I have the glorious opportunity to be by the sea, alone, for four days with time to nurture my creative self. This is a gift. This is hard to accept. No one is directing my time, my thoughts, my must do’s. I do not need to do the wash while writing a blog while planning dinner while worrying about my children while… I have no constraints but my own. This is more than a gift. This is a real challenge. My daughter said this - “With doing more, I don't mean getting frazzled

My mom, now 95, wrote this in 2008. Her words reinforce my belief that it is the small things that matter and we need to take time to enjoy them. Hope you enjoy mom's thoughts. Grandparents – where do they stand? Recently two things happened that made me realize that you may not be lonely. A grandchild rushes into where you are, your presence, bid you hello and is off running to do these very important things 12 year old boys really have to be doing. However every so often

There is an old Africn proverb that says: Plan with a purpose, Prepare with prayer, Proceed with positivity And pursue with persistence. That, my friends, is how to complete The Last Gift Box.

Pat Conway quote from Beach Music Before we become a stranger to our children, while they still find us mildly entertaining, begin a discussion of how you wish to live …and die…as their parent. I know I want to live my life with zest and color and I wish my death and events after my death to reflect that. If there are no children, think who is to be your decision maker, keeper of the keys to your heart, mind, body. Be sure they receive the wisdom you have to share about YOU