Thanksgiving Day!

This was an amazing day: our son arrived safely from Cleveland with a few little "take-off" difficulties with the friendly skies, and Kim picked him up at the Baltimore Washington Airport just in time for a fabulous dinner at Kim's parent's home. I have to say it was the most amazing Thanksgiving Day dinner I have ever had and Sally (Kim's mom) pulled out all the stops. And it was the first time we saw Jon and Kim as the "engaged couple."

As a mom, I prayed for both my boys that they would find a loving wife and family; God answered my prayer. The first time you hold your child you have glimpses of what it might be like when they grow up, get engaged, married, and eventually have a family of their own (if they choose). It's hard to believe that 23, almost 24 years, have passed and we are standing on the threshold of seeing that happen (May 30, 2010). This has to be the best Thanksgiving Day of all -- to be part of such an amazing family and to see our "kids" so happy.

I hope your day was as special as mine. Oh, and I haven't forgotten about the book giveaway. I will pick a winner tomorrow, so be sure to leave a comment. Since "Black Friday" will find many of you in the shopping malls, I thought it would be the perfect time to pick a winner!

Blessings and Joy,

Buona Pasqua

I’m off to my favorite Italian bakery in town, “La Dolce Vita.” They carry all my must-have items to make Easter dinner festive, including: the “Colombo” (baked bread in the shape of a dove); biscotti di mandorle (almond paste cookies with pine nuts), and chocolate eggs filled with a “sorpreza” (surprise)—a small toy.

Having just returned from the country, so aptly named “La Dolce Vita,” the images are still fresh in my mind. And with the recent earthquakes in the town of Aquila, my heart aches for the people and the country that is so full of pain right now.

Having lived through my share of earthquakes in Sicily, I can still picture the beds moving across the speckled marble floor, the "palazzo" swaying back and forth, and the screaming and shouting as many jumped from their balconies and windows to escape being crushed from the collapse of buildings. We endured one of Italy’s worst earthquakes in 1981, but we were spared harm.

All these years later, I look back and realize there was a purpose for us surviving…we have two beautiful sons with which to share the blessing of Easter. This Easter we will pray for the country we hold so dear and unite around the table to give thanks to God for giving us this one life to live for Him!

Buona Pasqua Tutti!

Reading Your Daughter

My dad is a voracious reader. He carries several pens and a yellow highlighter in his pocket protector—always—so he can record his thoughts and underline key words. A quick perusal of his bookshelf will give you a glimpse into his interests: political, religious, and medical. He shares his vast knowledge on almost any subject with careful cross-referencing—handing me a book outlining the details of his argument.

I love it.

On this last trip, Dad gave me several books to read, one was titled, Taking Care of your Elderly Parents. My mom is shipping that one (I didn’t finish it!). But the one I adore is titled, Stein on Writing, with an inscription, “To Connie, with love, Dad!”

Ahh…

Dad didn’t know it at the time, but that’s the best gift he has ever given me (except for the letter he wrote to me shortly after I was married). It was a gift from the heart because Dad’s books are like his children—he doesn’t part with them (even if I ask politely!). This, however, was even more poignant because he gave it freely—he picked it out for me.

The book, by the way, is the best I have ever read on the subject of writing (fiction or nonfiction). It’s a writer’s conference in a book. In fact, if you don’t have this reference book in your library you are missing a vital link to the craft of writing. As a master editor of some of the most successful writers of our century, Stein liberally shares techniques and strategies. Normally, when I read a book filled with such valuable information, I follow my dad’s example and underline, write notes in the margin, highlight with a pink marker, and tab the pages. I resisted. Instead I savored each page and took notes on the back of my ticket voucher (which is now carefully filed away).

Why?

This is a gift from the heart—to be cherished. As I flipped through the pages, I imagined my dad reading in his chair with his black-rimmed glasses and yellow highlighter in hand. Tears flowed. Several times during the trip, my hubby asked me if I was okay. I dabbed my eyes and said, “I’m fine.”

I was not.

