My Favorite Christmas Poem

During the holidays, my mother has a lovely way of decorating her home so that you feel as though you're stepping into a fairy wonderland of pure, childish delight.  Her attention to detail, lighting, sparkle, and whimsy greet you at every twist and turn... magical vistas everywhere!  

One of my favorite magic touches is a poem... a poem placed in a beautiful frame that sits on her library table in the living room.   And when I am lucky enough to go home for the holidays, this poem seems to beckon me.  As I walk by it, I feel its energy call out to me, always touching me deeply as if I'm reading it for the first time.  I am awed over and over again by its simple and poignant articulation of how the power of the universe lives the human experience.

Birthday Reflections and a Rampage of Thankfulness

Last week Friday was my 45th birthday, and a very good day it was.  I find closure in taking a few minutes around my birthday to look back and assess each year's experiences.  I remember my gains and losses, summarize the year, and then let it go.  So this year I took some time to revisit my 44th year, but I found that my reflections left me with mixed emotions about how well it had gone.

Don't Forget to Breathe with the Holidays!

James Island County Park
Festival of Lights Holiday Card

The other night I had a crazy, fierce allergy attack.  Some innocent, unknowing little allergen particle floated far up into my nasal cavity and reaped havoc on my being.  I was sneezing with such force that it literally almost knocked me off my chair.  One violent sneeze after another, sometimes 20 in a row, brought me down like a sick buffalo.

An Interest in Mandalas

Last year, a sweet and thoughtful friend gave me a "coloring book" called Power Mandalas for my birthday.  She knew of my combined love for anything artistic and spiritual, so this really was an ideal gift for me.  I had heard of mandalas but had never understood the concept behind them.

Keeping It Light

"To laugh deeply is to know God."  - Alan Cohen

I have two dear friends, one I have known since middle school, and one I have known since college.  Even now, after all these years, I am blessed to STILL have them in my life because they live here in Charleston.  Can you imagine that?  How lucky I am. 

Both very different personalities and energies, Leigh and Jackie do share one attribute in common... the ability to laugh and find joy in any situation.  In our younger days, Leigh and Jackie were the "go to" girls if you wanted to have a great time.

The Cycle of Connection

My booth at the Artists' Market

Over the past few weeks, I've been especially aware of the different stages and intensities of my connection with life.  It's interesting to watch the cycle of our connection with our higher selves, our Source, God - whatever we choose to call it.  We connect beautifully for a while, then we disconnect, and then we connect again, and disconnect... over and over and over.  I suppose this cycle of union is the process of life - always reaching for the connection and holding it for as long as we can, until perhaps we stumble, trip, and fall away from it. 

My Greatest Creation EVER!

My best creation ever... is not a piece of my favorite art, or a kissing ball, or a decoupaged bottle.  It's not my branch art, or my paper flowers, or my blog thoughts.
This creation means more to me than life itself, and is by far the masterpiece to which I am most attached and connected.

It is a creation that evolves and becomes more lovely and more beautiful every day, and when I look at it, I see the best of myself in it.  It is a reflection of all my hopes and dreams and love come to fruition... a masterpiece so full of possibilities that it is bursting at the seams.  So rich and colorful and bright and shining is this creation, that it literally takes my breath away and fills me with unequivocal joy.

My Erin.  Happy Birthday to my eleven year old daughter.  I could not be more proud... ever.  I could not be more blown away... ever.  Just a brilliant, beautiful, joyful, easy soul that I am blessed to be with every day.  Happy birthday, my sweet!