Revisiting the Past

Due to my current state of lack lusterness, I posted a version of my annual Christmas letter on this blog, yesterday.  The only reason I did this was so that I wouldn't have to stuff, address, sign and mail some 40 odd envelopes this holiday season.  As a result, I find myself reading over some interesting older posts and some pretty poorly written newer ones. If I were a different type of person, I would delete anything written post 2011.  However, I am an honest person and feel that all versions of myself should be on display for the general public's viewing pleasure.  That being said, do me a favor take the time to look back over anything written in 2011. I was quite well versed and insightful that year.  For anyone feeling as lack luster about this as I was about my Christmas letter, I will repost one of my personal favorites.  Feel free to sit back and enjoy.

A Most Selfish Creature

I think if I had been left to my own devices, I could have been a most selfish creature. My days drift in a pattern of serving others. It begins often before I am even awake. Somewhere between 1 and 3 a.m., when my 6 year old crawls into the bed and I slide over to make room. Even my smile seems selfless at times. I often bestow it wearily in my attempt to hide my worry for one of my children. Daily, I practice giving of myself. Despite being decades into this practice, I still, at times, find it unnatural. Which leads me to my current mode of thought: I could have been a most selfish creature.

I imagine I could spend hours lying in bed each morning, too exhausted from thinking of myself the previous day to get up. I believe that I could spend an additional few hours powdering my nose and meticulously hiding my flaws. I suppose I could prepare a meal with only me and my desires in mind and then leave the mess to clean up itself. Indeed I have no doubt that I could talk endlessly about myself with such flourish that those around me have no choice but to be silenced. I know that this could all be pulled off with amazingly little effort on my part.

Thankfully, I was not left to my own devices. And, although at times I resent my responsibilities and find my mind in a state of unrest, I know that these same responsibilities and 'stressful' thoughts are what keep me from being the anti-heroine in my own novel. They are the catalysts moving my story somewhere, in my humanness, I was never meant to go. A place of wholeness that can only be found in losing myself. At the end of this exhausting day, I am grateful to my family for helping me become what I should never have been.

Happy Holidays

I am pretty sure the Christmas card gods have been trying to warn me against putting my greetings out into the world this year. However never being one to heed advice from people that I haven't actually met, I have chosen to send my salutations anyway.

What happened to the LeBlanc's this year?  Well, not a whole heck of a lot. But, for fun I'll recap. First and foremost on the list is that after months of searching and lots of arguments we have finally found a Mexican restaurant that we will all tolerate here in North Carolina.  This was no small task and brought about a semblance of peace sometime around mid summer.  I will now move on into our standard individual accomplishments.

Marty has enjoyed earning lots and lots of frequent flyer miles this year and has enjoyed visiting his second family in Tampa, FL.  In case you are wondering, Rosita and the girls are doing fine.  Okay there is no second family, but that is where he works most of the time due to a small mishap regarding our current relocation with his company.

I have spent the last year sampling many wines from around the world.  You'd be surprised at some of the fine wines that now come from those tiny islands off the coast of Indonesia. When I am not preoccupied with my new standing as a wine connoisseur, I find time to continue homeschooling Chandler and Kendall. This has brought us all endless pleasure and relaxation. Well, maybe that was a slight exaggeration, but the boys are both adequately educated for their current grade levels, at least according to the standardized tests that the state of North Carolina requires. As you can tell, I am quite busy, but when a dull moment presents itself, I usually turn to treating my 15 year old cat with homeopathic drugs that our new vet keeps doling out in excesively large quantities.

Chandler has managed to turn 14 this year.  That pretty has much taken all of his energy and focus, so unfortunately, he's unable to accomplish much else.  When he finds himself with a little extra boost, he will usually attempt to speak a complete sentence and then head off to manage his Minecraft server.  Kids today are just under so much stress.

Indian ugly pot

Kendall has had the busiest year of all the LeBlanc's.  When not participating in his cultural art class where he creates amazing master pieces like his Indian ugly pot, he spends his time jumping on our newish trampoline.  I don't know how he does it, but children under 10 have so much energy.  If only we could all keep up with him, there would be no end to what we could accomplish.

Well, that is 2013 for the LeBlanc's. I am not sure if this will be my last Christmas letter.  But, rest assured that as long as exciting things continue to happen for us that I will keep on recapping them for my expectant audience. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

The LeBlanc's