{ Happy Birthday, Rob! }

As I look back over my life, there is a constant, a steady force, a forever friend. We met as young, aspiring, tragically hip (emphasis on tragic) children of the suburbs who longed for bigger, better, infamous lives. We have, now, instead, lives consumed by kids, jobs, family and the day to day. But through it all, the humor, the history, the inside jokes, remind us both that there is one person in this world who knows all the secrets, all the sorrows and still chooses the friendship.

Happy Birthday, old friend!
Love you,
Steph

{ Methodical Chaos }

I wake up most days around 5:30, sip tea from 6:00 to 6:30 while channel surfing and then in flannel pj's (I have a whole collection), head to my office for a couple of hours of email, blogging (reading and writing), WTW work and general mischief. All of this before my actual job of bookkeeping, which some days can be six hours and others ten. (Have I mentioned I really like what I do? Truly.)

But it's January. January is a quarterly month AND year end...you know all the 1099's and W-2's that arrive in your box in a couple of weeks? Yep, that's me. I'm the worker bee that gets stuff ready for the CPA, the Turbo Tax, the H&R Block people. So, needless to say, I'm a tish busy this time of year. Last night the image of methodical chaos came to mind and I think that aptly describes my life in January. I sit down one client file at a time and methodically go through everything, one layer at a time before declaring the year end books ready for higher inspection and commiting cartridge ink to the forms that must get sent by 4:00January 31st. Radio Nigel plays on as the dawn sheds her early light into my office. Today the pj's are my blue flannels with suns and moons. Who knows? Tomorrow may be my fire engine red with my crochet slippers.

{ We love you, Bonnie }

It is with a heavy heart and through tear filled eyes that our family says good bye to a member of "the tribe". Bonnie fought cancer with grace, humor and strength and passed peacefully this morning, surrounded by her children and husband. She leaves behind a community of family and friends who will carry her laughter and her love forever.

Today, hug the people you love closer and tighter. Each day is precious.