Reaching for Peace & Light & Wisdom

Bought this book--for my inner peace and to share with Punchy--at Barnes & Noble. She chose three other books, too. 

I want to write more at night, like I used to. But in the 18 months since Punch moved in, my time and desire to blog has diminished. I've often felt too tired to wash my face or brush my teeth, let alone settle down to blog. I have spent my energy to supervise homework, make dinners, drive someone small to lessons, do dishes, oversee baths and dental care. I have frequently flopped into bed, exhausted, and resorted to blogging there--on my iPhone, with its tiny keyboard.

But I am determined to get back and find my inner voice again. To pause, and ponder. To search and write honestly. To listen, and to pray.

So many things interfere and tempt me away from blogging--On Demand TV ["Girls," "Love, Lust or Run," "19 Kids and Counting"]. Facebook. Email. Online banking. E-browsing and e-shopping. My fluffy pillow. A yearning to hibernate in this frigid winter. Punch's resistance to sleep, even though H. and I try hard to get her to settle down with bedtime stories.

With all of that technology at my fingertips, it's much easier to crash on the couch and be passive than to challenge my mind and write.

I'm going to soon sign off this laptop, take Sug out one more time in the cold, wash and cream my face.

Beauty note: Sis and I went to Saks the other day, after lunch at The Russian Tea Room. I walked over to look at the Miss Dior fragrance I love and the manager said You have to try the magic!!!!! Come over here, it will take two minutes. I was promptly seated by a mirror. The magic involved a freshly scented, pale pink moisturizer in a jar and a spray-on foundation. I have to admit I liked it, and bought both. Investment shopping.

They had a hard time letting Sis stand by and not try the magic. They make the salespeople on the beauty floor at Bloomingdale's look like pussycats, Sis said. It was a hard sell of a soft product. I liked one thing, though. Check it:

What do you do? asked the makeup lady as she creamed my cheeks, then sprayed the makeup on a brush and applied it. Spray, brush on. Spray, brush on.
I'm a writer. And I know I should build in time to apply makeup--I've talked to my hairstylist about that--but sometimes I choose to sleep a little later instead.
Yes, you have to build it in.
How much time do you allow?
15 minutes. But you have to do it. When you look good, you feel better. You will write better.
I like that! I had not heard of a beauty routine helping one write better, but I know in my heart that taking care of myself [TCOY] in many ways helps me do most everything better.

It's almost midnight. Up I go to cleanse and cream. Inch by inch, I hereby reclaim my life.

Good night to you. Prayers of peace and love for some special people. May God hold them in the palm of His hand and help them find their way. May God hold me and help me find my way, too.

TCOY

1. Support group. Grateful.
2. Kale salad at restaurant--healthy app.
3. Went to Tory Burch store at Riverside Square Mall with Punch. Had ordered gloves on sale from toryburch.com but they didn't fit right. Exchanged them for cute skirt to wear with leggings. The three women at the store were enchanted by Punchy, in her leopard-print leggings and sleek black boots. They called her a fashionista--and gave me a bottle of water, her an apple juice box. She chatted with them about Tory --pointed out the designer's signature logo buttons, asked about her sons and her blog--while I shimmied into the skirt. Punch sat right down on the couch, crossed her legs and settled in for a style chit-chat.