love – Long walks and dark chocolate

Easter morning reminiscing

March 31, 2013 4 Comments

Me and my mom’s version of the Easter Bunny cake around 69′

On Holidays, we always think about the ones we loved so much who are no longer with us, and this Easter Sunday, is no exception for me. I think about my Mom, who died almost 17 years ago, while I was pregnant with my youngest.

My mom loved holidays and to me, she was a combination of all the best in Martha Stewart, Betty Crocker and June Cleaver (for those of you too young to know who this is, google “Leave it to Beaver”).

She made all holidays special and I think Easter was one of her favorites. She made the “bunny cake”, and let us help sprinkle the coconut or place the whiskers. It wasn’t only pretty, but also tasty enough to make even Julia Childs stand up and take notice.

She dyed eggs with us, and let us hunt them until they were crushed, rotten or eaten. She was a bona fide pro, though and had fresh ones in the fridge. She laid out a delightful, delicious Easter dinner and usually invited family over to share.

Mom, Dee and I

Our outfits were adorable and immaculate and we changed out of them immediately after church. I sometimes think about her in church with us at ages 1, 2 and 3 (yes, we were little stair steps) and this makes me all the more in awe of her. We will be 45, 46, and 47, as soon as my brother catches up with the program, turning 45 on April 22nd.

She made sure we visited both sets of grandparents and she took pictures to document it all for days like this, when I’m reminiscing and want to remember their faces more clearly.

Most of all I am blessed that mom taught us the true meaning of Easter; that is wasn’t all about colorful eggs and dressing up and bunnies, that the true message was in the Resurrection and the hope we all share because of it.

So today, on this beautiful Sunday morning, I am grateful for my Christian heritage. I’m picturing Mom in heaven this morning singing and praising with the angels, as this must be a joyful day there as well.

Blessings and Happy Easter!!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Betty Crocker, cake, Easter, Easter Sunday, Family, God, Holiday, Julia Childs, June Cleaver, love, Martha Stewart, Mom, Mother, Sunday

Write my life in cursive

March 13, 2013 4 Comments

I have decided I want my life to be lived out in cursive. Yes, I am aware that this seems a rather strange thing to say. At the enlightened age of 47, I have decided that I desire the days of print to be fewer, taken over, if you will, by more days of cursive. What do I mean by this, you ask?

It’s quite simple really. I have always been a very structured, straightforward person and although there is nothing wrong with that, I sometimes find myself caught up in the predictable.

You see print is straight, plain and easy to foretell. It often has sharp edges, taut lines, without much room for improvement. There isn’t a whole lot of bending, or give and take to it.

However, cursive is pretty and it catches the eye with its beautiful gyrations, its curviness, its varied form and twisting, turning lines. Some exhibitions of cursive writing are glamorous and others are hideous, but they all add character and personality to a hand written note.

To sum it all up and conclude, I want more fun, more beauty, more unpredictability, more excitement and not so much structure and precision. I’ve been learning and living this lately and I’m happier than ever because of it!

Don’t get me wrong, I wish to remain predictable and structured in the areas where people are counting on me, where I have a job to do. I’m referring to the downtime, the days off, the vacations and the day to day moments of refreshing. I want to continue on this course of learning to abandon my rigid plan and get out there and live and do and love like there is no tomorrow. Because, you never know, there might not be. Blessings!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Cursive, laugh, live, love, Psychology, Social Sciences

Removing the barnacles

March 6, 2013 5 Comments

This picture was taken from our dock and you can see all of the barnacles on the piling; the longer they are allowed to grow, the greater their adhesion. We have to remove them from the boats because they will slow us down and cost more fuel.

I think on occasion there are things in our lives that resemble barnacles, slowing us down, causing a “drag” so to speak, that can feel like a large noose around our neck. Sometimes, these can be what the bible describes as hindrances, weights, or besetting sins. At other times, it’s just something that shouldn’t be a priority in our life, but we’ve fallen into bad habits, or we know something is bugging us, but it’s in our power to rectify it (this one is often one of my issues due to procrastination) and we haven’t.

