Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.
Mother Teresa

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

DRESS REHEARSAL...

IT'S A KICK TO WATCH HOW MUCH JOY THIS BRINGS HER!

From 20110522_061


From 20110522_061

Friday, May 20, 2011

Nature Awakening gives us something we long for.

HOPE. REFRESHMENT.PROMISE...

That the thorny bush will produce beauty. And that a troubled heart will find rest.


that life is full of simple sweet nectar.





Promise that the ugly pods can open into lovely delicate intricacies,


and the reminder that they are made more beautiful when blended with something unlikely.


that old and new are a beautiful combination.


and that the buds open to perfection when given time.

The PROMISE that joy and pain can co-exist.


and fear and thrill are closely related. When given the choice , take the risk.


The assurance that boundaries protect us. At times, we don't like the boundaries, but God did not make a mistake in their design.


Promise and Hope that while wandering, you can find your way again.



and the constant reminder that people in your life are your most treasured possessions.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Friday, May 13, 2011

From 20110511_059

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Monday, May 9, 2011

his comes courtesy of Jess from Diary of a Mom, but I thought it put into words exactly how I feel about this community of family and friends today and every day!

Happy Mother's Day to the ladies who keep me sane on this crazy journey!

(Jess's is actually an autism blog, but the sentiments are the same no matter the diagnosis or lack thereof)

http://adiaryofamom.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/to-my-mama-friends/

**

To my Mama friends

How I wish

We all lived closer

Friends down the block

Who could gather in a single backyard

Put on a pot of coffee

And let the kids run free

We laugh together

We cry together

We overeat together

We wallow

We celebrate

We strengthen

We stand behind

We pull back up

We remind each other to find the humor

To see the miracles

To live in the moment

To feel the graces small and unfathomably large

We ease each others fears

And stoke each others hopes

We adore each others children

Whether we’ve ‘met them’ or not

We hold each other in prayer

And each others children in our hearts

Always

We are a sisterhood of mamas

As diverse as the spectrum is wide

We disagree

As sisters are wont to do

But we come together

Because sisters always will

We fight a system that fails our babies

Around the country

Around our towns

And in our schools

We teach each other

We learn from one another

We make each other better mothers and better people

Every day

**

To my Mama friends

How I wish

We all lived closer

Friends down the block

Who could gather in a single backyard

Put on a pot of coffee

And let the kids run free

**

A very Happy Mother’s Day to my Mama friends ~ without whom this journey would be .. well, I’d really rather not think about it.


WHAT I WILL REMEMBER ABOUT MOTHER'S DAY....













LOVIN' ON THE KIDS AT HOME, ..AND BASKING IN UN-RUSHED CONVERSATIONS WITH THE "AWAY" ONES....

TOPPED OFF WITH WORDS FROM TENDER HEARTS, SNUGGLES, BEAUTIFUL ROSES, AND A LITTLE 4' BY 4' STARTER GARDEN FROM THE WHOLE GANG.

I'M BLESSED!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

AFTER THE STORM...

The earth is the Lord's and everything in it... Psalm 24:1



What great deeds are done by His hands. Mark 6:2

Shout joyfully to God...How awesome are your works. Psalm 66:1,3



For everything there is a season. Ecclesiastes 3:1

As the deer pants for water, so my soul pants for you, O God... Psalm 42:1


This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

What great deeds are done by His hands. Mark 6:2

Let every creature praise His holy name... Psalm 145:21

The earth is the Lord's...for He has founded it upon the seas. Psalm 24:1,2


Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.. Psalm 150:6

Great and marvelous are Thy works. Revelations 15:3

Sunday, May 1, 2011

advocating for Faith!





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She is lovely, less than one year old, and located in China. We would love to see her find her home!