From California to Denver and from Denver to Baltimore, I cried—no sobbed. It’s not unusual—I do it every time. I wore my dark sunglasses (the ones with palm trees and flamingos), and re-lived the still precious moments: Dad fixing waffles for breakfast; working in his vegetable garden; taking Brandy—his beloved German short hair—on a walk EVERY morning; working in the garage—sculpting works of art from wood; picking up more books at garage sales, and sharing his opinion on political views.

I always wondered why I loved to read and now I know why.

Thanks, Dad, from your daughter with love!

Rocky Mountain High

We arrived home at 3:00 a.m. and woke up at 11:00 a.m. to a cat who is not “speaking” to us. I’ll give her some space and hopefully she’ll snap out of it.

Yesterday flying over the Rocky Mountains was a highlight for me (which is why we go through Denver on the way to California). If you hit it just right, the layers of pastels at sunset are a blur of lavender, orange, yellow, and violet with a smoky haze that takes your breath away. However, we did not see that view this time, but it was still spectacular.

This morning, I’m still on a “high” because my passport arrived (a miracle!). Sometime I hope to share the rest of the story on that one (smile!)...

Although spring has arrived in all its glory in California, we arrived home to shades of gray in Lancaster County. But this morning (okay, this afternoon—to be precise!), I peeked out the window and saw a fleck of yellow. Spring has delivered its first package—a yellow crocus. The daffodils and tulips will follow (hopefully!).

I’ll leave you with some memories of our time in California with family…










Blessings!

Moms of Sons

As moms of sons, we get left out of a lot of things, like “Mother/Daughter Banquets” and shopping sprees. I remember when we were in ministry, I had to “rent” a daughter to take to the banquet every year (usually from a mom that had more than one to spare!).

If I’m honest, I have missed having a daughter—you know…dressing her up in pink, going out to lunch, and doing “girly-girl” things.

That’s why I’m so thankful to be part of Extreme Diva Media that is on a mission to celebrate friendship in 2009. You can read all about it on the website Jean Ann Duckworth has created so masterfully. But the premise of a “diva” has nothing to do with Britney Spears or “Jaylo,” but rather to create less stress, more joy, develop simplicity, and to honor relationships.

And how do we do that? By spending time with our girlfriends (of course!). My author friend, Kathy Pride, is putting more “margins” in her life right now because her kids are scattered in ages 9 to 27. Mine have just about flown the coop. In fact, today I received Jon’s graduation pictures in the mail (and sobbed). He is graduating summa cum laude and looks so handsome in his cap and gown.


I just wrote out the check for his yearbook and included a photo with a caption (more tears!). I reminisced how Jon was my “slow” to talk little guy. But he loved reading from Richard Scarry’s Dictionary at naptime. We started with the A’s and by the C’s, Jon was asleep (always!). I caught this picture of him developing his pre-college study habits (book open, eyes closed, and sunglasses on).

As I thought about those times of rest (reading to my “babies”), I have no regrets. I treasured every moment of “mommyhood” and wouldn’t change a thing!

And now that Jon is graduating in May 2009 (and “yes” he has a job already). He signed on with a major marketing firm on January 7, 2009 (so he’s officially on “summer break”). We figured out that he could make straight D’s and still graduate with a 3.40 average! But knowing Jon, he will never be late for class (and will probably show up a few minutes early), and won’t take anything less than an A.

We’ve had some great times over the past six weeks of vacation: watching DVD’s, talking and having leisurely breakfasts, celebrating Jon’s new job, thinking about the future and what a move to Cleveland will entail (that’s where his new job is located), and wondering what furniture he can take from our house to set up his new apartment. How did these four years pass so quickly? What was I doing?

I know, I was thinking about what I missed about not having a daughter. Well, guess what? I would be passing out more pink ribbons, and so it’s with a thankful heart that I will not have to pass on this disease to my daughter. It’s already touched too many lives in our family.

Instead, I will celebrate the joy of “renting” daughters, loving my “daughter-in-laws,” and adding my name to the book, Moms of Sons by Extreme Diva Media.

Boy, do I have some stories to tell…

Living Life Passionately,




P.S. I have some giveaways coming up. Several books are coming out that I have had the privilege of being a part of, including The Ultimate Mom by Chicken Soup (they are including three of my stories). Due out on April 1, 2009 (no joke!).

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moms, sons, pink ribbons, family, gratitude, college graduation

Christmas is Over!

