Out with the old...or at least organize it!

This is the time of year when we have a deep-rooted need to begin anew. A new year. A new decade. A new way of thinking. I want to clean out closets and declutter. Having an organized home helps me to function much better in everything I do. If I could just have a week in my life with no deadlines, no demands on my time...I'd wake up every day and go straight to work, cleaning out, organizing...

Who Am I Kidding??! That's never going to happen! I have to do my organizing in fits and starts, finding pockets of time here and there...if I had a dollar for all my good intentions...I'd hire someone to do the organizing for me!

One of the things I've always wanted to tackle is organizing family photos. I've got boxes and drawers of them, and now that we're in the digital age, I've got memory cards floating around. I found a company that does the work for you in a cool way, preserving memories online in a fun-to-view way. Check out this video at http://www.myheartwill.com/. (I love how the announcer says "shed-tual" for schedule!).

This company helps people create an emotional legacy that will live on after they have gone. They call it "Living On," and it is a different kind of will. When we think of wills, we think of legal documents where a deceased loved one bequeths their material goods to folks after they pass on. But with this, emotional wealth can be passed along, including feelings, memories, hopes, beliefs and experiences. I like the idea of living on...so what these people do really appeals to me. http://www.myheartwill.com/living-on.html.

I'm sending Nic and Joe off to New Orleans today for a long New Year's weekend. Nicole will be the maid of honor in a friend's wedding on New Year's Day. Emily (Joe's girlfriend) and Nic's friend Ricky will be going as well, and they're all staying in a cool apartment in the French Quarter. I won't see them again until 2010!

Nic's godmother, Carol, is coming down from Nashville...we are going to ring in the New Year right here in my house. Don't be jealous of us...we'll be in our warm flannel PJ's, fire in the fireplace, leftovers warmed up on the counter, and DVD's playing. It's a safe bet we won't see midnight. Been there, done that...loving sleep way too much!

After everyone gets off today, I may just clean out a drawer or my purse...don't want to get too ambitious too soon. Baby steps. I'll get there one day. And when I make my living legacy photo video, I'll stress the importance of being organized. I'm sure future generations will be so impressed!

Blessings to all who read this!
Susan

I'm in a good mood, dammit!

As ALL of you know, I ran a heated campaign to win the Nature Made SAM-e Good Mood Blogger gig. If I won, I would have gotten paid $5000/month for six months to blog about being in a good mood. That would have been $30,000 toward Nicole's ever-increasing medical bills. The medical fund that the Ridgeland Chamber started for her is dwindling fast...we have used it to pay medical bills (we are completely paid up through Select Specialty Hospital), as well as for prescriptions, supplies and her personal trainer sessions. I thought the Good Mood Blogger gig would be a fun and creative way for me to contribute to her bills. BUT, the judges had other ideas, so they picked someone else. But that's OK...I got a cool consolation prize. Check this out: I got SIX boxes of SAM-e (a natural mood

enhancer, and bottles of vitamins and supplements, a yoga mat, a calendar, a note pad, a water bottle and a little iPod shuffle. (Roxie jumped in the shot to show off her new pink collar.) The gesture by Nature Made did wonders to enhance my mood...

I've actually been a little "testy" the past few days (translation: don't look at me funny or I'll bite your damned head off!!!!). I guess the disappointment of losing, and all the holiday hoopla caught up with me and I'm tired. Add on top of that the incredible Christmas gift my husband gave me--a Cellular South HTC Hero phone...nice, except that you have to have an advanced degree from MIT to operate it.

So, let's put all this together: I'm a little "testy," I have a phone that makes me feel stupid, and I have the patience of a gnat right now. Not a winning combination.

A few facebook entries and a couple of phone calls with the kind folks at Cellular South later, I am now scheduled in a private CLASS to learn how to use my new phone. I go at 11:30 this morning. I hope the "teacher" is kind and understanding, as I may just cry or go postal. I'm just sayin'...

