300 Days of Sunshine

What would the world be like without books?  To me, books aren't just about enhancing literacy and gaining knowledge (though these things are essential, of course), but reading also means experiencing new perspectives, envisioning a different life, understanding the past, and gaining an appreciation of my own life in comparison.  Books allow us to escape from our own tiny reality and experience something greater, and I believe that the desire to enhance our knowledge of others' perspectives makes us better people and more compassionate citizens of the world.  I try to make reading a priority every day, and to also set this example for Ady.  We eat breakfast every day, we brush our teeth, we walk the dog, and we read books.  There are literally books in every room of the house (yes, including next to Ady's potty).   I read a lot of books this year -- fiction, mysteries/thrillers, memoirs, parenting books, a few in the scifi and fantasy realms, and a few re-reads of old

We were fortunate to have a beautiful and snowy Christmas week in Santa Fe!  I'm so relieved that we made the decision to not travel for the holidays this year because it gave us the opportunity to enjoy Christmas in our house, start new traditions with Ady, and minimize the stress of traveling.  I am also incredibly thankful that my mom came to visit for the week, sharing in our Southwest traditions and embracing outdoor activities in the mountains, and Ady absolutely loved having quality time with her Nana.   Since hospitals don't take breaks for holidays, and winter is a busy time of illnesses and accidents, I unfortunately had to work all week.  However, I have discovered over the years that I don't really mind working holidays.  I enjoy the opportunity to support my patients who are sick in the hospital on holidays, many of whom don't have family or friends visiting at all, and I have some really fond memories of the patients I have treated on Christmas Day and T

I love the month of December.  The days are getting shorter, calling us to center in and conserve energy.  There are holiday parties, good food and drinks, and lots of reasons to give to others.  It can be challenging to stay peaceful and sane amidst the commitments, the expectations, and the fast-paced nature of the season, but I'm thankful to not be traveling anywhere this year and I feel a sense of calm about staying in our own home for Christmas.  Here are a few tidbits about things keeping me busy this month! 1.  Meeting Santa! Ady is starting to get the whole "Santa thing" and is pretty excited when we talk about him and read books about Christmas.  Now that she's 2, everything is "mine," so once she got the hang of sitting on the lap of the big guy in red, she became very attached to "my  Santa" and needed some help learning how to share him! Ady and Santa 2.  Winter Knitting I have two main projects this year -- a little vest wit