After starting the morning with my mediation time--centering prayer, devotional books, my prayer lists--I moved to my "to-do" list & started checking things off and adding things on. This is the beginning pattern of my day since I retired in 2006.

My "to-dos" vary but there are some constants. I would call this pattern "gingham" since I like to CHECK things off of my list and feel a sense of completion to a task. My list is long this week as I work to bring closure to some volunteer projects, bring order to the chaos of my home, and bring planning to preparation for a special trip.

Next week I travel to San Diego to meet the newest member of our family--Emma Lee. She was born on January 19 and has a 16 month old brother--Charlie. Her parents are Stephanie & Scott, my son. Her birth adds another design to our family's pattern but what it looks like will develop as she grows into herself.

The design of our immediate family also includes my granddaughter Elizabeth Kate, who is 14 years old and lives in Statesville, NC with her parents, John and Cindy, my daughter. There is also Pete, my husband and their father & grandfather.

Each of our family's members has their own design & each of these designs weaves together as we build our lives together.

Sometimes the pattern is clear and sometimes it is cloudy, but always it is unique.

Sometime it is happy and sometimes it is sad, but always it is unique.

I am grateful for the chance to be a part of this pattern, and I look forward to watching the design develop.

I am not sure of a name for this pattern as it changes as we all grow & change. Maybe its name will evolve in time, and maybe it won't.