This morning I took my first dose of SAM-e. The box said it will take seven to 14 days to feel any real effects. As I swallowed the pill, Larry looked at me and said "only 13 more days..." He's a real comedian.

So, I didn't get the Good Mood blog gig, and that's the LAST time I'm going to even type those words or do any promo work for Nature Made (I figure they got at least $10,000 in p.r. value from the work I did on the contest, and I got six--count 'em--six bottles of SAM-e as a consolation prize...). But I'm going to write my own blog about being in a good mood, right here on this very blog you are reading now, beginning on January 1. And if you like what you read, tell your friends, and I'll grow my list of followers, and someone, somewhere, will want--BEG--me to write/blog for them, I'm sure.

And again, THANK you for your votes, support, kind words...you all rallied around me in such a big way and I'm so grateful. So even though I get a little "testy" from time to time, I really can't help but be in a perpetual good mood with that kind of love coming my way.

Blessings to all who read this!

Susan

Post-Christmas bliss

I have had the best time in these days after Christmas, enjoying the leftovers (I could eat for a week and still have food!), the decorations, the wonderful gifts I received and spending time relaxing. My favorite thing to do lately is to cruise many of the wonderful blogs online. I'm getting lots of ideas and slowly learning a few things. As I said before, I plan on writing my own "good mood blog" right here, on this site, beginning January 1. I'm going to do it five days a week, and I want it to be something you'll want to read every day.

One of the things I found online is a conference in Nashville on blogging. It's called "Blissdom '10" (http://www.blissdom.com/) in early February, and I REALLY want to go. The registration fee is $299. I can't really swing that now, post Christmas, especially when Nicole has so many financial needs. So, I'm putting this out there...if anyone wants to sponsor me, they'll get frequent mentions on my blog! For any of you business-owners out there, you know that $299 is way cheaper than most ads. Right now, I have a registered following of 62 people who regularly log on when I have a new blog post. Imagine reaching 62 people--potential customers--over and over again for only $300. And my list of followers is continuing to grow. So it could just be the smartest $300 you'll ever spend! Think about, but please, if you are interested, please hurry. There aren't many slots left at the conference. I have a place to stay in Nashville (with a friend).

Now that I've got the begging portion of my blog over with, I will let you know that the Marquez family had a wonderful Christmas. We had a house full of people on Christmas Eve, which just made Larry and I very happy. People came and went...or came and stayed...and we all had a special time together.

This time last year, Nicole was on a pass from Methodist Rehab. She was still in a wheelchair, and we had to hire LeFleur Transportation to pick her up in a lift van to come home. Her power chair was so big and she kept knocking furniture and walls with it as she tried to navigate around our house. So, a year later, we are all thankful that she is walking around our house without her cane!

Christmas morning, my parents, my sister Sarah and her family (Big Bob, Matthew and Lauren) all came over, as did Joe and his precious girlfriend, Emily, along with our "other sista" Jacqui. We had a huge brunch with breakfast casserole, cheese grits, homemade sticky buns and lots of coffee, mimosas and bloody marys. Around noon, we commenced to opening gifts...which we did easily for the next hour or more. It was lots of fun, with lots of laughs and my house was a huge hairy happy mess when we were done.

Larry then went to the kitchen to get ready for our next meal of the day...chili and gumbo, along with my dad's Mexican cornbread. We kept it casual...everyone served themselves off the stove and ate where they could find a place.

That afternoon, Joosy Claus made it by for a visit, followed by a return visit from Jake Smith and Margaret Dutcher. The guys watched football, of course, while the women-folk hung out in my keeping room, visiting, laughing, and yes, EATING. (How?)

It was a great day, and we all went to bed full and fulfilled. It was a great celebration of Christ's birth, and we were grateful to have family and friends surrounding us.

Blessings to all who read this!
Susan

Sometimes you win, sometimes you...

I got an email on Friday afternoon advising me that I had NOT been chosen as the Nature Made SAM-e Good Mood Blogger. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. I went into the competition believing that I could do a great job for them, and have fun in the process. I also saw it as a creative way to earn money to go towards Nicole's increasing medical bills.

