full house

we were surprised this week by a visit from our son and his girlfriend. they had a break in their work schedules and asked if they could come visit. the word 'yes' was immediate and enthusiastic.

the girlfriend has never been to the great state. and, like I was when the hubs told me we had the opportunity to move to Texas, her thoughts are of cowboys, tumbleweed and cactus. this CA girl (originally from NC) wants to see the hometown side. not the touristy bit. so we're going to see a few 'haunts' today. and tonight they will mosey into the big city to visit friends and experience the night life (and leaving momma at home, whew!).

I love seeing my children as adults. the way they live their lives. what they've become. made of themselves. shape their existence. their relationships. they are happy. caring. life-loving. adventurous. handsome. beautiful. witty. funny. sincere. dedicated. respectful. independent. from a mother's heart, simply adorable.

'there are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. there are seven million.'

waking moments

my bedside table. not a table really. it's a stack of sewing boxes on top of a low chest. sometimes a bit dusty. not cluttered. just holds the essentials.


a lamp. the book of the moment. a picture of me and my mom. and a little heart-shaped rock.



things that make me smile. keep me focused. fill me up.

everyday.

but, somehow, especially on this day of love.

'what I need to live has been given to me by the earth. why I need to live has been given to me by you.'

l.o.v.e.

last night the hubs and I along with some dear friends went to see Natalie Cole. the evening was delightful. the company divine. and the music, well, unforgettable.














'music is an outburst of the soul.'

a new attitude

my phone remains by my side. a box of kleenx at the ready. trying out. on. another perspective.

'laugh when you can. apologize when you should. and let go of what you cannot change.'

funky town

I'd like a do-over please. let's start Tuesday again. from the top. yesterday I had this odd inkling. foreboding. not-so-good things lurking. I was crabby. now gone from bad to worse. today I am just funked-out.

got an email notifying me that I did not get a job that I dearly wanted.
got an email of a meeting where the speaker was wrongly identified (and it was my job to do the telling. screwed up there royally.)
the fire department and ambulance is at the neighbors. worrisome to say the least.
did something screwy to my back carrying in the ladder to do some painting. now sitting on the sofa with drugs and an ice pack.
waiting for a phone call that won't come. no matter how long and where I carry my phone with me.

and I can think of a thousand other things to feel sorry for (it's easy to continue in that downward spiral once it begins). join me in my pity party. get down in funky town. I'll take you there. misery loves company.

whew.

or I can pick myself up. brush myself off. and start all over again. adopt the mantra of this too shall pass. I look up and see the sun is shining. my life is blessed. and the drugs will soon kick in. I'll slowly sip from the half-full glass for the rest of the day.

ps. I finished this rant and I thought 'stop whining'. my friend R would call the waah-mbulance! but as I went to delete the post I thought no. I'll leave it here. a gentle in-your-face reminder. not all days are good. not all days are bad. and it helps to talk. to think out loud. it helps to read other posts and know that we all twist and turn. up and down. side to side. sometimes it just feels right to be miserable. sometimes it's just feels good to scream. pout. cry. stomp around. and it's comforting to know someone is listening.

'toss your dashed hopes not into a trash bin but into a drawer where you are likely to rummage some bright morning.'

love letter

I have an unknown friend. wise. witty. her blog is endearing. her insight relevant. her words timely. I cherish her. she taught me - teaches me - to choose. it's fear or love baby.

she wrote religiously for months. and lately her posts are few and far between. but no less poignant. and always welcome. so today when I saw her in my inbox a little anticipatory sigh escaped me. and I eagerly opened her letter.

friendship comes from all directions. from unexpected places. in all shapes and sizes. word and deed. thought. kindness. comfort. compassion. grace. the love is huge.

'here's to good women. may we know them. may we be them. may we raise them.'

much ado about everything

there is much activity at magnolia's end. post remodeling projects add to the to-do list. a little shopping to fill in the blanks of decorating. all on a bit of a deadline (planning for a March club meeting and date tbd house-warming party). fun stuff. I work best under (fortunately light) pressure. birthdays to plan. babies to watch. a bevy of committee and commission duties. and still on the job hunt.

there is much activity in the neighborhood. an unexpected hospital stay. a joyful retirement in process. friends to gather. hands to hold. blessings to count.

there is much activity all around. looking for the happy. oh so tired of the bitter talk. searching. wanting. needing. finding. hope and love and courage and wisdom in the smallest circles. at times (and when allowed) far over shadowed by the angst. well worth the discovery because when realized it lights up the sky.

there is much activity inside me. swirling in thougths. pounding in hearts. tapping of feet. anxious. at ease. breathing deeply. exhaling slowly. taking one day at a time. remembering the past. enjoying. muddle-throughing. delighting in. every today. looking forward to the future.

there is a meditation that recites Psalm 46:10. I take comfort in the verse. and greater comfort in the repetition.

'be still and know that I am.
be still and know.
be still.
be.'