Christmas…it’s over!

No more gifts to buy, no more long lines to wait in, no more hustle and bustle, no more watering the Christmas tree (letting it die of natural causes), and no more cooking (just a refrigerator full of leftovers)...

It’s bittersweet.

Christmas 2008 will go down as one of the best in the Pombo family history books. We started the morning off with a huge breakfast made up of homemade cinnamon rolls (thanks to Pillsbury Pop ‘N Fresh) and fruit (strawberries, cantaloupe, grapes, pineapple, and kiwi). Afterwards we opened our gifts—covered with a thin layer of pine needles—thanks to our cat, Bianca, who staked out the tree weeks earlier as her new hiding place.

On Christmas morning, Jeremy delighted all of us with his unwrapped gifts carefully placed in a Gap drawstring bag (nice touch, sweetheart!). I told him, “You’re off the hook for the rest of your life!” I received the DVD—Mamma Mia! I don’t remember anything else after that, except there were oohs and ahhs and a lot of hugging and kissing.

Mamma went to work in the kitchen and the guys watched videos. The organic turkey (those aren’t cheap) was in the oven at 1:00 p.m., after still plucking out turkey “hairs.” I guess organic now means that you get to finish what they started (no preservatives means you have the honor of pulling out the rest of the feathers).

After not cooking a "real" meal in quite some time, I realized that it all boils down to the last half hour…timing is everything.

Jeremy and I jockeyed for position in our small kitchen as he mashed potatoes and I popped the baby quiches and crescent rolls in the oven.

While Jeremy carved the turkey, I took out the green bean casserole. We did the “turkey dance” trying to get everything out simultaneously without stepping on each other’s toes.

Finally, Jon said an ecumenical prayer as we held hands around the kitchen island, so I could keep an eye on the crescent rolls so they didn’t disintegrate into lumps of coal.

I didn’t disappoint in the baking department either, I made a Mrs. Smith pumpkin pie. Okay, for you who need to make a homemade pie, forget it! Mrs. Smith’s Hearty Recipe is outrageously good. Only my mom can make it better. We enjoyed dessert after the movies (yes, it’s a tradition—not to be missed). It was a tossup between “Benjamin Buttons” and “Marley and Me” (but the doggie movie won out—“paws” down).

Spoiler coming…you need to get out the Kleenex for this one! Jon later commented, “I knew there were going to be tears when the doggie started to die!”

Tears?

I cried—no, sobbed. Then I hiccupped cried through the rest of the movie—sopping up tears with my single-layer popcorn napkin and faux Burberry scarf. It was such a relief when the movie was over, because quite frankly I don’t think I could take any more torture.


Thankfully, Jon’s girlfriend—Kim—made me feel oh so much better because her sobs equaled mine in both length and intensity. Jon later commented, “It’s was just a dog?”

What? Man’s best friend—just a dog?

No, it wasn’t just about a dog…it was about the relationship man has with his four-pawed companion. And that’s all I’m going to say about that!

Later that evening, Kim and I consoled ourselves by eating “homemade” pumpkin pie with blotchy faces and puffy eyes.


Christmas is over and I’m both sad and slightly relieved. Christmas 2008 definitely had all the makings of a truly perfect day: family, food, God’s blessings, laughter, tears, warm memories, and a smidgen of drama.

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Marley and Me, Christmas Memories, Mrs. Smith Hearty Pumpkin Pie

"Oh, Christmas Tree”

Yesterday we cut down our Christmas tree on a tree farm (I mean Mark cut it down; I just laid hands on him).

After four years of a fake tree, it was time to have the real thing. You know? The kind that sheds needles; the one that your cat jumps on and goes crash in the middle of the night; the one you have to give a drink of water to when it’s thirsty, and the one that everyone says, “Wow, that’s a big tree!”

Yep, eight feet tall (and growing!).

Funny how the trees look so much smaller on a 10-acre lot than in your own living room. We narrowed the 600 trees down to three, two, and then one.

“Oh, that’s it…there’s our tree!” I shouted.

Mark turned toward me and said, “No, that’s the Charlie Brown Christmas tree.”

