In honor and celebration of today’s date and the number nine, the following is my list of “Top 9 Simple Pleasures I Enjoy.” 9. Biting into a fresh, crisp, ripe slice of apple…preferably one dipped in caramel. 8. Falling into the cool, crisp sheets of a freshly-made bed. 7. Sitting on my patio in the cool of the evening. 6. Harvesting veggies from my very own backyard garden. 5. Reading a really great book- you know, the kind of story that you never want to end! 4. Drinking the perfect cup of coffee. 3. Snuggling with my dog Baxter while

Almost from the time a baby is born, family members will often try to determine which characteristics of the child should be attributed to what side of the family. “She has her mother’s eyes.” “He has his father’s smile.” “She’s stubborn, just like Great Aunt Lulu.” Over the years I have been told that I am a pretty even mix of my parents. Sometimes this is a compliment, other times it is a great source of frustration! There have been many mornings I have looked in the mirror and saw my mother’s face looking back at me. Creepy! Lately I

I didn’t intend to have a complicated life. Honest. In fact, I thought that my life would be easier since I had been “downsized” from my job. Yet I found myself with an overcrowded calendar, a home bursting at the seams with “stuff,” and an incredibly cranky family. Not to mention an incredibly cranky me! That old saying, “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!” is so true. How did it all get so crazy? Piano lessons, sports team practices and games, homework, church activities, music performances, parent-teacher organization meetings, my husband’s overloaded schedule…on and on and on. Added to