One Day at a Time

Slice of Life Story Challenge
Slice 1 of 31

As life goes, there are always things to be thankful for and celebrate especially one day at a time!  For this Saturday, I am especially grateful...after a ten day hospital stay and a month of rehab at the nursing home, my mom got her wish and went home.  I am so glad she's home for so many reasons but most of all I think my dad needed her company.

When she entered the hospital back in January, the whole family was scared!  We all worried that the diverticulitis flare up would lead us down the road to surgery.  Thankfully, her condition was different this time around and the doctors treated her with IV antibiotics and the problem took care of itself.


There are still other problems looming as many people who worked with her noticed her memory issues. One of the doctors she worked with also diagnosed her with dementia.  In the near future, we are taking her to a geriatrician to get more specifics on what stage she's in and things we all need to do to help my dad as he deals with her needs on a regular basis...


So while I am happy that she's home, I worry about the journey ahead of us.  I don't know what the future holds, but I will try my best to enjoy all of her-
one
day
at
a
time.

I hope to write every day for the Slice of Life Challenge.  Thank you to the Two Writing Teachers for hosting this challenge.  Hope you join in the learning and grow as a writer.

Awfully Dark...

Tuesday's Slice of Life...@ TwoWritingTeachers

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth for Hosting this weekly writing community!

Walking ever to s l o w ly
                                                   d
                                                          o
                                                                w
                                                                       n
                                                                             t
                                                                                 h
                                                                                    e
                                                                                         s
                                                                                            t
                                                                                                e
                                                                                                    p
                                                                                                        s........
                                                                                                        how many are there?

Don't know
Haven't got my footing
Nothing is routine
Nothing is the norm
Nothing seems to be going how I thought it would

So I start again from the top every day
                                                   d
                                                         o
                                                                w
                                                                      n
                                                                             t
                                                                                 h
                                                                                      e
                                                                                          s
                                                                                              t
                                                                                                  e
                                                                                                      p
                                                                                                          s.......
                                                                                                            how many are there?
Feeling the steps now
Getting my footing
Some things are routine
Some things are the norm
Some things are finally going how I thought they would

So I start again from the top each day
                                                     d
                                                         o
                                                             w
                                                                  n
                                                                      t
                                                                         h
                                                                             e
                                                                                 s
                                                                                     t
                                                                                        e
                                                                                           p
                                                                                              s.......
                                                                                             not there yet, when will I learn?

It's awfully dark, I can't seem to find my way-I need a guiding light-I pray something goes my way!


Transitioning:  back to the classroom:

new building with a
new staff,
new routines,
new kiddos,
new rules,
new curriculum,
new databases,
new software,

new start times,
new morning routine,
new tick-tocking clock,

Transitioning:  child #1
new year,
new teachers,
new rules,
new ways of planning,
new ways of studying,

Transitioning:  child #2
new daycare,
new procedures,
new teachers,
new forms,
new friends,
new tot cot,
new cups,

have all made for one crazy start to the school year.  I feel like I am constantly going down the steps in the dark and I still don't know how many there are.  I feel like I can't see yet, I don't know the way...hoping and things get better each day.  And they are-
still skipping a step here and there, fumbling for the railing, needing support...

If there is someone new in your life this day, reach out and be their light-show them the way! 

Slice Advice-Family Travel Journal!

Two Writing Teachers, Slice of Life Tuesdays!

Before I even knew how much writing, journaling and slicing mattered to me, I crafted a special part of Rudd Family History.  The special part of Rudd Family History I am speaking of is our family "Travel Journal".  Regrettably, I didn't start it until 2003, even though we've been married since 1996.

The journal contains all of our vacation stories (where we visited, stayed, chowed, and played)!  I am so glad I recorded this little piece of our lives together so far.  

As I was  reading through the journal tonight, I found myself chuckling at some of the funny incidents that have happened in the past. Kam asked me what I was doing and I explained about the journal.  He decided that he wanted to write about his vacation experience too!  Yay for making writing fun!   And so I have some slice advice, keep a travel journal (if you don't already), you'll be glad you did!

The Journaling Markers

Tuesday's Slice of Life from the Two Writing Teachers
During yesterday's quick write from Jo Knowles, I worked to make a list of everything in my scrapbooking room...the item I love best is my journaling markers...Here's their story!

Looking at all our colors, we're different shades and hues.

Wondering about today, which of us she'll choose!

Giving life to pictures, the story in addition

When our scrapper picks us up, she is on a mission.

Loving it when we open up, our skinny end or fat,

Scribbling, scrolling across the pages, that's where the story's at!

Selecting colors carefully to complement or contrast

Wondering if the journaling will move along slowly or really very fast

Thinking of the extra things we sometimes get to do

Our scrapper let's us decorate with little doodles too!

Admiring us for what we do, we love our scrapper friend!

We love it when we get to write completed pages near the end...

Admitting that we might be done and soon be put away

Lid capped tightly, back in the basket, we'll story another day!

"Taper poilet"

To my daughter with love...
Fortunate am I that my mother thought so carefully and honestly about recording things in a beautiful journal called, "To my Daughter with Love". It's filled with life as the author records special stories of things that happened long ago, things that are happening and hopes for the future.

So I had some time over break and perused through some of the pages enjoying the little snippets of writing that are records of my being...I ran across some funnies that my mom noted in the journal. This one "taper poilet" struck me! This is what I used to say for toilet paper when I was potty training! I laughed to myself as I've been thinking so much about words lately! Especially with Nattie starting to talk more...I wonder what funny things she will start to say?

What are you reading Monday

Growing as a writer by wearing different lenses as a reader!

Ok, I have been very behind on my reading in the novel world. With The Hunger Games coming out as a movie (haven't seen it yet), I wanted to investigate what it was all about. I bought it on Thursday, started reading it on Saturday-didn't really want to put it down but had to at times and finished it tonight. I devoured it! I really couldn't get enough of it-keeping me so tensed up, I think my muscles hurt from it. As I was reading last night, I had to stop so I could get some sleep but it had me so wound up that it took a long time to finally nod off...

After spending so much of my time during the past month, observing author's craft, I read this book like I've never read before. I wondered a lot about the words...thought more deeply about how authors have their characters remember, or share memories and would wonder what or why this would be important for the character to share...envisioning this story through different lenses was valuable. It made me realize that I had become a couch potato reader-just sort of lazily meandering through books...I now hunger for a different sort of reading experience as I think more deeply about how authors filter the flow of their works.

I want to thank all of the writers from The Slice of Life Challenge for their posts as well as their comments for helping me to grow my thinking as a writer. I hunger for so much more...leaving the couch potato reading role behind...

One little word!

Slice 31 of 31
One little word...

"Well-nourished!"
based on many visits to the slice of life buffet!

Thanks for the memories, inspiration, and creative approaches to all of your slices!