I have a soft spot in my heart for the trees that everyone passes by: the one that has a huge “bald” spot, lop-sided, and half dead. They come calling to me.

But…

Hubby won the first round of "Christmas Tree Bingo" and we settled on a somewhat irregular Norway Evergreen (instead of the usual Douglas Fir). I think. Who knows, really; they all start looking the same when your hands are blue and your feet are numb.

Cutting it down is the easy part, stuffing it in the back of Dave’s truck (our neighbor) was another Houdini act. Their tree makes ours look like “Tiny Tim.”
Unfortunately, our tree doesn’t fit in the living room and is taking up most of the dining room. We moved the furniture around so our cat "Bianca" can take flying leaps off the second story balcony and land on the tree top!

Or maybe we'll let our neighbor's kitten, Lily, do it...she's already had some practice jumping off the second story balcony!
Today we are putting on lights. No simple task with our “disabilities”; I can’t use my arms and Mark can’t use his legs (the odd couple!).

When we have it all dressed up, we’ll invite you over for some cookies and cocoa—okay?

Can you tell I’m distracting myself? Jon left for college this morning (and will return in two weeks). I made his favorite treat for the road: “peanut butter balls.” They require no baking!

Here’s the recipe:
3/4 c. Quaker oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
3/4 c. instant nonfat dry milk
3/4 c. chunk style peanut butter
1/2 c. honey
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. raisins or nuts

Combine oats and nonfat dry milk, stirring until well blended; set aside. Beat together peanut butter, honey and vanilla; stir in combined dry ingredients and raisins. Mix thoroughly and shape dough into 3/4" balls. Keep refrigerated.

Sing, “Oh Christmas Tree” while you’re rolling the balls!

Thanksgiving Thoughts

I announced last week that the kitchen was closed and we were going to have Thanksgiving at the Eden Resort Inn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. My youngest son, Jon, who is a senior at Grove City College said, "Great! Lookin' forward to it." My oldest son said, "No way, I'll cook. You can't do that."

"Oh, yes I can...I'm the Mom!" I explained.

I'm writing the chapter on "Simplicity" for my next book and thought, "How can I make Thanksgiving more simple?"

That was easy..don't cook!

Last year we spent $150 on groceries. I cooked and cleaned all day (and the day before), used every pan, platter, and placemat in the house, cleaned all night, and fell into bed with an empty stomach (I forgot to eat!). There was 10 minutes of conversation at the table, and then they all drifted into the living room to watch the football game. I was left with the dishes (only female in the family), and said to myself, "Next year will be different."

Guess what?

It is different. I don't even have pangs of guilt, but rather a sense of gratitude in my heart and thankfulness in my soul.

Now back to writing on "simplicity," after I do my "Black Friday" shopping today (Monday). That's my other way to make it simple: shop off hours when everyone else is at work!

Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving. The kitchen will re-open next Monday (maybe!).




Photo courtesy of: www.freedigitalphotos.net

The Wedding

Weddings always make me cry…I don’t know “why,” but they just do! Even if it’s the happiest moment in the couple’s life, I still cry.

My brother asked me why I was crying on Saturday evening and the only answer I could come up with was, “I don’t know!” I’m not sure what evokes such emotion, but I’ve been doing it since I’ve been attending weddings and I don’t intend to stop—just in case someone wants to hire me as a professional "crier" at their wedding. My fees are cheap. I provide the tears; you provide the food.

I arrived home this morning on the red eye last night (I know that doesn’t make sense), but that’s how it is. You wake up and then you’re at your destination, but I feel horrible as if I woke up on the wrong side of the "seat."

Then I leave tomorrow (very early) for New Jersey to speak at Merck Pharmaceuticals and then off to a retreat this weekend in Maryland. I love what I do (that goes without saying), but my life is whirling around me faster than I can catch up.

The memories of the wedding are only a part of the journey to California; the best part of the trip I will blog on later. But I wanted you to know that I’m home and the honeymooners are in Hawaii!

Today as I looked at their wedding pictures, I cried again…weddings just do that to me!

The First Day of Fall!

The air is crisp, the sky is slate blue with a slight haze, the pumpkins are out, the welcome wreath with fake leaves and pheasant feathers is on the door, the garden is mulched, so it must be the first day of fall.

