New Year!

My Favorite Christmas Letter

December 13, 2011friendship, holidaysKirsetin

photo by haley 7

Fewer friends send them every year, but I relish the envelopes that are a little thicker, the ones that promise news in addition to a beautiful photo of your clan

I enjoy your tales from far away, your moving sagas, your job transition stories, and especially hearing about your precious offspring and their myriad talents. No really, I do.

But one letter wins, every year. These friends of ours have four children, as quirky and individual as all kids should hope to be. Our friend has a true gift, as his letter paints an appealing picture of family life without once describing his children’s accomplishments. There isn’t a hint that his kids might be smarter than mine (and they’re smart!) nor that they’ve achieved that coveted parenting status most of us can only dream of—raising a teenager whose uniform doesn’t consist of a hoodie and earbuds.

Instead, their letter includes a list of 12 sure-fire ways to embarrass your teenager and the confession that their 2^nd grader doesn’t know how to tie her own shoes.

How can you not love friends like this?

And yet, I don’t wait for their letter with anticipation simply because they share more than their successes. I wait for its arrival, I wait for the day it fills my mailbox with its beauty, because they tell their story with significant grace and humor. Behind every word I read, every year, there is a palpable sense of love for their family.

And that, my friends, makes for a lovely start to my Christmas season.

Let the letter writing begin!

This is My Summer

June 30, 2011friendship, nostalgia, summerKirsetin

Around here, summer means sleeping in, making s’mores by the fire, and lots of friends stopping by. I’m not sure which of those is my favorite, but all of those things definitely fall into the “Things that Make Life Happy” category.

Last week, we had friends visit from back east. My husband and his friend, Dave, have known each other almost since time began. Well, since time began for them, anyway. I first met Dave when I was the new girlfriend; he was around for every break up and every getting-back-together and knows things about my husband that I never want to know! Dave’s wife grew up with them, too, so it was a wonderful week of reminiscing and laughing. Our friends have two boys, about our kids’ ages, so the five boys had a great time running around town, playing at the beach, and eating s’mores, ice cream and whatever other junk they could inhale while their parents were busy laughing by the firepit.

This is my summer and I love it.

What do you love about yours?