Eggs and Sensibility

I'm pretty sure my fiance thinks I am nuts.

  Maybe it's the Virgo in me having to have everything the same as it was before. Maybe it's my routine nature or maybe it's the mom in me... wanting to share these same moments as always with my children. They are small routines but when it comes to holidays, they are big memories.

Easter to me.... is about love. It's about pure love.  It's about the blossom of life... It's looking at the beauty of the breeze and feeling the grace of the sunrise.

It's about children. They are what spring is all about. The birth of life... they are the flowers of our kind. They are pure. They are beautiful ... just like a rose, an ocean wave and an old oak tree.

It's about coming out of hibernation... being active and moving your lifesource again!

I've pretty much threatened the man in my life with frowny faces if he did not color eggs with us since well, frankly, it's the first time that his job has allowed it. We may just be boiling eggs and putting colors on it but to me it is so much more. It's a tradition that has held for us for 13 years.. not missing a beat. Right up there with the Gingerbread house at Chritmas and carving pumpkins at Halloween ... stuffed animals on Valentine's Day, saying I love you every day and kisses goodnight.

Yep... I'm a woman of tradition. It grounds me. It keeps my children, children. It strengthens our family's memories and comforts my soul. They are only children for such a small portion of our lives.

                             The finished product of Easter 2013! Happy Easter everyone!

When I was your age... I could save the world...

Well, at least a sea lion... or a forest... or homeless children.

When I was 5... I treated my stuffed animals to birthday parties. I couldn't step on a bug. I was enthralled with National Geographic magazine pictures of the world and all of it's beings. I knew then that I was just one breathing animal on this earth like so many. I felt connected and in tune.

When I was 10 I would take those stuffed animals out on treasure hunts. We would set up a camp and try to find gold. My Carebear got along just fine with the purple unicorn.  My cat was my best friend. I would go to the zoo and put my hand on the glass against the water in the polar bear exhibit and pretend I was in there too.... probably having tea with the big one. Because that is what polar bears like to do! I would get very upset when a neighbor dog was mistreated. I was overcome with sadness when a stray cat was hungry. Yes, I fed it... and yes it stayed. I felt connected and I felt I could make a difference.

When I was 15 I was consumed with research about the earth, about the oceans and forests and what us humans do to them.  I learned all about the treatment of animals who were born and bred purely for our food without a life to live of their own. I was disgusted and sad. I became determined to make a difference! I was connected with the world and so optimistic!

I'm not exactly sure where that positive momentum has gone but now and then that young whimsical child who is in touch with nature and life and all those creatures around her still pops up and begins to feel determined again.... I may not save an entire species with my own hands but I can still make a difference. Even if it's as simple as picking up litter in the park or educating the kids to love and respect the world they live in and all who share it with them equally, I suppose 5 year old me would be content with that!

ouchies and age

So my physical luck lately has just been crummy! It's completely frustrating. I'm sitting here (well, kind of sitting... sideways on a pillow on my hip lol... i have to get creative) and my brain is going over all the things that I am not able to do while I'm stationary and at home. I'm thinking of all the things and the people I was dealing with at work before I left... I'm thinking of the things I needed to do on the days I was out... I just can't relax. Being out of work is setting me back in my goals and I'm not able to take care of the people I was working with. Unfortunately, it makes me feel guilty and like I'm not doing my part and I shouldn't make myself feel that way. I didn't plan on getting so sick Friday morning I would have been throwing up at work instead of home... and I didn't plan on breaking a bone and feeling such intense pain. Yet I beat myself up about how everyone around me will be disappointed in me. I actually thought about asking my doctor if I could leave straight from the appointment with my donut seat and go to work to prove that I am trying. She said NO... that I needed more than one day of total rest. I actually had a dream about it.  I really need to relax and not worry ... this kind of worry is not good for my heart... whatever will be will be!!

Well, I got back from the visit with my primary care doctor and she really wasn't able to tell me anything different than the ER doctor did but it's standard procedure to see your regular doctor to follow up.  In closing... she told me we are getting old. LOL. Great.  Oh. I realize I didn't get to tell you all how I broke my tail bone... I like to say I was shaking my tail feather but no... I was roller skating with the little kids! I've fallen a kazillion times in life... this time I landed right on the bone and cracked it! I instantly knew something was wrong. One of the worst pains I have felt.

I'm going to do my best to make my potato soup today. I purchased all the ingredients Sunday before I fell with every intention to make it for us on that gloomy cold day... as you can see.. that didn't happen! I think this will be a wonderful opportunity to teach the kids one of their favorite mom recipes!  They can do all the dirty work! :) I rented some movies from RedBox and got some Dove chocolate eggs.  It's going to be a nice evening at home. Just miss my honey. ( He's in Alabama for a child abuse conference.)

