I'm so glad you are enjoying writing in your journal again, Emily. I say that many times I don't know what I think until it comes out of my pen. And thank you for the list of values. It really makes one do some soul searching to decide on five. In my world, I'm working on a Substack article about preparing for the holidays and how Christmas just needs to get out of the way of Thanksgiving. Also, in a different creative manner, I'm working on a scrapbook about a lion that was born years ago at our Blank Park Zoo and I got the privilege of choosing the name for. He's gorgeous and now resides in a zoo in Chicago with some wives and has had four cubs. Jabari is his name and I love him. Sending wishes for a happy holiday season to you and your boys....
It's wonderful to read your check-in, Connie. 🌸 Thank you so much for sharing it! I also found that the values list gave me pause - picking only five made me think deeply. I'm excited to hear more about your lion project and will be on the look out for more about it on your Substack. I took my sons to Blank Park Zoo a few years ago, and the lions roared as we walked by. Everyone was delighted - Charlie especially. It must be so special to have chosen this lion's name. 🦁 Does Jabari have a specific meaning - or how did you decide on that cool name?
You have given me a good idea, Emily. I had not thought about writing a Substack story about Jabari, but maybe I will. When the lion cubs were born, the public had a chance (for a fee, of course) to enter names for the male and the two females. I did some research and chose the name Jabari for the male. Its African meaning is "the brave one," and I really liked that. After we sent in our naming ideas, the Zoo whittled them down and put out three choices for each lion cub for people to vote on. And Jabari got the most votes for the male. I was thrilled! I received a certificate from the Zoo stating that I had named him, and I've always loved him so much. I'm so glad your family got to enjoy the Lions at the Zoo!
Goodness…I’ve been on a roll with my writing goals this week. I started handwriting in a journal again - something I gave up after the devastating loss of my lifetime of journals a few years ago. I just couldn’t open a journal without feeling such terrible grief that all the journals I’d kept since high school were lost to the universe. So, it felt especially great to be journal writing again this week.
What Are You Working On?
I’m working on Chapter 6 (wowzers!) of The Poet’s Daughter and the next Lupita self-portrait.
Share A Special Moment With Us
I’ve been enjoying decorating for Christmas. It’s a special time that brings back happy memories for me of small town Iowa and the countryside covered in snow. We used to go to my Grandma Plum’s home in Lovilia (population of about 300 people) to celebrate Christmas Eve and watch Santa arrive in Iowa on her TV.
My sons are really excited about the Christmas tree ( known as a New Year’s Tree here in Turkiye), and they went all out with decorating the tree. Charlie loves the lights - we have four different types of flashing lights. And Archie seemed to like the soft felt poinsettia ornaments best. We’re making new, happy memories together.
I'm so glad you are enjoying writing in your journal again, Emily. I say that many times I don't know what I think until it comes out of my pen. And thank you for the list of values. It really makes one do some soul searching to decide on five. In my world, I'm working on a Substack article about preparing for the holidays and how Christmas just needs to get out of the way of Thanksgiving. Also, in a different creative manner, I'm working on a scrapbook about a lion that was born years ago at our Blank Park Zoo and I got the privilege of choosing the name for. He's gorgeous and now resides in a zoo in Chicago with some wives and has had four cubs. Jabari is his name and I love him. Sending wishes for a happy holiday season to you and your boys....
It's wonderful to read your check-in, Connie. 🌸 Thank you so much for sharing it! I also found that the values list gave me pause - picking only five made me think deeply. I'm excited to hear more about your lion project and will be on the look out for more about it on your Substack. I took my sons to Blank Park Zoo a few years ago, and the lions roared as we walked by. Everyone was delighted - Charlie especially. It must be so special to have chosen this lion's name. 🦁 Does Jabari have a specific meaning - or how did you decide on that cool name?
You have given me a good idea, Emily. I had not thought about writing a Substack story about Jabari, but maybe I will. When the lion cubs were born, the public had a chance (for a fee, of course) to enter names for the male and the two females. I did some research and chose the name Jabari for the male. Its African meaning is "the brave one," and I really liked that. After we sent in our naming ideas, the Zoo whittled them down and put out three choices for each lion cub for people to vote on. And Jabari got the most votes for the male. I was thrilled! I received a certificate from the Zoo stating that I had named him, and I've always loved him so much. I'm so glad your family got to enjoy the Lions at the Zoo!
Wow, Connie! That's a fabulous story about Jabari. I love it. 🦁 I hope you write more about it on your Substack. 🌟
How’s It Going?
Goodness…I’ve been on a roll with my writing goals this week. I started handwriting in a journal again - something I gave up after the devastating loss of my lifetime of journals a few years ago. I just couldn’t open a journal without feeling such terrible grief that all the journals I’d kept since high school were lost to the universe. So, it felt especially great to be journal writing again this week.
What Are You Working On?
I’m working on Chapter 6 (wowzers!) of The Poet’s Daughter and the next Lupita self-portrait.
Share A Special Moment With Us
I’ve been enjoying decorating for Christmas. It’s a special time that brings back happy memories for me of small town Iowa and the countryside covered in snow. We used to go to my Grandma Plum’s home in Lovilia (population of about 300 people) to celebrate Christmas Eve and watch Santa arrive in Iowa on her TV.
My sons are really excited about the Christmas tree ( known as a New Year’s Tree here in Turkiye), and they went all out with decorating the tree. Charlie loves the lights - we have four different types of flashing lights. And Archie seemed to like the soft felt poinsettia ornaments best. We’re making new, happy memories together.