The story about the friends in the coffee shop...

I’d just gotten my coffee and sat down to get some writing done at my favorite coffee shop.

A woman walked over and set a vase of flowers down on the table next to me.

She dug in her purse, pulled out an envelope, and leaned it against the vase, just so.

Then she settled in a chair and checked her watch. Every few minutes, she looked out the window, waiting for someone.

I smiled, knowing that whoever was meeting her was going to get a beautiful surprise when they got there.

About five minutes later, another woman walked in.

She headed toward the table where her friend was waiting.

When she saw the flowers, she stopped. “You are so sweet!” she said. "Those are gorgeous!”

"Happy Birthday," her friend laughed. She stood up, and they hugged.

I sipped my coffee, pretended to type, and tried not to cry (because the whole scene choked me up).

"You didn't have to do that," the friend said.

“I wanted to. It’s your birthday,” said the other.

They went to the counter and got their coffees, then sat down at the table and started talking.

And at that point, I figured I should stop listening in.

But what I loved about watching the whole thing unfold was the way that woman went out of her way for her friend, and how special she made her feel.

And I'll bet that friend will always remember those surprise flowers

in the coffee shop

on her birthday.

I know I will.

(I think I might even copy the idea.)   :)

Celebrating Five Years!

This week, my friend Lisa (an amazing person and a breast cancer survivor) is celebrating Five Years Cancer-Free! 

Lisa and I have known each other forever, and even though we only get to see each other a few times a year, we always pick up right where we left off.  Here's a picture of us on New Year's:

She also reads my blog (thanks, Lis) so I'd love it if you could help me surprise her and leave a comment here wishing her a Happy Five Years!

And if you didn't happen to see the Pink Glove Dance when it was first going around YouTube, make sure you click here or watch it below. It's an awesome video to help inspire breast cancer awareness and it will seriously brighten your day!





For more "Wordful" / Wordless Wednesday fun, stop by Angie's Seven Clown Circus or 5MinutesforMom.

Thinking of you, Lisa!

The World-Record corn maze, and a fun lunch with friends...

Welcome to Talkin' About Thursdays! Today we're talking about Fall get-togethers...

<center><a href="http://www.mycup2yours.com/"><img src="http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt94/memoriesbydesign/Genny%20-%20My%20Cup/Thursdaysbutton4-3.png"/></a></center></td>

Every year, we go to the same pumpkin patch--Bishop's Pumpkin Farm. We've been going there since the kids were about three and it's become sort of a tradition for us.

And even though I'm big on tradition, I thought it might be fun to do something different this year. You know, mix things up and be a little spontaneous.

So, on our way home from visiting one of my best friends near San Francisco, we stopped at a pumpkin patch we'd never been to. We never even knew about it until we saw the signs off the freeway.

As we drove, I could tell the kids weren't sure about the whole thing. We followed the signs, listening to them groan in the backseat about how, "this pumpkin patch doesn't look the same as Bishop's," and, "what if it's not as much fun?"

"It'll be fun," I promised. "It's good to try new things."

And when they saw this sign, they perked up a bit...



because it's not every day you get to visit a pumpkin patch that's been in the Guinness Book of World Records, right?

It turns out the maze was huge...

You can't see it very well in the picture, but at the top of the corn field is a green bridge. Just to give you an idea of how big this maze was, there were four bridges like that, all spaced about the same distance apart.

You enter the maze through one bridge, navigate your way (using a map that you get at the beginning) to the next bridge, then the next, and the next, until you find your way out.

Well, that's how it's supposed to work, anyway.

I should've known when we going into the maze and saw a boy talking on a cell phone trying to explain to someone on the other line how to get out, that this was going to be a challenge.

But about twenty minutes into it, when my daughter the map-keeper, "sort of lost track," of where we were, I started to realize what we were up against. And I started to think that we might be in that maze for hours.

Maybe even days.

As we wandered around, it felt like we were going in circles.

In fact, I'm pretty sure we were.

But apparently, I was the only one who was concerned.

The kids were having a ball, running back and forth, guessing which way to go. And Mike's so easygoing that he just took up the rear and went with the flow.

I was (beyond) relieved when a family (who looked like they knew where they were going) came up the path.

"Follow them," I said, walking faster.

"You can't follow them," my daughter said. "That's like cheating!"

Fast forward a half-hour...

in which I tried to follow the people in front us without looking like I was trying to follow the people in front of us, and in which the kids got mad at me because, "you're going too fast, Mom," and in which I became more and more convinced that we were going to spend forever in that maze...

and we finally found the first bridge.

There were a bunch of people on it sharing maps, discussing strategy, and copying notes on which way to go...

and it became very clear that the maze quite possibly was an all-day event.

