Walking

Tonight when I was walking,
I saw a bunny.
I took a picture with my cell phone and smiled.
Though this is not my bunny,
I thought he would be a good stand in
until I figure out how to send a picture
from my phone to my computer.
My bunny was hunkered down in the grass beside a tree.
The light was fading
and I just barely caught sight of him in the twilight.
His frozen pose reminded me of my oldest daughter's babyhood.
When my dear one was little,
she would hide underneath her green "mankie"
and honestly believed that because she couldn't see me
I couldn't see her.
Now I look at her,
heading to High School in two weeks
and I sigh.
How time flies.
It seems like yesterday that she was bitty,
with blond hair and a tiny baby voice.
Each moment,
each memory is such a treasure.
I am not in a hurry for her to grow up,
but,
it is such a pleasure to see the woman she is becoming.
I am sure you have precious memories like my own.
Moments forever frozen in your mind.
May the happy ones bring you joy
and the sad ones fade with time.
Now and forever,
may you be blessed.

purple

Sparkling...
somewhat sticky...
...hey how did dog fuzz get stuck in there?

It wasn't up for debate,
my oldest was in charge.

She decreed I was to have purple with purple sparkles and pink jewels.

I was leaning more toward gold and red with maybe a white crystal.

But,
I wasn't in charge.

I must admit,
our nails look adorable.

I know my little girls at school will be all over them
like a proverbial mouse
on Swiss cheese.

Today at lunch,
when I had my own dollar and seven cents shopping spree,
I found the shimmering jewels and knew they had to be ours.

Isn't it lovely that so much amusement can be had for so very little?

I wish for you,
silliness,
joy
and time with the ones you love.

May you be blessed.
Now,
Always,
Forever!

Driving home...

On our way home...
Of course we stopped at Speedway...
But,
this time,
instead of Sprite,
instead of water,
my oldest asked,
to try...
Iced Coffee!
=-)

Frozen moments

When my eldest's name was called the other night,
she walked to the front of the church.

Tentatively she stepped,
as if she could sense she's on the brink.

She was recognized for who she is,
her intellect a shining example,
her sweet spirit a balm to those around her.

I smiled wide,
my heart full of emotion.

This is my daughter.
My dear one.
I held her when she was but a minute old.

Ready to walk,
her road ahead,
her adventure,
just beginning.

May she,
may we,
be blessed.

This day
and always
with the wisdom
to keep our eyes
on the One
who makes our adventure possible.

Looking towards a bright future

I am a person who likes the concrete. While I enjoy musing about happy things in life, I'd prefer that the important day to day issues were all worked out according to some nice neat schedule. I do not enjoy "hoping" for the best or waiting to see what will happen.

Never the less, sometimes I am forced to "wait and see". My eldest's high school choice is one of those issues. There is actually a very good chance that everything will work out. While I wait for confirmation of several issues, I am continuing enrollment preparation for the fall.

This afternoon, we received word that my kiddo got into Honors English! I am so proud of my eldest. She is such a smartie. Her mind is like a little steel trap, quick and accurate. I can not wait to see her put it to good use in high school!

With all my heart,

I smile when I think of her...

challenged,

growing...

excelling.

Yay for my oldest daughter!

May she find high school to be a wonderful adventure.

May those of us,

who care for dear ones,

of any age,

find a way to let the ones we love know we are proud.

May they be strengthened,

wrapped in our love.

Blessings and peace to you and yours now and forever.

Yikes! Ticks!

After a very successful Girl's Night with my oldest kiddo,

we headed upstairs to chat.

Our dog of course came with us and as we sat on my bed,

we petted and fussed over him.

Suddenly,

I felt something not right in his undercoat

and looked down to find a tick.

I felt terrible as I had six months of K9 Advantix sitting unopened in my closet. It's been so cold lately that I hadn't even thought about icky insects and other nasty creatures.

My dear one ran for the tweezers and we made the dog nervous with our unhappy and slightly panicked noises.

We removed one tick and applied the medicine. By tomorrow night, Ben's blood and body should repel and kill nasty ticks, mosquitoes and fleas.

If you have a dear one that is furry and four footed, don't forget their meds. Especially, if you are like my family and love to take your "baby" to the park.

