Hey friends, chatting about Snatching Joy Wherever I can here today.

Lilacs blooming in my yard, so intoxicating!

It’s been a long week for me personally and also in our city of Manchester, NH. Thursday night – a lock-down on the west end – two of our city police officers shot during the night.

The officers are young, 27 and 28 respectively. Thank God they’ll both fully recover.

The schools on the west end were closed during the man-hunt yesterday. Thankfully the suspect, accused of robbing a convenience store earlier in the week, is now in custody. Exhale.

If you read here regularly you know I strive to stay positive and upbeat. But even more, for authenticity. Which is why I’m telling you the truth, what’s really going on here behind the scenes.

And my crab apple tree….stunning!

So how about for you?  How was your week? It’s a crazy world out there isn’t it? And none of us knows quite what’s coming down the pike next. That’s why we need to snatch the joy moments whenever/wherever we can.

Crazy life. And a busy one too.

Oops, did I say that? A few years back Jon and I made a pact that we weren’t going to waste our time or breath talking about our state of “busy-ness” anymore.

Well I think the topic came up initially because we caught ourselves responding to those who asked how we were doing, telling them about how busy we were. So boring and monotonous to the listener, for sure. (Folks were so polite, didn’t mention it.)

Because the truth is, whose life isn’t busy? So we’re choosing to call it “full”. Ha. Yes, we’re leading a very “full” life.

We find ourselves betwixt and between in a number of ways, but mostly with our kids right now. We’ve got an eighteen year old headed to college in the fall and our littlest guy Hudson with Down syndrome, just turned six.

Still in diapers, still waiting on words. Plus we’ve got a few boys in between.

The other day Jon and I spent the evening with our big guy working on college scholarship applications. Finally, finally….about midnight we all head to bed, thoroughly exhausted.

We’re met in the upstairs hallway by a tell-tale odor. Oh no. Hudson. A diaper. Upon further investigation, the pajamas also need changing. Also sheets. And mattress pad.

Jon bags up the offending diaper, hands it to me while he tucks the still-sleeping Hudson snug into his clean bed.

And I sigh in a whisper,” I am NOT taking this outside now,” and head to drop it in the hallway. And Jon, he quietly motions, takes the bag.

Raises the window sash, ceremoniously drops the bag out the window onto the front walkway. Shuts the window.

These crazy days, we just gotta think outside the box friends. And I’m thankful to be married to a man who does. Even at midnight.

So when life gets full, super saturated, how do we snatch joy? It can be elusive for sure.

I’ve been intentionally thinking about it this week, thought I’d share a few tiny ways I intentionally grab a little joy. Simple things.

• A fun paper straw in my water glass.
• A stroll through the yard, discovering the latest blooms.
• Writing a quick note to a friend on letterpress stationery.
• Texting a friend.
• A quick walk around the block.
• Savoring a hot drink from a hand thrown pottery mug
• Surrounding myself with beauty whenever I can.

• Shoes – fun ones.
• Dreaming of the future.
• Catching a glimpse of the sunset.
• A glass of wine with my love after a long day.
• A quiet few minutes at Barnes & Noble, flipping through my favorite magazine.
• Browsing at Paper Source or a specialty yarn shop.

So many more, but I’ll stop there.

I know people like this. And I want to be one of those souls – who find the joy everywhere – and leave it behind when they go.

So tell me friends, how do you snatch moments of joy in this crazy busy (oops…FULL) life?

Hope you’ll share, I’m all ears. Have a beautiful weekend, and grab the joy wherever you can!

You may also like: Buried or Planted

The post Snatching Joy Wherever I Can appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

Hey friends – hope you’re well today!

Love it when the dots connect.

It seems there are often themes going on in my life beneath the surface that seem to converge almost simultaneously. This happens to me a ton, and here’s the latest scoop.

At the beginning of this past week I was sitting in front of my computer screen with Jon. Throat tight. Eyes wet. Watching a clip of a local young man, fourteen years old, named Christopher Duffley. He was singing the national anthem at the Red Sox game in Boston last Monday night. At one time Christopher took music lessons and music therapy at the Manchester Community Music School here in Manchester, NH where Hudson does. (I don’t know if he still does.) I’ve read several articles about Christopher through the years, and while I’ve never had the privilege of meeting him, he holds a very special place in my heart. You see, Christopher is completely blind. Also has autism. And while Christopher lacks in some areas, God has overwhelmingly gifted him with a deep love of music, an amazing voice, perfect pitch and a beautiful heart. Christopher’s notes rang out clear and true, and my own heart overflowed with joy for him and the very special place he’s found in the world despite all odds. If you do one thing today, will you listen? It’s beyond moving, gonna make your day.