While I was proud of my kids for wanting to go all the way to the end no matter how long it took, the fact was we still had the drive home, and we hadn't planned for a corn maze of this...ahem... magnitude.

Mike and I explained to the kids that if we wanted to be able to explore the rest of the pumpkin patch, we had to turn back.

Needless to say, they were disappointed that they didn't get to finish the maze (you should've seen some of the pictures I took after that, both of them grumpy and frowning). But even though our effort at spontaneity was sort of a flop, the day was gorgeous, the kids got to see some pretty big pumpkins,

and we promised them that, next year, we'll go to Bishop's. :)

On a more positive note, I had some friends over for a Fall luncheon not too long ago and we had so much fun.

We talked,

and had lunch...

and so much fun catching up that we lost track of time (we've known each other forever and hadn't seen each other in a while).

We took a couple pictures too. Here's one of me with my friend Nicole...

And here's another one with Nicole, and my other friend Jen. (The picture's blurry, but I had to share it anyway because Jen's little girl took it and we made her take at least ten shots to try to get one that worked. This one came the closest.)

So here's to Fall get-togethers, everyone! In spite of corn maze detours and blurry photos, time with family and friends is always a good thing!

Want to join the conversation? Write your own Fall Get-Together post, link back here (you can copy my button at the top of this post if you want), then come back and enter the URL in the link list.

Don't forget to read and comment on each other's posts, too. I look forward to hearing what you've been up to!

Here's the schedule for next month's Talkin' About Thursdays:

November 5th - Your favorite place to relax. Is it a quiet corner in your house? The shore? A spa? If you haven't had any relaxation lately, go get some, then post about it!

November 12th - Your favorite vacation. Where do you love to go? Do you have pictures from the last time you were there? What do you do while on vacation?

November 19th - A good read. What's a great book you've read lately?

November 26th - off for Thanksgiving (but be sure to take pictures because on Dec. 3rd, we'll be talking about what we did for Thanksgiving. I'm looking forward to seeing how you celebrate.)

Talk soon!

Birthdays, Thursday, and sappy mommy posts...

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you had a great week and have some fun plans for the weekend.

We're having a birthday dinner for my mother-in-law on Saturday and I can't wait. The colder weather has completely gotten me into the fall-spirit. I went shopping yesterday and got red table cloths and beige placemats for the dinner, and one of my friends (who's a super talented decorator) is letting me borrow some fun centerpieces. I can't wait to set the tables. I'll have to take a picture and maybe post about it. :)

A note about next week: I'm launching something new here on Thursday, so be sure to stop by and join in. It should be a lot of fun!

Don't forget to stop by on Mom-Monday too. I just finished writing my post and couldn't get through it without crying. You'll see why on Monday. It was one of those sappy mom-moments, for sure.

So what are you all doing this weekend? Do you have any plans? I'd love to hear about them!

Talk soon,

A Nice Little Lunch Date...

My mother-in-law and I recently had lunch together at Pottery World.



You might not think a place that sells indoor and outdoor decorations would have a cafe inside, but it does.

And it has the best lunches too--great coffee, delicious sandwiches, and big salads. (This is the salad-trio I tweeted about that day)...



It was sooo good.
And our time together--relaxing and talking--was even better.

After we finished eating, we had a ton of fun browsing the store and looking at all the fall decorations. (It's finally feeling like fall where I'm at in California and I couldn't be happier!)

What about you? Have you taken time out for any fun get-togethers with friends or family lately? I'd love to hear about it!

For more "Wordful" or "Wordless" Wednesday photos, stop by Angie's Seven Clown Circus or 5MinutesforMom.

Talk soon,

One woman's gift: A story about what happened at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure...

A couple of months ago, I participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure with my mother-in-law, a breast cancer survivor. Here's a picture of us before the race:



Most of Mike's family was there, along with our two kids. It was an incredibly inspiring morning.

And in the middle of thousands of people who came together to make a difference that day,
there was one person

who did one little thing

that made a big impact...

The year before, when my mother-in-law had finished the Race, she, like all survivors, had received a medal at the finish line.

So when she walked through the finish line again this year, she looked for the place to get her medal.

She went from booth to booth, but every booth she checked had already run out.

Then a woman in a pink survivor shirt walked by with a medal around her neck.

My mother-in-law stopped her and asked where she got it.

“Didn’t you get one too?” the woman asked.

“No,” my mother-in-law answered, “everywhere I’ve looked, they’ve run out.”

And that's when the woman reached down and took her own medal off. “I’ve been cancer-free for ten years,” she said, “and this is my tenth year at the Race.”

