At the Shore

                                                                     At the Shore

   This is a magical place,
   a place where water meets the sandy shoreline,
   and on a sunny day, the water glistens like millions of rippling diamonds.

   On a cloudy day, the water looks murky, and shadows crisscross the water 
   and shore.

    Sunny or cloudy, the shoreline is best for meditation and re-connecting with
    one's innermost self. At the shore of any body of water, I am immediately 
    plunged into my inner world of thoughts, dreams and future plans.
    What causes this sudden shift of gears? Why do we tend to slow down
    at the shore?

    Nature envelops us, and our thoughts begin to be seen reflected against a         larger backdrop,giving them more perspective.

    Some people may find their peace in the mountains, or on a remote bike trail, 
    camping trip, or resort, but for me peace, joy and tranquility are found
    where water meets the shore.


~Kathy~

By Kitchen Light...

                                       By Kitchen Light


        Same, yet different;
        the lighting, colors and mood,
        this space where so many meals are created,
        brings my mind back to an earlier time,
        and a hallowed place...
        my parents kitchen...600 miles north of here.


        It must be the ambiance,
        an undefined feeling,
        a deja vu experience of the heart.

        
        The lighting, recessed,
        The wood, light in shade,
        The music, soft classics,
        The food, gourmet.
        But these are all externals, and yet,
        each of them in their own unique way
        plays a different heart-string, and when
        plucked all together, the effect creates
        a crescendo of thoughts and feelings
        that come racing through me,
        bringing back with them
        memories of meals, conversations, laughter and tears.


        Same, yet different;
        take away just one element,
        and the effect of this place upon me
        may have gone unnoticed.


        It's funny how the heart has
        such a specific memory.

~Kathy~

        

Grandma Dear

       
                                                         Grandma, me and baby Matt
                                                                 (taken in Chico,CA 1986)                                                             


                                                            Grandma Dear


   I met my adopted grandmother in the fall semester of 1975, while I was a nursing student at CSU, Chico. The student-run CAVE (Community Action Volunteers in Education) organization was seeking a volunteer to read mail to a woman in her mid-70's who was legally blind. It just so happened that I had some extra time on my hands, and was looking for a volunteer opportunity in the Chico community.

  From our very first brief meeting, there was an immediate and natural connection. Martha, or Grandma, was from Hamburg, Germany, and spoke fluent German and English. Her German heritage reminded me of my Germanic roots on both sides of my family. 

  Grandma was an artist, who in her younger days had gone to art school in Pasadena. The walls of her small Chico apartment were decorated with her acrylic and woven paintings. Now that her vision was relegated to shadows, she created woven paintings on a loom in her spare bedroom. She would occasionally sell some of her art at local craft fairs.

  Grandma was well-read, and she loved classical music and healthy food. Long before the organic food movement, she only purchase the highest quality food and dairy products. One of my favorite memories is sitting at her kitchen table, enjoying a bowl of fresh peaches topped with plain yogurt and raw brown sugar. 

  My volunteer commitment was to visit Martha once a week for about an hour, and read her mail to her. Soon, Grandma and I were out and about, shopping, eating at local restaurants, and going to local plays or concerts.

  Over the course of four semesters, Grandma and I became the best of friends. She taught me more than any nursing textbooks ever could about caring for the elderly. Grandma's wisdom, knowledge and wonderful sense of humor added a special dimension to my college days. 

  Looking back at my time with my adopted Grandmother, I know that I received far more than I ever gave. After I was married, my husband and I went up to Chico several times to visit Grandma, and to introduce her to our growing family. Sadly, Grandma passed away peacefully in her sleep in 1990 at the ripe age of 89.

~Kathy~

    
                      Acrylic flower painting given to me by Grandma
                      as a CSU, Chico graduation gift
                                

To have and to hold...

                                      To have and to hold....


   It will be a long time, and perhaps forever, before I am able to again witness a wedding as beautiful and memorable as our daughter Meghan's wedding ceremony. Every wedding ceremony is beautiful, and every couple adds personal touches to the ceremony and reception. These touches communicate uniqueness and thoughtful preparation for the serious undertaking of marriage. 

   Meghan's wedding ceremony was special for the usual reasons, but there was the unity of the couple, and their spiritual development and flourishing that came through into all the readings, songs and prayers of the ceremony, giving it a mystical element, which resonated with the divine presence of God.