May your life be filled with companionship, be it human, furry or both! May your life be made better because of the love you share.

May you be blessed...

This evening,

tomorrow,

forever!

Girl's night

I have a date tonight.

One that is absolutely up my alley.

You see,

it is with my favorite girls,

my two daughters.

Tonight is "Girl's Night"...

a not so original concept,

just now adopted by me.

Comfort,

cookies

and maybe

a board game.

I wonder if they'll go easy on me.

Ha!

I really doubt it!

May you find something equally wonderful to do with yourself this fine day!

May you be blessed!

Rites of passage

Late this afternoon,

on the way back from walking our dog at Blendon Woods,

my oldest announced that she'd like to get her ears pierced.

I was so excited.

I've been waiting...

literally for years!

I love jewelry,

especially earrings.

Glittering pretties make me smile.

So as I stood at the counter while she had them done,

I am positive that I was at least as excited as she was nervous.

When it was over,

the smile on her face was one hundred percent girl.

I know that in six weeks,

it will not be a question of if she wants to go to Target and look at earrings but rather, how fast we can get there!

Yay for us!

Being a woman is fun.

Happy Birthday!

Chocolate ice cream cake made by my eldest...

A trip to a park...

Kiddo videos playing on endless loop in my living room...

Pizza for everyone.

Family

no need for anything fancy

simple joys

Presents

thank yous

smiles

Moments frozen in time

everyone welcome in my home

the blessing of sharing time

of supporting each other

of caring...

Phone calls to check up on each other when we are hurting...

Chocolate to share!

Laughing and not taking things too seriously...

Tonight,

I thank God for my sister...

for her little son...

for birthdays and time together.

May the simple moments

that we share with the ones we are given to love

make our lives worth living.

May the things not able to be bought in a store

bring us the kind of joy that lasts forever.

May this spring,

this Easter season,

bring us all peaceful hearts.

May you be blessed.

Tonight,

Tomorrow,

Always.

Are you scared of the dark?

Tonight my oldest and I went on a night hike at Clear Creek Metro Park.

Quietly,

we wandered through the woods...

...Out into a meadow

where the moon shone brightly.

The stars were like glittering fireflies,

drawing our eyes heavenward.

We heard spring peepers,

tried to call a Bard Owl

and crunched Winter Green Life Savers

watching sparks in our partner's mouth as they chewed.

It should be illegal to be so happy about a walk in the dark.

When our group paused to listen to the naturalist,

I closed my eyes

and felt the tranquility of the place

settle all about me.

Surrounded by fellow nature enthusiasts,

the darkness was peaceful,

not scary.

I have found life

to be like the walk in the dark.

The world is better

because of kind companions on our journey.

May your "walk" be peaceful,

your companions kind

and may you be blessed,

This evening,

tomorrow,

forever.

Kitty Kitty Katie Bear!

Twelve years old and an amazing artist, my youngest daughter has a contagious smile and a mischievous streak.

She also has autism.

With her love of Metro Parks, cookies, pizza and jewelery,
she is definitely my girl!

Sometimes when her "issues" combine with her normal preteen attitude, I wonder if she'll be grounded when she's thirty.

But, this afternoon, as she walked the awakening Inniswood Gardens, she held my hand happily and just smiled.

It was a moment of silent bliss.

A time to treasure.

I filed it away in my mind,
a snapshot if you will,
a happy thought to help us on the gray days that come in normal life.

May your travels bring you hopeful and happy moments with the ones you love.

God Bless you,
Now,
Tomorrow,
Forever!

Daydreaming of napping

Sleep tight,

Don't let the bed bugs bite.

If they do,

take your shoe and

squish 'em 'til they're black and blue.

A dear friend taught me the rhyme,

which is a tad different than how I learned it as a child.

Tonight I must confess that I'm not feeling a bit chatty.

I am going to set my cell alarm,

take a blanket

and

go "watch"

a bit of Twilight with my eldest daughter who wants my company.

Because she loves me,

she'll forgive me if I doze off.

I pray that as day turns to night,

you will find rest for your head,

your heart,

your soul.

May you be blessed.

Tonight,

Tomorrow,

Always.

(May you escape those wicked "bugs" as well!)