Mother's Garden

I found this little poem today while searching "Mother's Day Quotes" for a project I was working on.
I thought it represented exactly what my mother is to me, and what I hope to be as a mother for my own three children. Gardening is such a great metaphor for what we do as mothers... Nurturing and Loving, Correcting and Pruning, Water and Sunshine, our Tears and our Smiles.  As I reflect on the last 13 years of my life as a mother, I can only hope and pray that I am doing as good a job with my little blossoms as my mother has done with me!  A legacy, indeed!!

"Mother's Garden"

My Mother kept a garden,
a garden of the heart,
She planted all the good things
that gave my life it's start.

She turned me to the sunshine
and encouraged me to dream,
Fostering and nurturing
the seeds of self-esteem...

And when the winds and rain came,
she protected me enough--
But not too much because she knew
I'd need to stand up strong and tough.

Her constant good example
always taught me right from wrong--
Markers for my pathway
that will last a lifetime long.

I am my Mother's garden.
I am her legacy-
And I hope today she feels the love
reflected back from me.

Author unknown

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Stayin' Stuck!

I recently began the Book/Study "Unglued"  by Lysa TerKeurst with some Fabulous Ladies from my church. (Hello, Fabulous Ladies!)

All I can say is, "GOODNESS GRACIOUS" where has this book been all my life!?!?! ;-)

Just the first couple of video sessions and chapters had me gripped by the heart.  Fervently seeking inside myself for answers.  REAL ANSWERS as to what causes my "Unglued" behaviors, and more importantly, WHAT I CAN DO about them.

So far, I've come to understand that it has a lot to do with PERSPECTIVE.  How I see things, verses how they REALLY are.  (I know... Amazingly obvious isn't it??)

Due to this realization, I am already seeing some positive results as I "flesh this out" in my day to day life experiences.

Flashback to last Thursday.  Yep.  Valentine's Day.

I woke up with all sorts of plans and ideas as to how to make the day special for my sweet family.  I had a menu planned, and a list of purchases to make.  I was going to have the house cleaned and lit up with candles.  I was going to hand-make valentines for each of them.

Plans.  Schedule.  Agenda.

But my sweet little Chocolate Lab, "Bailey Blue" had other ideas.

You see, Bay has been somewhat of an escape artist pretty much her whole 1 1/2 years of existence.  She's a Labrador.  She digs.  And she loves to dig under the fence, so she can BREAK FREE! (I know... that's a whole other book by another Fabulous Lady... but I digress...)

So last Thursday was no different.  I let her and her pal Beauregard (Black Lab) out to potty, and stepped inside to pour a glass of tea.  I saw that I had a message from one of the kids' teachers so I sat down at the computer to read it, "real quick", then I was going to call the Furbabies back inside.  Too Late.  In a matter of 10 minutes, Bailey was Gee-Gee-GONE!!!

I knew this because I heard Beau barking like crazy.  (He's about one and a half times her size, so too big to follow.  Since he can't join in the fun, he tattles!) I quickly called Beau in, and went to the front door.  I knew where I would find Bay.  Right across the street. Sniffing and exploring.

See, the other thing about our Sweet Bailey Blue is that she is a wonderful dog.  She's been trained to sit, stay, shake, and lay down, since she was 4 months old.  There's just one little command she has a problem with.  "Come".

 Yeah.  Notsomuch.

Instead of calling, begging, and chasing after her (which only causes her to go harder in the opposite direction) I came up with a plan.  I lifted the garage door and placed her Kong toy filled with Jiffy Peanut Butter (her favorite!) on the floor.  Then I waited.  I just knew she would "take the bait" (she has before) and I would run out the front door, shut the garage, and then she'd come back inside.

Yeah.  Notsomuch.

I waited several minutes.  No Bailey.

I took a shower.  No Bailey.

I dried my hair.  No Bailey.

I curled my hair and twisted it up in a clip.  Still.  No Bailey.

I dressed quickly, grabbed the Kong and her leash, and headed out the door.

I called.  I begged.  I chased.  Up and down the street. And back again.  Always within earshot, but never within reach.

2 hours later, I had a brilliant idea. I came back inside, grabbed Beau's leash and hooked him up.  Then I grabbed my keys.  Both dogs LOVE to ride.  This time, I didn't call.  I didn't beg.  I didn't chase.  I simply opened the back door to my Envoy and said "Come on, Beau."  He hopped right in.  And SO DID SHE!!!

I rode around the block. Then back home again.  Hooked on her leash, and led her into the house.

Never once scolding or reprimanding.  (Okay, well.. a little, but she didn't know it because I was doing it my sweet "I love you Puppy Dog" voice.)

My plans for the day had gone to pot.  I was sweaty and tired from my walk around the 'hood.

That's when I noticed it.