I’m just so proud of that boy. Learn more about Christopher’s amazing story here.

And that was dot #1.

Dot #2 happened a day later when I received a text from a friend offering for Hudson to come and visit for a few days. Yeah.

Now for those of you who don’t know Hudson, Hudson is our five year old little boy. The youngest of four boys, he also has Down syndrome. Hudson is very dear, has had a lot of physical and behavioral challenges in his short little life, of which my friend is keenly aware. Right now he’s into throwing things. That’s tough when your little one is 18 months or two years old. While he is developmentally in the terrible two’s and has been for some time, he’s five size-wise. But as he’s grown physically, unfortunately the size of the objects (chairs, lamps, etc.) he pitches has also grown. So these are especially challenging days in our home, 24-7. No off button. And an offer to have Hudson for a visit right now is a beautiful and meaningful gift, also a true sacrifice for the giver.

Throat tight. Eyes wet. Overwhelmed, I hardly knew how to respond. And I didn’t for some time. Speechless. (Rare.)

What could I possibly accomplish/do in a whole 48 hours minus Hudson duty? Truly mind boggling.

Dot #3

I received a text from another kind friend the next day:

“We have Red Sox tickets we can’t use. Would love for you to have them if you can go.”

Take me out to the ball game
Take me out with the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks
I don’t care if I never get back
Let me root, root, root
For the home team
If they don’t win it’s a shame
Aahh.
For it’s one,
Two, Three strikes you’re out
At the old ball game!

Extra Red Sox tickets. Gulp. Are you even kidding?

And an offer to watch Hudson already in place? You know it’s no coincidence. The dots were connecting.

I love a good baseball game. Green Monster. National anthem. Fenway franks. Cheering.

Big Papi. 7th inning stretch. As for me, I Don’t Care if I Never Get Back !

We had a GREAT time in Boston Thursday night, thanks to some very kind friends.

Enjoyed a lovely Sox Lemonade….

And know what?

Truth is, I DO care if I never get back.

(Though it was still nice to get away.)

It’s good to be back, connect the dots of these seemingly random events. To me, they spell providence. I love it when the dots connect. They always do. But like the sun shining behind the clouds, I can’t always see it.

P.S. I have to share one more crazy dot #4. Because it just happened seconds ago AFTER I pressed publish at 11:32 p.m.

This random Red Sox ad showed up on my site side bar. Never had a Fenway ad show up on my site before. And I might never again. Crazy, that’s what it is. These connecting dots.

Like baseball? Gotta dot story? I’m all ears. Have a great weekend!

You may also enjoy: Twinkle, Twinkle

The post Don’t Care If I Never Get Back appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

Hello friends, hope you’re all having a great week and happy spring to you! I heard a lone phoebe bird faintly call this morning, confirming that spring may actually make an appearance in New England this year. (Exhale.)

So much bad news on the airwaves these days, I’m excited to share this excellent news I recently heard on Jack Heath’s local radio show. Many of you know New Life Home in Manchester, NH is near and dear to my heart. New Life, a faith-based drug and alcohol rehab center, has helped thousands of women in the past thirty-five years to permanently recover from drug and alcohol addiction.

New Life Home, all decked out at Christmas

New Life has a different treatment approach; they accept no government funds (relying on private donations only). It’s also one of the few rehabilitation programs in the country that allow children to live with their moms during treatment. And the 80% success rate is unprecedented. Over the past ten years I’ve observed women enter the program, seen amazing transformations. New Life is truly a place of hope! I’m friends personally with many of the residents, children, graduates and dedicated staff. Great things are going on, and I’m excited to be a tiny part of what’s happening at New Life. (Please catch up here for this true story: True Christmas Spirit)

This coming weekend on Friday and Saturday, March 27 – 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1000 Elm St. Manchester, NH there will be a prom dress sale to benefit New Life Home. (Kudos to Brady & Sullivan for donating the space.) Two hundred high end boutique prom dresses will be sold for just $50 each. The dresses were donated by several upscale Boston boutiques for this purpose. If all dresses sell, it will raise $10,000 for New Life Home, funds desperately needed to pay utility, oil and grocery bills for the staff, residents and children.

Are you local? Are you (or someone you know) in need of a prom dress? If so, please take time to visit the sale this weekend. It’ll be a fun event and it’s all for a great cause: supporting women and children discovering a new life. Please forward this on, tweet and retweet (I’m @thruherglass), share this post on Facebook to get the word out. Use this link: http://throughherlookingglass.com/?p=6381  Let’s band together, make a difference!