By the end of the second round, I had gotten 10,007 votes, coming in at fourth place. The voting counted 20% of the total score. I feel great about my votes, because they were "real," and there were from people who truly supported me. The fact that so many of you voted, day after day, even finding creative ways to vote more than once using different computers, cell phones, etc., and that you were willing to do that, just humbles me more than you'll ever know. Some of you don't even know me, yet you jumped on the voting bandwagon to help someone simply because you were asked to do so.

I was really looking forward to writing the daily good mood blog, so much so that I've made the decision to do it anyway! I already have a blog that I began when Nicole wanted to wind down the Caring Bridge site. I had gotten so used to writing a daily journal that I really missed it when she started writing Caring Bridge on her own. Now she's written the final entry, so that chapter is closed.

So, beginning January 1, I will write my own daily good mood blog--only I won't call it that, because obviously, that's already taken. I'll stick with the name of my blog as it is now: "Every Step of the Way," as that best describes our journey. You can find it right here. I'll write it five days a week, just like the "real" job requires, and hopefully, you'll enjoy it enough to register to follow it daily.

There will be no real difference for you, but there will be a bit of a difference for me, as I won't be getting paid by Nature Made. The Good Mood Blogger gig paid $5000/month for six months. So, while I'm writing daily, I will also be looking for other ways to earn money to help Nic with her mounting medical bills. The medical fund that was set up for her following her accident is running low--that's what I use to pay for her prescriptions, supplies, the portion of doctor bills that insurance/medicaid doesn't pay, for her personal training sessions, etc.

If you like what you see, and want to read my daily good mood blog, be sure to register to "follow" me. As I learn more about blog design, etc. the site will evolve to become more professional looking. But the content will always come from my heart--I won't be working to meet others' objectives.

Nicole also has her own website, which is www.youcantstopthisdancer.com. It's her life, in her own words, and it's very Nicole! (FYI, there is a button on her homepage that links to the paypal account that feeds into her medical fund. Donations accepted and appreciated!)

I started this contest hoping I could make some extra money. Now that it's over, I realized that even though I didn't get the job, I got so much more. I had people all over the United States and in a few countries abroad voting for me, and the sweet messages of encouragement and support sent along the way meant more to me than you'll ever know. The letters of recommendation that I forwarded to the p.r. agency running the competition were really so kind. I only hope to be the kind of friend to each and every one of you that you have been to me.

Yes, I was sad for awhile when I found out I didn't get the job, but as so many of you expressed to me on facebook over the weekend, God does have a plan for us all, and I believe He has great things in store for me! Life goes on...I'm over it and I'm fine. Thanks for going on this journey with me. I hope you jump on board for the next leg!

Wishing you all a meaningful and joyous Christmas!

Blessings to all who read this!
Susan

Leaving the past in the past...

If you keep up with our Caring Bridge at all, you may have read that Nicole has written her final farewell on the site. Caring Bridge was a valuable way for us to communicate to family and friends, particularly in the first critical weeks after Nicole's accident. Thankfully, it evolved into a site that chronicled her amazing recovery--the good, the bad, and the craziness of it all. I learned alot about her while living through it all and writing about it. I realized how truly resiliant Nicole is. I realized how she has a magical effect on all those who come into contact with her. I realized that she has no filters at all, and she treats everyone equally, with kindness, humor, and encouragement. I realized that I'm more proud of her and how she has handled all this than ever.

But for Nicole, Caring Bridge represents the time in her life when she was broken. She understands the purpose of it, and she was uplifted by all thousands of well-wishes people wrote on her guestbook. But she is turning a major corner, and she wants to leave that in the past. Her focus is where she is in this moment, and where she wants to go. So, she wrote a farewell on facebook, but invited anyone who wants to keep up with her to visit her website, which includes a blog. Folks can still make comments, which is similar to the Caring Bridge website.

