the best way to spend a cool spring night

good books: borrowed from the library
cozy blankets: gifts
swing: left behind when the neighbors moved
time with people you love: priceless!

Happy Mother's Day

"Sacred" by Caedmon's Call

You must read this post at JOY'S HOPE.

to be a mommy

originally posted August 17th, 2007

Being made Real

From the Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
A conversation between Rabbit and the Skin Horse-

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?" "Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long , long time, not just to play with , but really loves you, then you become Real." "Does it hurt?" "Sometimes." For he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt." "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up, or bit by bit?" "It doesn't happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen to people who break to easily, or who have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.".... The rabbit sighed. He thought it would be a long time before this magic called Real happened to him. He longed to become Real, to know what it felt like; and yet the idea of growing shabby and losing his eyes and whiskers was rather sad. He wished he could become it without these uncomfortable things happening to him.

You Are My I Love You

I am your parent; you are my child.
I am your quiet place; you are my wild.
I am your calm face; you are my giggle.

I am your wait; you are my wiggle.

I am your carriage ride; you are my king

I am your push; you are my swing.

I am your audience; you are my clown.

I am your London Bridge; you are my falling down.

I am your carrot sticks; you are my licorice.

I am your dandelion; you are my first wish.

I am your water wings; you are my deep.

I am your open arms; you are my running leap.

I am your way home; you are my new path.

I am your dry towel; you are my wet bath.

I am your dinner; you are my chocolate cake.

I am your bedtime; you are my wide awake.

I am your finish line; you are my race.

I am your praying hands; you are my saying grace.

I am your favorite book; you are my new lines.

I am your night light; you are my starshine.I am your lullaby; you are my peekaboo.

I am your good night kiss; you are my I love you


From the children's book "You Are My I Love You" by Maryann K. Cusimano

anyway

"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."

(these words are written on the wall of Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta)

like butter

noah is 11 today.

we spent the a.m. yesterday watching home videos from 1998. my boy really loves me and let me hold him tight for a while as we watched together; baby at the hospital, meeting the great grandparents, his dedication, and each month's b-day marked with recordings of him narrated with a tender mommy voice ( i miss that voice) sharing all things my noah could now do (put his fist in his mouth, lift his head, scoot...).


and now he is 11.

and i LOVE him.

and he LOVES me.

john eldredge (author of Wild at Heart) might think it is totally inappropriate, but i think there is a sweet romance between a mother and her son. i know this because my boy melts me like butter! when he turns on our song, "How Sweet It Is" and asks me to dance, when he leaves me a note to tell me he loves me, when he opens the door for the girls and i, when he surprises me with a scrambled egg b-fast, or extends a helpful hand, when he wraps his arms around me and says "your my favorite," and when he gives me the look.

it is so good to be a loved mommy.

i think of those first moments after he was born, holding him, and saying to God "a boy?" (we chose to be surprised), and our generous God replied, "now you have two men to love you."

11 years later i am overwhelmed by the ways God chooses to lavish His great love on me.

Happy Birthday Noah!