  ~Kathy~

Tulle and Lace

                                        Tulle and Lace



  Lately I am wrapped in a fog made up of tulle and lace. These are the quixotic materials out of which I will create a wedding veil. This should be a fairly straightforward project, but because of a few non-negotiable elements, it has become a bit more difficult. 

The problem I encountered was that the width of the lovely embellished lace didn't conform to the required width on the cathedral veil pattern. So, tulle has been my savior material, and the lovely lace will be the trim, and decorate the bottom of the veils' train.

This veil, once completed, will beautifully accentuate the gorgeous lace wedding gown that our daughter will be wearing. I'm just relieved that there was a solution for this challenge!

~Kathy~

sewing doll clothes, Knitting and Life Lessons...

                           Sewing doll clothes, Knitting and Life Lessons

  
 Lately my craft projects have leaned to creating things for the smallest among us, which is babies and American Girl dolls. These tiny knit preemie caps, miniature knit leggings, and bathrobes are fun and quick to make, but they also have lessons to teach me. 

  One of these lessons is that small things take precision, because mistakes stand out much more in a miniature craft than in a large crafted item. This is difficult for me, as precision is not one of my strong points. Yet, I am learning to take the time to finish seams properly, or weave in the yarn on a finished cap so that it doesn't unravel. 


  Another lesson that creating small things for the smallest among us has taught me is persistence. Persistence is also not one of my strong points, but since small crafts tend to take less time than sewing or knitting for an adult, I tend to finish the item, rather than start five things at once, only to finish none of them.


  I have also learned that there is a singular and personal joy in completing a project, big or small. Something about having followed a pattern correctly, and having the project actually turn out like the picture on the pattern is it's own reward. Seeing the smile on the face of our granddaughter when she gets these small gifts is the icing on the cake!

~Kathy~

Lifelines...

                                                              Lifelines...


  So many things connect one person to another, but one of the strongest connections can be family history. With this connection comes a link to the past, as well as to the future. A shared family history can bring to life inherited traits, similar interests, and forge a bond with family members from past generations.

  Twelve years ago I began a quest to search out connections to my maternal and paternal roots. I spent hours at the local library,on the Internet, and scoured the phone books from every state in the union for my maternal and paternal surnames. Then, I wrote letters to these individuals, asking for any family history information that they would be willing to share with me. The result of my letters was mixed, but I did receive two treasures....one was a book on my fathers' family line, and the other was a phone call from New York from my grandfathers' step-brother.These two gems led me on in my quest to discover all that I could about my fathers' family line. 

  Yesterday, I began searching through several binders of collected family information....birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, pictures and other memorabilia. Often, right after a birth certificate would be a death certificate, and it brought to me a sense of nostalgia mixed with melancholy for the reality of the brevity of life hit me. Here before me in these documents was a life lived between the date of birth and the date of death...with so much happening in between. Maybe it was coincidental that I was sifting through these documents on Ash Wednesday, when I was reminded of my own brevity of life.

  Yesterday I discovered details about my parents wedding that I never knew, and wouldn't know except for a newspaper clipping about the ceremony. My mothers' colors were green and white, and her bridesmaids wore mint green dresses. One of our daughters is getting married this spring, and her colors are green and gold, with her bridesmaids wearing green dresses...connection!

  I have decided that I have too much interesting family information to keep it to myself, and so my goal is to organize it and form it into a book. This book will then be given to my family members, and passed on to future generations to keep the connections going. 

~Kathy~

                                     
                                Joliet Township High School (Joliet, Illinois)
                                   (where my parents met and fell in love)

                                       University of Minnesota (Twin Cities)
                                        (where my paternal grandparents met
                                                  and fell in love)
                                        

Chico State Memories...

                                                           Chico State Memories...

  My days spent at CSU Chico are so long ago, and so far away from my everyday lived experience, and yet what I learned as a nursing student there shaped me in my nursing career, and in my personal life.

  I first stepped onto the Chico campus in the fall of 1971, as a junior in high school. I had all day to explore the campus. I still remember the beauty that I saw on that day, from the expanse of lawns and variety of trees, to the elegance of the historic brick buildings and the bell tower. In addition, Chico Creek runs through the campus, so there are several bridges for bikes and pedestrians spread across the lovely campus. After seeing the campus and the town, I  decided that Chico was the college for me. There was a small town personal feel to it, along with being surrounded by the beauty of nature. I never regretted my decision to go to Chico State.

