Sun...shine...on....me

I sit at the table as the sun lowers its face towards me
It's a lovely site as I squint and smile at the thought of the sun soon taking a dip in the lake
As Grace enjoys the company of her building blocks and name plate...Joni Mitchell, Alison Krauss....Nina Simone....they serenade me...and take me there...to that place....where my spirit shines and all is well
Evening is near and the day will soon be done and this moment will be but a memory....
But for now....SUN....SHINE....ON....ME!

Empowerment... come forth!

This word has been on my mind and in my heart for a week now.  Last week, I was visiting with a girlfriend who's been having some issues on her job.  Well, we were talking things over while sipping coffee and sharing a bagel.  During the conversation, I suggested a possible way to rectify the work situation.  As to not overstep, I asked her if what I said seemed reasonable and she said...."no, it's a good idea and I'll try it.  I knew I'd feel empowered after talking to you, so I'll try it."  She said it and moved on... but it got me to thinking.  I started processing a collage of thoughts; the least of which was what made her believe that she'd be empowered after talking with me.  Here I was (am) in the middle of my life, sometimes easy, sometimes hard...empowering a friend.  Then "the stuff" came.  Who am I to empower someone and I'm still trying to figure out where to start with my communications company?  Now fast forward a week to a conversation I had with another friend about said communications company.  In a 30 minute conversation, I was able to bounce some ideas off of her and get some solid feed back and some stellar suggestions.  I was empowered!  I had come full circle with the give and take of what makes us human.  Sometimes we have it to give and sometimes we need it to be given to us.  Yes, I know....some of you are always ready to give...full of that which is needed from you and rarely finding yourselves in a place of needing anything, let alone empowerment, from anyone else.  But, I'm talking about the rest of us :o)  So, I realized (again) that it's okay to run like the wind and get it done....moving and shaking.  It's also okay to be like the lily's of the field who take no thought for tomorrow knowing that tomorrow will take care of itself....and it only took me a week.  So, whether you're on the giving or receiving end today....I say to you....Empowerment... come forth!

Happy Parenthood Day...

I don't know if you watch the NBC show Parenthood (I actually got turned on to it by a friend who has an autistic son, and one of the issues the show deals with is autism.)  Anyhoo, on yesterday's episode (yay for DVR), one of the characters has a baby.  During that scene, I was just watching it thinking about that moment....it's SOOOO AMAZING!!!! I know every parent...as well as those who have been a part of the birthing process on whatever level...  remembers it.  Yeah, the pushing and breathing  and the ice chips and the lip balm (for the dry lips) are unforgettable, but I'm talking about the welcoming of a life into this world.  I still marvel at the idea.  I mean, I get the science of it and how a sperm meets an egg and so on and so forth, but when I think of the portal...the vessel I was able to be for LIFE.... I'm WOWED!  When I think of what God allowed me and my husband to do...I'm GRATEFUL!
I am often reminded of that when I'm overwhelmed or when I'm tired and frustrated and overextended in one way or another....I look at Grace and remember.  We often say it...they didn't ask to be here and on top of that, the time and effort it took to get her here are invaluable.  It's a moment that really stays with me. 
As a parent, no matter what age or stage, we really do have an awesome responsibility....to love and care for them as the grow; to guide and nurture them along the way; and to pass on a legacy and a heritage that will live on even after we're gone.  It's unofficial, but Happy Parenthood Day!

The seasons change and so we grow!

It's Fall already!  We were just enjoying the beaches of Hilton Head for Labor Day, and now the bathing suits are in the back of the drawer (not yet packed away but that's for another day:o).  I recently had to go through some clothes given to me by my niece who has a daughter.  With the season change came some cooler temperatures so we needed leggings and long pants and closed toe shoes and long sleeve t-shirts.  Even still, the moment the temperatures dropped, with socks on her feet and a hat on her head, Grace still caught a cold....AARRGH! She had the Croup Cough.  It was pretty scary at first because she sounded like she was wheezing and couldn't breath and she would get scared and cry each time a deep cough came.  And it hurt her chest.  Talk about a mother feeling like she couldn't do anything.  We're getting a flu shot this morning actually.  We just returned from a road trip to Tallahassee for my college Homecoming celebration.  It was a fun time, but Grace is still not quite 100%, and I don't want to chance it. It's too much at stake...
She's 21 months old and growing more and more each day.  She has long legs so she stands as tall as a 2 year old.  She's using words and phrases but not yet sentences.  Right now, Panda and Violet are her favorite stuffed buddies.  She gave up the binky 3 months ago and is just now able to get in her bed and fall asleep without it as a comfort....hence Panda and Violet and her blanket.   I'm amazed at how fast she's growing and how smart she is.  With each day comes a new look or action or sign of independence.  I know that's how it happens but I'm amazed nonetheless.  The days go by, the seasons change and so we grow!