Instead of flying off the handle and exploding... slamming doors, pitching a fit, and threatening to call the pound, I was calm, cool, and collected.

I stayed postive.

I thought to myself.  Well, I DID get my exercise in today.

And then I did a Happy Dance.  Not just  because I haven't gotten back into my Walking Groove since Christmas, but because I didn't come unglued.

In the midst of a chaotic situation , where any other time I would have lost my cool and exploded, or thrown my hands up and gone back to bed,  I STAYED STUCK!  

I calmly  led Bailey back outside, and hooked her to her 40 ft lead (which I SHOULD have done to begin with).  I wiped my sweaty brow, reapplied my lip-gloss, and took the hairspray to the 'do. I grabbed my purse and went out about my mission to have a Happy Valentines Day.

And I succeeded.

I gotta try this "Stayin' Stuck" stuff more often!!

A Many Splendered Thing

Love.

Just a small word, really.

But oh, how great its impact.

Many seek it.

Fewer find it.

And those of us lucky enough to grasp it... hold on for dear life.

But is that true love?

Clenching? Gripping? Seizing?

Someone once said, if you love something you have to set it free.

True love inspires and creates.

Encourages.  Blesses.  Promotes.

Only in real love can we blossom and grow.

I'm lucky to know that kind of love.

To share my life with one who challenges me to be me.

But better.

Someone who listens and tends to my dreams.

Never squelching or minimizing them.

A man who is secure enough in himself to let me test my wings.

Cheering me on as I take flight.

A love that gently polishes and faithfully nourishes.

One that sets me aglow, then steps back to watch me

Shine.


For My KISA... I love you more than words could ever express!!
Happy Valentines Day!!! 

Dreaming Again

"A dream is a wish your heart makes, when your fast asleep..."
 ~ Cinderella

Dreams.
We all have them.
Some of us are pursuing them actively.
Others are waiting... waiting... waiting....
If only "this", or if only "that".

Dreams are good.
Without them our lives would lack depth and meaning.
But sitting on your dreams?
Well, that's not so good.
Dreams need to be nurtured and kindled.
Or else they'll die.

When I was young, I dreamed of being a famous singer.
I used to chronicle my dreams in journals.
Dreams of love, of significance... of Happily Ever After.
Then I dreamed of teaching others to find their dreams.
I dreamed of becoming a wife... and a mother.
I dreamed of making a difference.

Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of my dreams.
There were noses to wipe, and mouths to feed.
Clothes to wash, dry, fold, and wash again...
Tubs,Toilets, and Floors to scrub.
I didn't have time to dream.

All of those things seemed so important at the time.
But now they are just mundane chores.
A boring list to be checked off... day after day.
What happened to fun?  To frivolity?
To taking each day as it comes
And following a path of adventure?

I need my dreams.
They are the very air I breathe.
They were placed inside my heart for a purpose
And only I can realize them.
Only I can be what the Dreamer of All Dreams created me to be.

So, I'm taking them back.
All of them.
It's not too late.
To sing. To laugh.  To write. To love.
It's not too late to make a difference in this world.
It's not too late to BE ME.

Christmas Past: Southern Sleigh Ride

I can not WAIT to do this again….

(Originally posted 12/20/09)

I’m sure you’ve heard the traditional version of this song, but a couple of weeks ago, the Holladay Family wrote our own version… Wanna hear it? Here it goes!!!

Just hear those white walls rumbling,
crunching, crumbling too
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a Southern Sleigh Ride with you!

Outside the temps are falling
And Papa’s calling "yoo hoo",
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a Southern Sleigh Ride with you.

Rev it up, rev it up, rev it up,
Let's go, Let's ride with our cousins,
We're all wrapped up in blankets, with no fussin’.

Rev it up, rev it up, rev it up,
It's grand, not to be in Mom’s van,
We're riding along with a song
In a Chevy through this land

Our cheeks are nice and rosy
And comfy cozy are we
We're snuggled up together
Like eight birds of a feather would be

Let's take that road before us
And sing a chorus or two
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a Southern Sleigh Ride with you.

There's a happy party
At the home of Russ and Bet
It'll be such fun, I’m sure that we just won’t forget

We'll be singing the songs
We love to sing without a single stop
Round the campfire while we watch
That green wood pop. Crackle and pop!

There's a happy feeling
Nothing in the world can buy
When they pass around the cocoa and the smores go by

It'll nearly be like a Christmas Card by Hallmark or DaySpring
These wonderful things are the things
That our happy memories bring!

Just hear those white walls rumbling,
crunching, crumbling too
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a Southern Sleigh Ride with you!

Outside the temps are falling
And Papa’s calling "yoo hoo",
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a Southern Sleigh Ride with you!!

Okay, Papa… it’s on you.  When can we go Southern Sleigh Ridin’ again?? :-)