  On the Administration Building (pictured above), are the words: Today Decides Tomorrow. Those words always gave me pause as I glanced at them while coming or going to classes. These words made me consider my decisions on the big and small things in my life at the time. These words acted as a guide to me on my journey as a nursing student, causing me to slow down momentarily and reflect on where I was going.

  One thing for sure that I took away from being at CSU Chico was the love of learning, and the love of challenging myself academically. I had many hours of difficult study, and nursing exams and labs and hours spent caring for patients in the local hospitals...and I loved every minute of it! Something about Chico, the college and the town, wrapped itself around my heart and soul, much like the ivy covering all the brick buildings on campus. These special memories and feelings that they evoke will always stay with me. The place that Chico holds in my heart is tied to so many treasured memories, such as; meeting my husband, meeting my adopted grandmother, and finding my career path in nursing. For these treasures in my life, I will always be grateful.

~Kathy~

  

Bridal Memories...

                                                           Bridal Memories


   Why do weddings evoke so many deeply rooted thoughts and feelings? Seeing one of our daughters trying on a series of lovely wedding gowns really put me in a reflective state of mind. It was as if time had raced past me unawares, and now with my daughter arrayed in elegant lace before me, there was no denying the reality of the passage of time.

   The reality is that a wedding is approaching, and with that realization comes a host of feelings, some fleeting, but many are tied to the momentous occasion that a wedding is. It takes some adjusting on everyone's part, because the family is expanding to include a son/brother-in-law. This shifting of the family dynamics is felt differently by each family member, and is easier for some than others.This is all a very normal and expected part of the transformation that slowly evolves over time in families. 

   There is nothing more beautiful in terms of ceremonies, nor more stressful, than a wedding. I could add to that statement that there is nothing as expensive either, but I am sure that is common knowledge. Hopefully,when all is said and done,the memories from this upcoming spring wedding will evoke thoughts that transcend the passage of time. 

~Kathy~

Collage of Christmas Memories...

                                             Collage of Christmas Memories...

  Now that the ambiance of Christmas day still lingers in the air, and the wrapping paper and some gifts are still strewn about the house, along with remnants of cookies and other goodies...now is the time for a bit of reflection.

  It wouldn't be Christmas without love, reflected in the presence and faces of those nearest and dearest whether near or far away.

  It wouldn't be Christmas without family, and the joyful generosity of spirit.

  It wouldn't be Christmas without prayerful reflection on the gift of life, and the meaning behind the season.

  It wouldn't be Christmas without snow, but pictures of snow will have to do.

  It wouldn't be Christmas without the sending and receiving of cards and letters from friends, relatives and old college roommates.

  It wouldn't be Christmas without cutout, mincemeat and cream cheese cookies.

  It wouldn't be Christmas without creating memories through conversation, playing card games and going to visit certain Christmas light extravaganzas.

  Yesterday Christmas arrived in full force, bringing with it much joy and gratitude. The afterglow of Christmas fills our home with love, and hopefully radiates from it to others.

  As the deeper realities of Christmas begin to permeate my thoughts anew, I am thankful that each year with the gift that Christmas is, I am forced to slow down and contemplate deeper realities that will resonate within, and hopefully manifest themselves without for the twelve months to come.

 ~Kathy~

                                

Check out my other blogs:
www.kathy-dessertmania@blogspot.com
and
www.mertonthinker@blogspot.com

Real meaning of Christmas...

                                    
                           Real meaning of Christmas...


    I was just in a human maze of unbelievable proportions! It consisted of cars and people and merchandise, and an indoor shopping mall, and there were times when I wondered if I would get out in one piece physically and mentally. I have no one to blame but myself, as I decided to shop on a day equal to or worse than black Friday...which I avoid like the plague. There were moments of frustration, exhaustion, and jubilation, all within seconds or minutes of each other, but after two hours I had to call it quits for the day. I think I may still have a few brain cells left, and perhaps an ounce of patience. How do the store clerks pull it off day after day? Bless them!

  So, here I am in my cozy home at my computer, asking myself what did I just experience, and out of all that traffic, honking, glitter, tinsel and fakery, where is an inkling of the real meaning behind the season? I have been to most of the stores these past few weeks, picking away at my shopping list, and trying to remain calm and bright. It hasn't been easy when it takes forever to find a parking space, or what you are looking for is in every size but the one you need. One clue that people are frazzled and anxious these last days before Christmas is that very few shoppers are aware of the others around them in the store, or in the parking lot. 