Peace and tranquility.  Walking along a lush landscape of full life. The breeze whispering in my ears to free my thoughts. Creating balance and harmony.  Sometimes I just don't want to think. I want to take a little brain break and walk the path to serenity. Balance in all aspects of my life can be a challenge and it's realistic to assume that it can't be possible at all times.  Honesty and compassion are constantly weighed in on the scales of justice and should always accompany each other.  They should go hand in hand. Truth shouldn't hurt if you live your life in an honest way nor should you make truth hurt to achieve a point. Your point may seem important to you but that's the beauty of life.... we are all different. We have different views and goals and aspirations. Even though they may not be the same we should still be accepting of others. Harmony. Peace. Tranquility.  It goes beyond beautiful scenery and into the hearts of our loved ones.

Lucky Leprechaun!

Top O' The Morning To Ya!!!

 'Twas the weekend of St Patty's Day and all through the house was a bunch of kids in green
 and Hollie reading as quiet as a mouse.
With a freshly done Mani/Pedi she couldn't quite wear the color
but lucky for her she found a willing lady feller!


Today is Reveal Day!!! Wooohooo!

Here's what I got! I squealed with glee :) Thank you swap partner Kimberly!! I don't know what blog you are but I need to find out!!

A couple weeks ago I embarked on a really interesting adventure!  I got to connect with another human being in a surprising and sweet way.  I signed up for a swap of sorts where I was paired up with another girl and we bought each other a book and some nail polish.  My swap partner was super nice and we got to learn just a little bit about each other. After we shared our book wishlist and favorite nail colors... off we went shopping for someone we don't really know!  It was super neat.  I must admit, I picked her book because the title intrigued me! I'm tempted to buy it for myself. Then we waited for a package to come in the mail. The old fashioned way. I got mine in a really pretty flower envelope and it felt like Christmas in March!

I couldn't put my nail polish on right away because I had just gotten my nails done all sparkly and my toes done all blue. But it will be my next color I use!! So, for the sake of this post I found a willing participant in the house!  Sissy is sporting the lovely lavender color. Such a pretty spring look!

And me.... I get to lay down tonight after my house is quiet with a good ol' fashioned book and get lulled to sleep by the words of character's lives.

This swap was really fun and not only did I get some goodies and get to send off some as well... I got to reach out and experience something different!

Spark and Sparkle

I'm alive!!! I have felt so much more focused and accomplished these days. I'm far less tired and worn down. I'm not exactly sure what sparked that but I am not complaining!  I always have a buffet of thoughts going on in my mind at the same time but lately I have been able to shuffle and prioritize them... somehow! I really hope this keeps up. I feel confident and rejuvenated!

I've been doing an absorbent  amount of online shopping and window shopping.  It's been so much fun! I just bought my wedding dress.  It's not exactly a beach wedding dress but it's me. I just thought... what the hell, it's my wedding. Walking up to the love of my life... I need something good!! It's style is a lot like my personality... little bit of classy, little bit of fun... little modern and that bit of my soul that is stuck in the past. Classic, sweet and hopefully a tad flirty.

Now for the extras... cake... flowers and flip flops :)

For those of you who do not know yet... our wedding is June 22,2013 on a beautiful stretch of beach I fell in love with. It's on the National Seashore in Florida and even in the pouring rain is still so beautiful and blue.

Simple and unique ... with our family and closest friends all together we will make a promise to be a complete and whole family and unbreakable force for the remainder of our forever. I can't wait to be his wife! :) heheeh sounds so cheesy but it's dang true!

My quiet crisp clean Sunday morning..

Here I sit drinking my coffee... hanging out with my cat.  Spot's looking intently at a bird that just landed on the deck. I know what he is thinking...."  that bird looks pretty tasty. I would go outside and run after it if it weren't so dang cold!"  Our winters here in Tennessee are becoming stranger by the year. I feel as if winter is struggling to finally arrive just a smidgen too late. Just like an annoying neighbor... it arrives when it's unwanted. It's March and I am aching for some sunshine and life!

I woke up far too early on my one day to sleep in but that is quite alright. I kind of enjoy it. The house is so quiet and I get some time to accomplish the things I have wanted to accomplish all week that I have just been too tired after work (and too sick to think about) to do. These quiet moments are super nice! I get to do what I do best. Think and reflect.  2013 has been so wonderful for us so far.  We have traveled coast to coast both by ourselves and with the kids. Momentum has kicked into high gear for the wedding and  I've been rejuvenated in so many ways.

Birthday season is among us. One down and two to go. I have a teenager now and that's pretty exciting! Now comes the special times in life that shape the people we become. The impressionable years....

Oh! An update from my last post... I wasn't as successful as I had hoped.... with acts of kindness every day. The end result ended with me trying to collect smiles so to speak. I made it a goal to see people smile by something I said or did.  I have been successful so far! I simply don't have the resources to do individual acts every day.. I can't pay for other people's meals as a surprise... I have so much on my plate that getting my own tasks accomplished are more challenge than a reality so I have been very content with collecting random smiles. It's really quite easy.  Even the most sour person that comes in contact with me... I try. I speak to them even though most people may be turned away and shut off by their nastiness and it works! A stranger once told me "Don't let anyone take away your smile."  It really is my most influential asset.

Have a great Sunday morning everyone!!