If your goal is like mine, to live life to the fullest, to run this race with all you’ve got, then at times we have to take inventory. We have to look at our lives with eyes of faith and a sense of our purpose and recognize and accept when change is necessary. Sometimes, we even have relationships with people who are spewing forth cynicism and gloom and doom, bringing us down. In this area, of course, we must handle with love and kid gloves and always try to help and encourage first. We don’t want to hurt others, but we can’t forever be the receptacle for all things negative, either.

Spring is on it’s way and is always a good time for cleaning house (inside and out)! So, I guess it’s time to get out the gloves, pressure cleaner and the scrapers and get busy.

Filed Under: Photography, Uncategorized Tagged With: Barnacle, boats, changes, faith, God, love, purpose

A word fitly spoken

February 22, 2013 8 Comments

I am enchanted by words. I always have been. Words allow us to express our innermost thoughts in written and oral form. They are bountiful and can be captivating, refreshing and motivating and without them we would feel frustrated when trying to make a point.

Words can nurture or destroy, hurt or heal, soothe or stab, wound or caress, tear down or buildup and curse or praise. They can spew forth venom or honey, love or hate, admiration or disgust, lies or truth.

We forget their magnificent power and influence. I’ve been contemplating that power this week, keeping my eyes open for illustrations and proofs of that power. We truly wield a mighty weapon or a gentle touch depending on our use of them. Words last….once spoken they aren’t easily forgotten.

Sadly, I watched stricken faces, fear, tears of hurt, heads hung low and shoulders slumped due to mere utterances.

Thankfully, I’ve also encountered smiles brimming up from deep inside a happy heart, having felt the love and encouragement behind a simple phrase.

The other thing I’ve reflected on is how our words present us to the world. We say a lot about ourselves, our personality and our beliefs by our actions, but our words have a great impact as well. As the bible says, our words come from deep inside and reveal much about us.

When my granddaughter was younger and would try to express her frustrations, wants and needs with grunts, shrieks and screams, my daughter would remind her, “Use your words”.

I’m going to steal that phrase and add one more important word to it.

Use your words WISELY. You will be remembered by them.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: encouragement, God, hurt, Language, love, praise, Word, words

Love in the everyday things

February 16, 2013 2 Comments

Love is when you bring me coffee in the morning without being asked

Love is that look from across the room that no one else shares

Love is catching rain water in a pitcher for me because you know I want to water my house plants with it

Love is always having made sure our children treat me with respect

Love is always kissing goodbye because you don’t take life for granted

Love is telling me to slow down and take a day to rest and relax because I deserve it

Filed Under: Poetry Tagged With: kissing, love, poetry

Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss

February 15, 2013 4 Comments

This week’s photo challenge was to share a photo depicting what KISS means to you. I couldn’t pick just one! It’s obvious my family is very affectionate.

Family kisses

Filed Under: Photography Tagged With: affection, cat, child, kiss, love, photography, weekly photo challenge

Valentines shoe box

February 14, 2013 4 Comments

I remember when my girls were young and we had to buy or make valentines for the entire class. There were big decisions to be made about who got which one. Patience was a necessity as they carefully pondered the possible ramifications of each selection. “But mom, if I pick this one, he might think I like him”, and “Which one should I give my teacher?”

Some years we would carefully transform a shoe box into a glittering, shimmering, pink or red valentine mail box. After the inevitable Valentine party with punch and cupcakes, they would bring it home and excitedly show me all of their cards. I would catch them perusing them again later in their room and maybe tucking one in the frame of their dresser mirror.

We used to make some of them together with construction paper and doilies. We would cut out shapes, make drawings and pen our own verse, then deliver to family, friends and neighbors, often along with valentine cookies. Their smiles were the only reward I needed for my help. I imagine I could still find some of these treasures if I looked in the right boxes.

Time passes and those memories grow more precious to me as I try to hold on to every one of those sweet moments. Love grows and changes and those precious little children, who captivated us at birth, weave their own unique and precious pattern deeply and permanently into our hearts. Once again, I am so grateful for all the times I took the time to really enjoy them, to look in their eyes and listen to them.

Time flies and you never know what is waiting around the next corner. Live well and spend plenty of time with your family.