Following is an excerpt from the NH Union Leader about the upcoming event:

“If you are one of the thousands of young women hunting for a perfect prom dress at a perfect price, you will want to check out a pop-up boutique opening on Elm Street this week. 

The shop will have more than 200 dresses from Boston-area formal shops, each with a price tag of only $50. The shop will be open in space at 1000 Elm St. this Friday and Saturday only from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
You should go for the bargains, but also because 100 percent of the sale proceeds are going to New Life Home for Women and Children, a long-term residential treatment program for addicted women and their children.

Grace Rosado, who started New Life Home with her husband, George, in Manchester 35 years ago, said an acquaintance heard about the work New Life was doing, and found several formal shops from Boston to donate their sample dresses.

“They donated more than 200 dresses,” Rosado said.

 At $50 each, that would mean $10,000 for the home, which does not charge its residents for treatment and operates without government funding. Rosado admits the money from the sale is needed. With heroin use on the rise, New Life gets calls every day from desperate mothers seeking a place to kick their addictions, without having to leave their children behind.

But the dress sale is also serving another purpose, Rosado said, as the women are gaining valuable skills while preparing for the big sale.

“It’s also teaching our women entrepreneurship and business ethics,” she said.

Education is not a new concept at New Life. During an average 18-month stay, women learn skills to help them get through life and become marketable employees. 

Six of the current residents are in college, Rosado said.

But more importantly, they learn to develop a relationship with Jesus, the cornerstone of everything New Life does. 

I have heard powerful testimony from several of New Life’s graduates, who all admit they would be dead or in jail if it were not for New Life and the saving power of Christ in their lives.
These young women are well-spoken and unafraid to talk about where they have been. They are also passionate about what their future holds now that they have the skills and confidence to be great moms and members of the community.

Rosado said thousands of women have been through New Life Home in the last 35 years, and 80 percent of graduates remain drug-free and go on to lead successful lives. You can learn more about the home, and the work they do, at www.NewLifeHome.org .

Rosado is very grateful to Brady Sullivan for donating the space for the pop-up boutique, complete with dressing rooms and storage. It will be in the 1000 Elm St. plaza, adjacent to Edible Arrangements.

“It’s absolutely perfect for what we are doing,” Rosado said. She hopes many women, especially those with a limited budget, will come out to find their perfect dress.”

Read more about another annual New Life fundraiser I participate in at Christmas:

A Few of My Favorite Things

The post Prom Yes Drugs No appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

“It’s the place the New York Times calls “hip”. “

We’re talkin’ Cotton, an eclectic downtown Manchester, NH restaurant located in the Historic Millyard District.

“Cotton is known for exceptional food, friendly yet professional service and an inviting, casual upscale atmosphere.”

Love the reclaimed mill building, the exposed pipes and beams.

Cotton is listed as one of the ten best neighborhood restaurants in the Northeast by Bon Appetit Magazine.

There’s great artwork on the walls…

A wonderful atmosphere sets the tone for a great meal…

On this day, we enjoyed lunch. The Grilled Salmon was served on a bed of baby spinach with maple balsamic vinaigrette, shaved red onions, dried cranberries, toasted pecans and crumbled bleu cheese.

And how ’bout this great salad? Pan-seared Sea Scallops over mixed greens, baby tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette.

Cotton serves a wonderful and refreshing Blueberry Basil Mojito. (My fave.)

Must. Have. Dessert. (Especially with a a birthday girl in the mix.) Toffee Cheesecake with caramel drizzle.

And a special that day: homemade Pistachio Ice-cream. Oooo-eee!

I’ve had the wonderful pleasure of dining here at Cotton with friends several times. I must agree with Bon Appetit: this is definitely one of the ten best neighborhood restaurants in the Northeast.

I love the ambience and excellent menu choices. Over forty wines served by the glass, also wonderful cocktails at the full bar. The day Through Her Looking Glass launched last fall, Jon swooped me out to dinner here. Yeah, he knows I love this place!

Sure hope you’ll visit Cotton someday soon, you won’t be disappointed.

If you’re visiting the Manchester, NH area, I also highly recommend the Millyard Museum nearby, run by the Manchester Historic Association. Housed in the former Amoskeag Mills, you’ll experience excellent, interactive exhibits with fascinating artifacts and history of the Manchester mills.

“The exhibit includes the story of the development of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company (in the 1800’s). This powerful corporation would become one of the largest textile producing company in the world, employing over 17,000 people, including immigrants from many countries. The company’s vast brick millyard still dominates the cityscape today. The story continues into the 20th century, as innovative businesses flourish in the city and new groups of immigrants came to Manchester to start new lives.”

Related post: Bedford Village Inn

The post Cotton appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.