Loving Right Now - Happy Birthday to my Son

Our family is in Myrtle Beach, SC celebrating my son's eighth birthday.  As I write this blog post, I'm taking in the view of the ocean as its waves lull me into a calm and peaceful place deep inside myself.  Tomorrow is Ryan's birthday.  Deep sigh... he is my baby.

A Mother Load of Mother Love

My mom and me!

Each mother's day, I ponder a gift for my mother that will demonstrate my love for her.   The past few years I've been coming up empty... or should I say, the gifts that I struggle to conceive always seem to fall short of what I believe she deserves.

She's had the years of macaroni necklaces and hand-colored, glittered cards that I presented her as a child.  She's received the expensive gifts that I sent her in my younger professional years, and she's graciously accepted a few years of simply a card or a phone call carrying a mother's day, "I love you."  This year, I'm trying something new, something that was truly a pleasure to create. 

Waffles and Spaghetti.... Celebrating Differences of the Sexes

A dear friend of mine from my childhood church came to visit me last fall.   As we talked over lunch, I asked him if he had any suggestions for an anniversary gift for my husband, Terry.  He went nuts over this book called, Men Are Like Waffles Women Are Like Spaghetti, written by Bill and Pam Farrel.

He had watched  the book work wonders for many couples in his church and suggested that it might be just the tool Terry and I use for kicking it up a notch and understanding and celebrating our differences... after all these years.  After 16 years of marriage, what could I possibly not understand about my husband? OMG!!!!!  PLENTY!!!!  He still baffles me beyond belief, and so does my son, so I immediately bought the book in hopes of uncovering the jewels of knowledge that would help me unravel their deep mystery.

A Letter to Mother Earth

Dear Mother Earth...

As I glance back through my life and our relationship together, I'm discovering the diverse phases you and I have shared.  As a child, I loved you whole-heartedly... spending long and wonderful hours in your arms, soaking up your mystery and wonder and energy.  You nurtured me and held me closely to you, silently filling my soul with sweet and simple happiness.

Inexpensive Creativity: Tips to Freshen up Your Living Space

Made this mobile out of paper
and fishing wire.

Hello, hello good people!  I just went back to my last two blogs and YOWZA! we need a lighter subject this week!   Written straight from my heart, both blogs were dramatic and heavy... which is all good, but  spring is in the air, at least here in Charleston, SC, and I'm all over clicking up my heels and feeling light as a feather!

Passing of a Friend - A Tribute

This past weekend, a beautiful soul left this earth realm to go back home.  He was my friend. 
He was a bright, shining spirit who profoundly affected anyone who knew him.  His heart open, warm, and welcoming... his smile more so.  His laugh...ahhh, his laugh could be heard in the ethers... an "in-your-face" huge, rolling, belly laugh that went straight to your core... healing you as it reverberated through your entire being.  His laughter could literally lift the mood in a room in an instant... you just couldn't NOT laugh if he was laughing.

Phoenix Rising

Image Source Page: http://www.rpgfan.com/pics/souloftheultimatenation/art.html

The Phoenix

by Rebecca Wiles

Beautiful , glorious and sacrificing self for renewal,

you build a pyre and set yourself ablaze.

For the sake of self.

Red bird of fire come forth through your ashes a new bird

shedding the old self which no longer is needful.

You embrace your new strength and fly to new heights of the sky

to the city of the sun and give the ashes

unto the alter of the sun god for your immortality.

Embrace yourself for you are a child of the sun

and will live eternal through birth, death, and renewal.

The spirit never dies!