Filed Under: Family and Home Tagged With: children, Construction paper, cookies, Doily, hearts, Holidays, Home, love, Parenting, Patience, valentine day, Valentine's Day, valentines day cards

Weekly photo challenge: Home

February 9, 2013 4 Comments

The weekly photo challenge was to depict home – to me, THEY are home….My husband, my daughters and my granddaughter…wherever we are together, living, loving, eating, playing….This applies to extended family members as well of course!

Filed Under: Photography Tagged With: Family, food, Home, love, photography, postaday, sisters

Captivated

February 8, 2013 2 Comments

Nana and Ayda playing patty cake

“I luff you Nana”, she said. Now, I’m not entirely sure if she meant those words this particular time from the bottom of her nearly three year old heart, or if it was the overwhelming gratitude she felt at my latest promise. I had just said, “Nana will send you the Peter Pan movie”.

For anyone who has the immense, incomparable pleasure of being a grandparent, it really doesn’t matter why they said it. It melts your heart, liquefies it right into a puddle of love. Those four little words make you feel like the most important person on earth. They are coveted words and not always shared so freely by our independent little cherubs.

Before we were blessed with Ayda, I remember other grandparents and their endless pictures and chatter about their precious little ones, the most brilliant little people ever conceived. I thought I understood. I didn’t. Not even close.

I was there when she was born. After my nervousness for the safety and health of my eldest throughout the process, I was blissful to see the little dark haired head make its entry on the scene. The thrill of her first cries upon encountering this big, bright world overwhelmed me.

I remember my first trip back out to California after they had been to visit for an extended period. Her daddy had been in Afghanistan serving his country, so they stayed with us during his tour of duty. She wasn’t very old and it had been a few months since I’d seen her.

My daughter picked me up from the LA airport, in the early evening and we enjoyed catching up on the drive back to Temecula. Ayda was playing at a friend’s house and we stopped by there to pick her up. She sat in her car seat and jabbered all the way home. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her but I wasn’t sure she would welcome being held.

I will never forget getting out of the car at their apartment and her little arms reaching out for me, just like those months between visits had never passed. And oh, the feeling when those chubby little arms hugged me ever so tightly. I still get tears in my eyes thinking about it. She remembered!

Am I smitten? Totally! In love with her? Absolutely! And don’t even begin to think you can understand, unless you’re one of the proud, the elite, the grandparents!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Afghanistan, California, children, grandchildren, grandparent, love, Temecula, Travel

Next season please

February 7, 2013 2 Comments

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

A time to break down and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain, and a time to lose;

A time to keep, and a time to throw away;

A time to tear, and a time to sew;

A time to keep silence and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;

A time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

I’ve been thinking a lot about seasons this week. It’s so funny how they do parallel our lives. The bible even says to everything there is a season.

When I’m asked what my favorite season is, I often say fall and winter. I think this has always been due to the accompanying holidays and knowing I’ll be spending quality time with family and friends.

However, after contemplating it more carefully, I have realized that my favorite season is the one that’s around the corner. The one that isn’t quite here yet, the one I’m currently longing for.

Take right now, for instance. We’ve had our fill of winter (some more than others, depending on our locale); the cold, dreariness, the bare trees and raggedly looking lawns and landscapes. We are ready for spring. We desire something new; the flowers, the birdsong, a change in the weather, some refreshing showers.

I remember at the end of last summer, I was dreamily desiring the arrival of fall. I could almost taste the fall flavors of pumpkin and apple cider and smell the cinnamon and feel the slight dip in temperature. In my mind were visions of scarecrows and carvings and leaves turning and descending to the earth. It was something to look forward to and thinking about it filled me with anticipation.

When the temperatures began to drop and I began my Christmas shopping, I was already giddy with excitement for winter and the hopes of seeing snow (if I traveled out of my home state). Bring on the sweaters and scarves and boots. The love of Christmas and thoughts of enjoying more time with those I care about made me anxious for this glorious season.

And around it goes, year after year, season after season. I guess the old saying is true, “we always want what we don’t have”. We eagerly anticipate the next chapter, the next season.

It’s like our Creator to know this would suit us; the changing. We change; our lives are lived out in seasons. Our short lived attention spans and longing for more is somewhat satiated by the change in seasons.

So on this last day of winter, I say, bring on the spring! May yours be filled with a spring in your step, March madness and April showers, Easter and excitement over things to come and abundant love, joy and peace!