She leaned forward and placed the medal around my mother-in-law's neck. “Here. It's yours now.”

They hugged and cried, and in the same way my mother-in-law has inspired so many people with how she's overcome cancer, that woman inspired her.

I don’t know if the woman will ever understand how much her act of giving meant that day.

Because she gave much more than a medal.

She gave inspiration.

And encouragement.

And hope.

And it was an awesome reminder that each time we give to others, we can impact their lives in a powerful way.


For more "Wordful" or "Wordless" Wednesday photos, stop by Angie's Seven Clown Circus or 5MinutesforMom.


Quick note: I'm leaving for a writing conference later today, but I'll still be checking in as I can. I also have a post over at Hearts at Home if you get a chance to pop over there. It's a wonderful site.

Thanks, as always, for stopping by!

Talk soon,

A Whole Bunch of Firsts...

It’s been a while.

I’ve missed being here.

When I decided to take a break from blogging, I had no idea how long I’d be "away". I needed to revise my young-adult novel, and sometimes revisions are quick.

But sometimes they’re not.

This time they weren’t.

Partly because, in addition to working on my novel and other writing projects, I was inspired to write a non-fiction book for moms. One thing led to another, and the next thing I knew, I had a 163 page manuscript that I'm now polishing.

But life is funny that way sometimes—you plan on doing one thing, and another thing happens that sort of changes your plan.

Which is kind of how my summer's been so far.

I’d planned on kicking it off swimming with the kids, seeing friends, and going on a few short trips.

Instead, I've started it off in a wheelchair.

In two separate, random falls (I still can’t believe it), I broke my arm and tore my knee.

All in the course of one week.

And all when my husband had to travel to India on business for ten days.

I've had a whole bunch of firsts lately…

My first broken bone.

My first set of crutches (that I ended up not being able to use because of my arm).

My first wheelchair (that I ended up getting because I couldn’t use the crutches. And which our cat seems to like.)

And my first ride in one of those electric scooters at Target.




It’s been a learning experience, too…

I’ve learned how to blow dry my hair and put my makeup on with my left hand (I'm still having mascara issues).

I've learned how to go up and down the stairs using one arm and one leg.

I’ve learned how to type with my cast on.

And—maybe the hardest part for me—I've learned how to accept help from others, because I’ve needed it.

I know what I’ve been going through is small compared to what some people endure.

Tiny, even.

I’ll be honest, though—as someone who usually runs around at full speed and is very independent—it’s been hard having life come to a sudden halt.

But it’s been one of those blessings-in-disguise, too.

I’ve had family and friends staying with me and helping, which has given us some great time together. And I’ve had more time with my kids, too.

And even though I've had my share of melt-downs and tears, I've also had some good laughs. Mostly at myself. Like when I wiped a dot of mustard off my plate with a finger on my right hand, went to lick my finger, and realized I couldn't get it to my mouth because of my cast.

A lot has happened on my little break from blogging…

Spot and Blackberry—the mice that brought us so many adventures—died not too long ago, within a few days of each other. It was hard on the kids, but they felt better after the funeral, complete with music and eulogies and a lavish burial.




I’ve also been fortunate enough to be able to write for some great sites, like PluggedinParents and MothersClick. And I was asked to participate on a conference call with Maria Shriver about her WeConnect campaign in California. She’s an inspiring woman with a true passion for what she does, and I was honored to write an online exclusive about her campaign. I put together my Web site too, which has some writing resources and links to check out if you're interested.

But I’m rambling.

I guess I’m just glad to be back.

I don’t know what my posting schedule will be yet. It depends on a lot of things, like if I end up having knee surgery or not.

But I’ll be around.

And I hope you will too. I'm looking forward to doing some fun things around here. :)

Talk soon,

The Story About the Best Friends on the Train

Shortly after we boarded the train to San Francisco last week, we went to the Café car to get some coffee and breakfast.

We were standing in line, when the girl in front of me tapped the girl in front of her on the back. She turned around, and her face lit up.

“Oh my GOSH!” she shouted. She held out her arms.

They laughed and hugged.

"Oh my gosh! I can't believe this! Where are you headed?”

"The financial district.” They grabbed each other's hands.

“Me too!” They hugged again.

And again.

As my daughter said afterwards, "They sure made a scene, Mommy."

A beautiful scene.

The man at the register waited patiently for them to order. (Though I have to say, I don't think he minded the wait. He was smiling just as much as everyone else in there was.)

Finally, the girls turned to him.

“This is my BEST friend,” one of them said. She put her arm around the other's shoulder.

I smiled and fought the lump in my throat.

As they finished ordering, I heard them say, "This is perfect. We can sit together.”