  In all of this, I have caught glimpses here and there of a light in all of this mess out there, and it was in the form of one person helping another. Today at the mall, among a crowd of hundreds of bustling shoppers, a man slowly pushing the wheelchair of another person, so that person could shop was a highlight for me. 
That gave me a clue to the remedy for all the merchandise madness, which is to slow down. Is all this rushing around really necessary? Is going to five more stores really going to bring the real meaning of Christmas any closer to any of us, or will it just push it farther away?

  A simple act of caring, whether it be a word, smile, letter, card or visit, will do much more to bring to life what Christmas is all about.

  Wishing each one of you reading this a very special and meaningful Christmas.

~Kathy~

Reflections on baby Mary

                                                 Reflections on baby Mary

 Forget Christmas gifts for me this year, as right now I am holding the most precious gift of all...baby Mary. No material gifts can compare to the wonders of new life. Trying to see the world through the eyes of a baby brings us back to innocence, which brings us back to the divine. Holding a baby can remedy all ills, as one is taken into a simpler, more contemplative realm. How can this mental state not be beneficial for mankind? Don't we as humans have a deep seated need for a connection to eternal realities? Holding a baby makes this connection a reality, and forces one to slow down and become a little more contemplative in the process. Truly, holding a baby is the best Christmas gift, forcing me to slow down amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

~Kathy~

Grace, all grace....

                                                                Grace, all grace....



   Recently I was given a great gift. Not a material gift, but an interior gift. It came about in response to a phone call that I made to inquire about a nursing teaching position. The woman at the other end of the phone happened to be my former boss from eleven years ago. The phone call started the wheels rolling for me occupationally, but touched me at a deeper level. 

  There is some truth in the old saying that it's not what you know, but who you know. I have often discovered this saying to be true in my life. Sometimes its putting yourself in touch with the right person at the right time. More than that, it is grace, all grace.


~Kathy~

Can Baking Change the World?

                                Can Baking Change the World?



     I am asking this question because over the past few days I have come across two articles that propose the idea that baking can indeed change the world. The first article I read, from Food and Wine Magazine, Nov. 2011, states that "cookies can change the world." The article goes into how Cookies for Kid's Cancer was launched, which helps people organize bake sales to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Gretchen Holt-Witt went on to publish a cookbook titled Best Bake Sale Cookbook. All author proceeds go to Cookies for Kid's Cancer. This is one example of how baking cookies can raise needed funds for a worthy cause, and by doing so change the world for the better. 

    The other article related to the topic of baking potentially changing the world comes from Cooking Light Magazine, Nov. 2012. The title of the article hit me right between the eyes, and compelled me to bake a pie! Really. The article, "Pie as Holiday Therapy: Don't fret, the road to calm is through flour and fruit" was almost as satisfying as eating a piece of pie. The author of the article makes a strong connection between baking pies and the therapeutic elements involved in this timeless endeavor. 

    The author makes the point that baking pie evokes childhood memories of comfort and happiness. In addition, there is a sense of making something for others to enjoy, along with the therapeutic effect of doing something you really love to do. The author, Jennifer Drawbridge, states "one of the nicest things anyone can do for me when I'm feeling stressed is to ask me to bake a pie, or five pies, or twenty." I have baked 12 pies in one day to donate to a local Thanksgiving dinner, and it did feel good to give them away. I also fully agree that baking of any kind is a stress reliever, unless you are under pressure, with the clock is ticking, and the guests due to arrive any minute. I remember well how under these conditions, while baking an apple pie for my Dad and a cake from scratch for my Mom...I left the sugar out of the cake! Luckily the boiled frosting helped mask the forgotten sugar.

    I fully subscribe to this new mantra, and in our family, baking changes the mood, environment, and appetite of everyone in the home.

~Kathy~

Vintage Cookbook Discovery!

                               Vintage Cookbook Discovery !


  Recently I found myself browsing the shelves of a used bookstore, looking for
some items for baskets for a local charity fundraiser. For me this is potentially dangerous territory, being in a bookstore with time to browse the shelves. Suffice it to say that when in a bookstore, I can always find a book to buy, either for me or another person. On this particular day however, I confined myself to the cookbook section.