Goodbye to summer, but not quite yet. I’m not ready. My tomatoes are still flourishing, my flowers are blooming (not just the mums!), and I haven’t put my summer clothes away (I wore white today for the last time). The leaves are turning and there’s that smokiness in the air that reminds me that soon frost will paste the windows and I’ll need to rummage through the boxes in the basement for winter sweaters and coats. Oh no!

But before I say “hello winter,” I’m heading off to San Diego to spend five days with my family. My little brother is getting married. Yeah! It’s going to be a party (that’s what I keep telling my mom). It’s a long story, but you can pray!

When I return on October 7th on the “red eye,” I leave for New Jersey to speak at Merck Pharmaceuticals Global Network of Women, and that weekend a retreat at Wapiti, Maryland. As a speaker, October is my busiest time because it’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month—the month of pink. And I will need to gear up for planes, trains and automobiles.

This will be one of our last falls in Pennsylvania, so I will treasure the speckled leaves that look like the back of a giraffe, the crisp mornings, and the changing of the seasons because in fifteen months (a little less now), we will return once again to my home—California—where I belong.

I feel like I’m going to break out and sing a John Denver song (and you don’t want that—do you?).

That’s what I like about fall—the first day anyway!



P.S. I will blog sporadically the month of October as time allows, but if not I'll see you in November!

Be Still and Know that I am God!

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth." ~Psalm 46:10

As I watched the last tiny fishing boat come into port last evening, I glanced up at the sky and saw it light up. The sun had already dipped below the horizon, but that’s when the real “fireworks” began. Sunsets are gorgeous, but the true beauty occurs right after the sun has disappeared. It doesn’t turn dark, but rather it becomes more brilliant —turning shades of red, orange, yellow, blue, indigo and violet—the colors of the rainbow. How reassuring to know that when it seems like the sun is setting in our life (whatever that may be…sickness, tragedy, loneliness, despair...), it’s really just the beginning of God’s light to shine in our lives.

As we drove out of Sandy Cove last evening, we saw this sign as a reminder of what we had witnessed—not only in our lives this past summer—but as God’s promise to all of us.

Blessings to all of you who have faithfully prayed for Mark's recovery!

Summer's End

The end of summer is bittersweet. It means the end of one routine and the beginning of another. For me, my writing life gives way to speaking and that means ”trains, planes and automobiles.” But it also means a more hectic schedule, which I am desperately trying to change. Mark’s recuperation from his hip injury has taught me--once again--to take ONE DAY at a time! His progress has been steady and it looks like he will return to work sometime in September. So we are enjoying these last days of summer as a special gift.

Last Monday, we met fellow friend and author Susan Kelly Skitt along with her precious family (Jim, Jared and Joel) at one of our favorite summer spots: Mt. Gretna! It’s the place that time has forgotten with an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, quaint cottages, and a water swing over the lake.

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We enjoyed endless root beer in iced glasses and pulled pork sandwiches, while the canopy of pine trees brought a welcome relief to an otherwise humid day. Susan and I first met at an author signing for God Allows U-Turns, and immediately we knew we were sisters of the heart. And now she speaks to MOPS groups and is part of Women’s Mentoring Ministries. It’s a great reunion every time we get together.

Yesterday, Jon came home from his vacation with Kim’s family at Ocean City, Maryland. In a matter of two hours after arriving home, we helped him pack up the Subaru to head out for Grove City College. You would think that having gone through this for the last three years, I would be used to it. I am not!

As soon as the good-bye picture was snapped, I slipped inside the front door so I could cry alligator tears!

Mark knew that I would spend the rest of the evening crying on and off, so we got in the Buick and drove 58 miles down the road to “paradise”—North East, Maryland. We shopped the quaint shops, took pictures of the gorgeous homes, enjoyed crab dip (Maryland style--yummy!), and watched the sunset on the Chesapeake while the fishing boats drifted in.

On the drive home, we opened up the moon roof (yes--our Buick has a moon roof!), played R&B music, and let the wind whip through my hair. The tears had dried and the sadness was gone (almost!).


We have done our job well…our boys are all grown up and leading lives of their own. It’s just the two of us now at summer’s end!