I had to ask, “So you guys didn’t know you were both going to be on the train?”

“We had no idea!” They laughed.

“How long has it been since you’ve seen each other?”

And this is what really got me…

"About six weeks."

Six weeks?

By the way they acted, I would've guessed it had been longer.

"How neat," I choked, hoping they didn't notice my watery eyes.

Just then, their food was ready. They got their things, waved to the rest of us in line, and headed out of the Cafe car smiling and laughing.

I stood there, looking at the man ready to take my order, blinking back tears.

Because that might’ve been one of the sweetest encounters of friendship I’ve ever seen.

And it made me think of my own friends.

It made me remember when my friend Jen moved to New Jersey, and how hard we cried when we said goodbye. And how much I miss her.

It made me remember how my heart ached when my friend Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer. And how much her strength and recovery inspired me.

It made me think about my friend Amy and how she and I still laugh about things we did in fourth grade. And all the memories we've shared since then.

It made me appreciate all they ways my friends have touched my life...bringing meals over when my kids were born, calling when I was going through something difficult, celebrating birthdays and successes.

And if I had to guess, I’d say those girls I saw on the train probably have a pretty special friendship.

They probably don't compete with each other.

They're probably truly happy for one another when something good happens.

They've probably seen each other at their worst, and instead of judging or criticizing, have helped each other to pull out of it. And supported each other through it.

Because that’s what friendship is about.

And seeing them that day made me even more grateful for the friends in my own life.

The friends I’d love to run into. Any time.

Need A Lift, Anyone?

Setting and reaching goals can be challenging.

Whether you’re trying to achieve career success, lose weight, or become more organized, sometimes it can be hard to make things happen.

Believe me, there’ve been many times amidst the rejection letters that I’ve questioned my own writing goals.

But in these moments of doubt and frustration, the encouragement of others has often helped me to stay the course.

Encouragement like this sweet note my daughter gave me a couple of years ago...

And encouragement like the card I got from my mother-in-law, where she wrote, “We believe in you and know that someday your stories will be published.” I still keep it on my desk next to my computer.

Sometimes, no matter how strong our resolve is, or how hard we work at reaching our goal, the end result still seems far away. And the process of getting there hard.

But when others come alongside and give us that extra push--that extra support--we’re able to keep at it.

That card, or that phone call, or that reminder not to give up, can be just the thing that helps someone persevere.

And hang in there.

And maybe even realize their dream.

Because everyone needs a lift now and then.

And when we reach out and give a little encouragement, it can make all the difference in the world.

Tag, You're It! Five Tips For Staying In Touch

Phone tag.

What mom doesn’t play?

Life is busy and motherhood is busier.

And finding time to chat with our friends seems to get harder and harder to do.

So do we just give up and lose touch?

Hopefully not.

We need each other.

Who else would we talk to about the laundry and the diapers and the fact that we're running on one hour of sleep? And who else would understand?

Besides, it feels good to talk to a friend, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

So here are some tips to make sure we still do that. They're nothing earth-shattering or revolutionary. Just some ideas for us girlfriends to stay connected…

1. Don’t wait for the “perfect” time. Sure, if I haven’t talked to a friend in a while, I’d love to wait for “just the right time” to call so we’ll have an hour to catch up. But what if that time never comes? (and usually, it doesn't) Stop waiting and call anyway. It’s better to say a quick “hi” and “I miss you” than to not talk at all.

2. Use email or social networking tools. I've got friends and family who live in different time zones and sometimes when I think to call them, it’s too late or too early. Sending a quick note in email or Facebook, rather than going longer without connecting, lets them know I’m thinking about them.

3. Leave a message. As sad as it sounds, sometimes voicemail may be the only way we can catch each other. Instead of simply saying, “Call me back when you get a chance,” how about leaving some detail? I’m amazed at how many back-and-forth conversations I’ve had, strictly through voicemail. But if it keeps us connected, that’s what counts.

4. Send cards. This may sound old-fashioned, but who doesn’t like to get a card in the mail? The next time you think of someone, write them a quick note and mail it. Keep a box of cards in the closet or pantry to make it easier to do. It can mean a lot to the person on the receiving end.

5. Get together. Recently, a friend and I made plans to meet for coffee. The day before we were supposed to get together, we both had something come up. But instead of cancelling, we decided to meet anyway. It was only for forty-five minutes, and it went by way too fast, but it was enough time for a hug, a few laughs, and a tasty mocha.

Yes, it takes effort to keep relationships strong. But it’s these relationships that make our lives rich. So even if we have to play a little tag in between the naps and homework and carpool and career, let’s keep playing. Because in the end, it’s the friendships that last over the years and the close family ties that we’ll win.