Nic's website is still a work in progress, but it is quintessentially Nicole! It has her energy, enthusiasm and positive vibe. Her great friends Talameka and Drew have helped her get it up and running and she's having a great time writing her blog entries, and sometimes even including videos snippets of her life.

As her presence on the web is evolving, so is her room. It is hard for Nicole to be back in the room where spent her teen years. Afterall, she has lived in France, the Berkshires in Massachusetts, downtown Louisville, KY and of course, New York. She's a girl who loves to spread her wings and go...coming home on rare occasions and for just a few days at a time. Now she's back home, and even though she's 26, she feels 16 all over again. But as her physical abilities improve, she's taking steps to give her room her own touch. Out are all the photos of hospitals, therapy, and old loves. She is filling her room with more positive things--dance prints, art she's chosen, and best of all for her--the ginourmous orange crushed velvet couch that was in her apartment in Hattiesburg. Impractical as I think it may be, she loves it and it makes that space feel more like her own. She's still got a bit of a stubborn streak in her--I suppose it's that tenacity that has helped her get to the point she's at right now! Today, we'll decorate her purple Christmas tree and her room will be ready for the holidays!

As for me, I like to hold on to a few things from the past. It's how traditions are developed and I think it's good to see where we've been. I choose to hold on to the fond memories of the past and try to forget less-than-happy memories. Christmas is naturally a time of reminiscing. We pull out decorations we've used in past years, including all the precious little ornaments that the kids made as they were growing up. THose things give me a happy glow inside as I remember my children in their younger days.

But I don't live in the past. I'm very much about the present, so I find ways to incorporate those things into my 2009 decorating. Instead of mourning loved ones no longer here, I find joy in remembering them during this time of year. Three years ago, Larry's mom, Isabel, was here at Christmas and she delighted with every aspect of the season. It made it all the more fun for me to decorate my house, go to Christmas concerts and parties, and all that goes into the season. She just delighted in each and every ornament, light, decoration, song...and now during Christmas, I have the fondest of memories of her. Last year, "Dirty Betty" was with us at Christmas. We loved having her in our home, joining us in our celebration, and she couldn't have been any happier. She truly had a wonderful time, which delighted me to no end. So this year, as I decorate with the things that Betty loved so much, I fondly remember her in my heart.

So I believe Nicole has the right idea for now to leave all those hospital and rehab memories in the past, but as more time passes by, I think she will learn to look at the time differently. She'll look back and think about the wonderful therapists who she became so close to. She'll remember the extreme kindness of friends and strangers, all concerned for her--all rooting for her to get better. And I think she'll even look back on the time she moved back into her teenage room for awhile and it wasn't so bad afterall...

Blessings to all who read this!
Susan

While I'm not a big fan of shopping for shopping's sake, I do enjoy going to places where I can find unique, never-before-seen items. That's why I'm loving the show I'm watching now on The Sundance Channel (I love Direct TV when it really works!) The show is "Man Shops Globe," and features Keith Johnson, a buyer for Antrhopologie. He travels the globe sourcing very unique items for the store.

This particular episode finds him in South Africa, where instead of going to shops that specialize in traditional African art, which we've all seen, he goes to the shops and studios that turn out incredible ceramics,furniture made of recycled trash, and lifesized animals made of wire and beads.

While Johnson travels the globe, finding some of the most incredible and creative pieces, I believe that we can simply travel around Mississippi to find equally incredible and creative things created by incredible and creative artists. I love having some of those pieces in my home, especially when I know the artist.

I treasure my "drunken Santa" and snowglobe photos by Josh Hailey, and I also have one of his beautiful copper pieces framed in a shadowbox. I love my Tony Difatta dragonfly print, and my happy H.C.Porter print that features an elderly lady sitting pretty on a rusted metal lawn glider. An Italian scene painted by Paul Cononici brightens up my kitchen, alongside his combination cookbook/art book, "So Italian." It's special to me because Father Paul baptized Joe, and gave First Communion to both Nic and Joe.