  Since I own a fairly large collection of cookbooks, it was nice to see many of them as I browsed each section...similar to meeting an old friend among a crowd of strangers. The classic standbys were present, such as Alice Waters and Julia Child and Jacques Pepin, but there were vintage regional cookbooks as well. My eye was drawn to a small thin blue volume, and as soon as I opened it up I knew I would be purchasing it for myself because of the literary connection to John Steinbeck. The title of the cookbook is The John Steinbeck House Cookbook, copyright 1984, which is filled with glorious photos of the Salinas Valley, along with recipes served at Steinbeck House. In addition, there are six pages of black and white Steinbeck family photographs. There is even a handwritten recipe attributed to John's mother from a cookbook she received as a bride. 

 After bringing the cookbook home and spending more time looking through it, I can't say there is anything particularly outstanding about the selection of recipes, except that they were served at the Steinbeck House. I do plan to try a few of them very soon, such as: chicken cheese enchiladas, praline cheesecake  apple kuchen and pumpkin mallow pie with gingersnap crust.

 A bit of research on the Steinbeck House, located at 132 Central Avenue, Salinas, CA 93901, reveals that this Queen Anne style Victorian was the birthplace and boyhood home of John Steinbeck, who wrote Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, Cannery Row, The Red Pony, and Tortilla Flat among others. To get a sense of how Steinbeck was so masterful in creating mood and evoking sensory response to food, read Chapter 22 in The Grapes of Wrath.

 The Steinbeck House was built in Salinas in 1897, and the Steinbeck family moved into the house in 1900. The house was opened to the public as a restaurant on February 27, 1974, which was the 72nd anniversary of John Steinbeck's birth. In 1995 the house was designated as a literary landmark, and in 2000 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

~Kathy~

Shopping Mania has begun...

                                            Shopping Mania has begun...


  
   With the Grand Opening of Paragon Outlets in Livermore today, I found myself
driving to the new shopping center...just like thousands of other people. As I walked through the outdoor mall, and checked out a store here or there, I was
asking myself why I felt the desire to be here among all of these people. There was a sense of the upcoming holiday season in every store window, and a spirit of joy among the crowd, which was helped by the free peppermint chocolate from the Ghiradelli Factory Outlet.

  What is the driving force behind this mania to go to such a place on opening day? Is it fueled by relief that the election is finally over, and we no longer have to see negative campaign ads? Or is it the reality that there are only 47 shopping days left until Christmas. Maybe its the contagion of people spending money to buy gifts for others (or themselves) that is enticing. But maybe, just maybe it is just wanting to be in the know as to what shops there are, and what the hot trends seem to be. 

  All I know is it was enjoyable being part of a group of devoted shoppers of all ages and locations. I did manage to find a few gift items, but if the line was long I had no trouble setting things back on their racks and walking out the door. Given that the parking was out in a field, and there were many CHP traffic officers to direct the continuous stream of cars off of 580, no one really seemed to mind the wait. That patience will most likely wear thin in the coming weeks, but for today everyone was all smiles. 

~Kathy~

Unexpected Treasures...

                                                       Unexpected Treasures


   Some of the most profound experiences of my life started with something very small, such as a thought, idea, experience, or a chance meeting. In particular, meeting an elderly woman in need of a visitor, evolved into a deep and lasting friendship. Much as a worn pathway on a hike can lead to unexpected views, flora, or even a chance sighting of a treasure in the natural world, so too can people bring many gifts into our lives. 

   While in college at CSU Chico, I took it upon myself to volunteer some time reading to a legally blind woman. This woman and I became friends, and I call her my adopted grandmother. Over many years, she and I shared many hours together reading, shopping, and going to theater and musical events. I came to appreciate her wisdom, and her joy in the simple things of life. Even though she was legally blind, she managed to have a positive attitude, and lived life to the fullest. From my adopted grandmother I learned to slow down a bit, and take time for others. Her joy in life stemmed from a deep inner balance, seeing things in their proper perspective. She taught me not to get caught up in the small, petty and inconsequential things of daily life, but to develop a more omniscient view on events. She also taught me to be more reflective throughout the day, and to take my religious beliefs seriously. My adopted grandmother never complained about anything. This was exceptional to me, as I know that she had her aches and pains. 

   I lost my adopted grandmother over twelve years ago, and yet her memory is held deep within my spirit. As a nursing student at CSU Chico, I learned more practical wisdom from her than I could have learned from any textbook. My debt of gratitude to her knows no bounds. In life, there are many unexpected treasures awaiting us, whether it be a person, idea or experience. Sometimes even very negative experiences hold within them a wealth of wisdom. These gems light up our path through life, and dispel any darkness. 

