food for thought

is there anything that brings us together like food? our daughter is visiting from sunny California. we are enjoying our time together. but many of our hours have been spent in the kitchen. cooking.
our darling M is a wonderful cook. she and her husband love to try new recipes and they are quite the gourmands. so during this particular visit, when we have her here to ourselves, I asked her to teach me the finer points to some of her culinary talents.
last night we stirred up a delicious pot of risotto. creamy and delightful. and what made the dish sweeter was the time we spent in the kitchen together preparing the meal. we talked of this and that. past and future plans. everyday nonsense. mundane things that never bore a mommy.
this morning I made her my favorite buttermilk pancakes. she warmed my heart with the first bite 'yum'.
tomorrow morning we will make scones. she has given me the recipe but I failed miserably. so under her tutelage we will knead and bake together. can't hardly wait!
and the final preparation will be making a new favorite of hers, croissants. I know they will be good because she had me buy two pounds of butter for the experience.

my heart and tummy jump for joy.

start spreading the news

it is 6:32 pm. almost to the minute, I have been married 32 years. a wonderful milestone to some. just another day to the hubs and I. don't get me wrong. we celebrate. we remember the day like it was yesterday. (ie the hubs told me this morning that he and his groomsmen - fellow fraternity brothers - at 6 am 32 years ago, were sitting on the porch at the frat house watching the sun rise after being up all night. who knew?). and nearly every day in between. each day a celebration of our lives together.
but does it matter if you are married for a year or 5 or 10 or 30 or 50 years? the point is to celebrate the journey every minute of every day. don't take anything for granted. work at loving each other - no one said it would be easy. and it is not. each day is a glorious challenge. but worth the work. to love each other so thoroughly, so decidedly, so emphatically.
my husband spoils me. he adores me. he is so extremely patient with me. I feel his love every minute of every day. I hope he could say the same of me.
so I just wanted to say to the world 'I love the hubs.' such simple words. such a wonderful message. such a lovely lesson to pass on.

happy anniversary.

everyday

is Mother's Day. each minute, every hour, day after day is filled with the love and hope and peace that children bring. admittedly some days are more idyllic than others, but even on those most frantic, crazy, insane days - we wouldn't forgo the delight of hearing the words 'hey mom'.

for those of us whose children have moved away, the sight of them on our caller id or email list brings the biggest smile. and the declaration of love at the end of a phone call or letter warms our heart. no matter how many times you hear it. or read it. or remember it. four simple little words spoken by your child brings that simultaneous sparkle and tear to your eye, 'I love you, mom.' sweeter words were never spoken.

for those of us who have lost their mother. the day is bittersweet. while filled with lovely memories, the ache returns. the thought of being able to hear her voice. feel her touch. see the loving look in her eyes. to be able to say just one more time, 'I love you, mom.'

this past week we visited my parents grave in southern Indiana. they are buried in a rural cemetery amid generations of family. I sat at their grave and talked quietly. at peace under clear blue skies and a soft breeze. tears rolled down my cheeks. tears of joy for the life they had given me. tears of happiness for the memories we shared. tears of sadness for the little hole in my heart that still misses them.

as we left, I looked out the window and saw the sunbeams radiating down from the sky. that beautiful sight always makes me pause and say hello to them in heaven.

'I love you, mom.'

words

'there's so much that I want to say but the words get in the way.'
ever have that feeling? the more you talk the less sense you make? you try to clarify the meaning and make matters worse. you want to say exactly the right thing and stumble in your thoughts. and your silence is worse than any explanation.
why is it that we have so much trouble expressing ourselves? those feelings deep down that scream to be heard.
as I was sorting through today's quandry. I came across an article that gave me some helpful answers. express yourself!
1. do a lot of reading. learn how others express themselves. look up the words you don't know and use them!
2. do some writing of your own. writing will help you think your thoughts through, organize them. give focus and direction.
3. when you're upset, write a letter. a well worded letter will let you convey your feelings.
4. be mature when you express yourself. show respect to others. sticks and stones.
5. ask questions. expression is done with good interaction.

speak softly. think loudly. love well.

the red red robin

sometimes you come across a few words that really hit home.

today as I was getting a pedicure (a delightful indulgence), I came across an article entitled Lessons in How to be a Woman; a series of snippets relating life advice from past Women of the Year. among the many inspiring and uplifting words were these from Eve Ensler ...

'cherish your solitude. take trains by yourself to places you have never been. sleep out alone under the stars. learn how to drive a stick shift. go so far away that you stop being afraid of not coming back. say no when you don't want to do something. say yes if your instincts are strong, even if everyone around you disagrees. decide whether you want to be liked or admired. decide if fitting in is more important than finding out what you're doing here. believe in kissing.'

a little birdie tells me 'live, love, laugh and be happy'.

today I sing

'all creatures of our God and King
lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
thou burning sun with golden beam,
thou silver moon with softer gleam!

thou rushing wind that art so strong
ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
o praise Him! Alleluia!
thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
ye lights of evening, find a voice!

thou flowing water, pure and clear,
make music for thy Lord to hear,
o praise Him! Alleluia!
thou fire so masterful and bright,
that givest man both warmth and light.

dear mother earth, who day by day
unfoldest blessings on our way,
o praise Him! Alleluia!
the flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
let them His glory also show.

and all ye men of tender heart,
forgiving others, take your part,
o sing ye! Alleluia!
ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
praise God and on Him cast your care!

and thou most kind and gentle Death,
waiting to hush our latest breath,
o praise Him! Alleluia!
thou leadest home the child of God,
and Christ our Lord the way hath trod.

let all things their Creator bless,
and worship Him in humbleness,
o praise Him! Alleluia!
praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, Three in One!

Alleluia!'

this beautiful hymn has been thankfully stuck in my head today. blessed me.

dance fever

tonight the hubs and I begin round two of dance lessons at our local rec center. our spry and aging instructor does her very best to teach us to gaze into each other's eyes and not watch our feet and count out loud. and after 4 lessons we have learned some basics. but the best part is being together.

I've always wanted to learn to dance. unfortunately our generation defined dancing as a combination of jumping and swaying. no formal training. no lessons in junior high. just 'feel' the music and move sporadically. well let me tell you the delight in moving together. being lead. pushed and pulled gently across the floor to the rhythm of the music. blissful. romantic.

and what fun we have. we laugh out loud. engulfed in the music. delighted in the challenge. happy to just be together. it's like the Beatles song goes ... 'I'm so happy when you dance with me.'

and to make the activity even nicer, we take lessons with another couple. we are equally challenged on the dance floor. our lack of ability fuels our friendship. and we top off the evening with a late dinner and lively conversation.

so here's to a summer full of Friday nights. sorry if I step on your toes.