I have many other special things in my home made by a bevy of creative folks in our community and beyond, including art by Larry's sister, Maky, and a wonderful piece painted on the back of a table leaf by Pat Thomas, the son of the late famed Blues singer Son Thomas, who was an artist himself. Son's work, crafted of Mississippi clay, can be seen in the Smithsonian museum. Pat's painting is of a large Pepto-Bismol pink cat, and he signed it "For Susan, Pat Thomas." I had to write it on a piece of paper for him to copy, as he is illiterate.

Nicole is working on some hand-made pieces for a few family members. She's always enjoyed looking at art in galleries and museums, and she enjoys painting as well. Last year, when she was still in rehab, she painted items for all of us in occupational therapy. Birdhouses, dragonflies, boxes, etc. were all painted in bright colors. It was good therapy for her hands, and fun for her to do. And of course, we all treasure our gifts from her more than she'll ever know.

Hand-made art/crafts comes natural to her. My grandmother, Emilyn Anderson, was a china painter, and she also painted ceramics. She painted life-like flowers on china plates, cups, bowls, and such, and I am so blessed to have one of he beautiful ceramic Nativity sets she painted back in the late 1950's. She passed her artistry on to my dad, who is a wonderful woodworker. He does wood turning and wood carving, and his pieces are beautiful. Back in the summer he carved a hillbilly character, and Nicole took it to therapy to paint. It was the merging of two creative forces!

My other grandmother, Minnie Beebe, told me once that a gift made by hand contained something special: a person spent a part of their life that they'll never get back while making it, and when the creation is given to another as a gift, it contains a large dose of love.

I'm all for giving practical, thoughtful, even indulgent gifts, but for me, the best gift to receive is a gift that was made by hand.

With all this talk of gift-giving and recieving, let's not forget the reason we give Christmas gifts to begin with. It's in memory of the gift that God gave us...his only son. And in turn, his son, Jesus, gave us his life so that our sins may be forgiven, and we may have eternal life.

Blessings to all who read this!
Susan

Simplifying my life to maximize the joy!

I love December! I love Christmas! But sometimes I think we get so caught up in doing that we forget the real reason we're doing it all.

So this year, I'm trying to keep it simple, and put a greater focus on the reason for the season. I'm determined not to get caught in the craziness in retail-land, and instead, buy heart-felt gifts, mostly hand-made by talented friends.

This year, instead of presents wrapped in color-coordinated wrapping paper piled under my tree, gifts will be concealed in recycled gift bags, saved from Christmas's past. I'll even use recycled tissue paper and ribbon!

I'll spend more time connecting with friends and really taking the time to catch up on their lives and share what's going on in mine.

And when the last package is opened, the last drop of eggnog consumed, and the last bit of tinsel packed up, I'll be relaxed instead of ragged-out, and I'll look back on the holidays with fondness instead of relieved that it's all over.

At least, that's the way I hope it goes down this year!

I've already gotten a couple of huge gifs this Christmas. First of all, I'm proud to report that Joe made the A-B Honor Roll this semester. He set a goal, made up his mind, and worked really hard to acheive it. And Nicole is blossoming before my eyes. She's walking around the house without her cane, and continues to get stronger and more steady every day. A year ago she was confined to a wheelchair, and now she's walking! We are blessed with two talented, healthy children who are both persuing their dreams. That's a gift that is priceless!

I'm still anxiously awaiting to hear the results of the "Good Mood Blog" gig contest. I came in 4th in the voting with 10,007 votes (thanks everyone!). The voting counts 20%. The judges are also reviewing my video and essay. Thanks so much to all of you who voted faithfully every day, and special thanks to those who wrote the extremely kind letters of recommendation. I should know something Tuesday or Wednesday. I believe in the power of prayer...I really want this job!

As we hit the mid-point of this festive month, I urge you all to slow down, savor the season and experience the joy!

Blessings to all who read this,
Susan