~Kathy~

Healthcare Documentary "The Waiting Room"

                   Healthcare Documentary "The Waiting Room"

  Interestingly,this political season has provided a vast number of narrative stories from both major party candidates. It seems clear that personal stories tug at the heart strings of people from all walks of life. Some of my most treasured family memories are the stories that have been passed on to me from my parents. These stories create an emotional bridge with ancestors I never knew. They also function as a window or lens, through which I connect with who and where I am from. The power and value of stories to create connections between people is an ancient tradition. Every culture uses storytelling to pass on cultural traditions, values, recipes,and family history. 

  Each of us has his or her own stories to tell, and many powerful stories come from those who have health-related narratives to share. This is the raw material from which Bay Area filmmaker Peter Nicks created his documentary about Oakland's Highland Hospital, titled "The Waiting Room". Nicks, who earned his master's degree in documentary filmmaking at UC Berkeley, focuses on the narratives of the uninsured. 

  Using "The Waiting Room" as a launchpad, Nicks has started developing what he calls a "digital storytelling project" about the nation's healthcare system. He wants to examine what works, what doesn't and where to go from here by having ordinary people tell their own stories. The website, www.whatruwaitingfor.com is developing into a multimedia platform where people can share their stories using videos, comments, blogs and pictures. A tab at the top allows you to classify your story according to a specific emotion. The site also gives viewers an opportunity to choose particular themes, such as: access to care, violence and chronic disease, or others that may be relevant to them. 

  This project has reverberating effects into the developing medical community as the film and storytelling website are slated to be incorporated into medical school curriculums, universities and elsewhere, as part of an effort to expand the conversation about healthcare.

  The documentary "The Waiting Room" opens in the Bay Area on Friday October 19th at the Grand Lake in Oakland, Camera Cinemas in San Jose, and Sundance Kabuki in San Francisco.

~Kathy~
*Reference: Tri-Valley Times 10/18/12

Free Market Lesson...

                                                         


        Recently I had two experiences which caused me to stop and reflect on the pluses and minuses of the free market system. Many months ago I decided to try and sell some of my sewing and knitting projects at a local senior center craft shop. I was excited by the idea of having people purchase what I made, and I decided that my earnings would go to a local charity. 

     A few months went by, and none of my handmade clothing or knit baby washcloths were selling, and I was somewhat disappointed.Around this time, I decided to give some of the clothing I had made to an organization that provides clothes to the needy in our local community. I happened to be in the office on the day when a mom walked in asking for clothes for her 2-year old son. One of the things she needed was pajamas. She looked through the clothing drawers, and lovingly reached for the flannel pj's I had brought in that day. An indescribable feeling came over me, and even with the passage of 2 weeks since that day, I have difficulty putting into words what I felt at that moment. If pressed to articulate the feeling, I would say it was a combination of joy, gratitude, humility and pride all mixed together. Even though no one had purchased these pj's when they were on sale at the craft shop, I had been royally compensated for them from the look on the mothers' face when she chose them for her son.

     Since this experience, some of my craft items have found a buyer, and I have earned some monetary compensation. However, no monetary reward can compare to knowing that something I made is not only wanted, but really needed.

~Kathy~

Dimensions of Time...

                
         Time takes on new and varied dimensions when you are a parent of small children. The immediacy of needs causes time to take on an omniscient dimension, where everything is seen through a triage lens that deals with events in the order of importance. 
       
          Often an infant will have his/her days and nights mixed up, creating a time warp of sleepless nights for the parents. Nothing makes a day feel longer in my view, than being up several times during the night. The early morning hours have a pace all their own, where time seems to barely creep along, especially if you continue to look at a clock. The darkness and quiet are wonderful for reflection, but the brain is usually too tired to have any continuity of thought. If there is one concept that can get replayed in one's brain at such an early hour, it is the thought of getting back to sleep.

          Infant sleep patterns usually adjust to a more manageable pattern after the first few months after birth. Then the parents breath a sigh of relief that they won't have to be drowsy during the day, and sleepwalking throughout the night. Somehow the old adage to "sleep when the baby sleeps" never really works because that is the only time when the parent(s) can get anything done. 

          If there is anything I learned from taking care of infants it is this: everything can wait, because nothing is more important than being present to the needs of a child.

~Kathy~