Smile

People seldom notice old clothes if you wear a big smile. 

Lee Mildon

Sheltered in an old  teacup planter, surrounded by volunteer petunias, and threatened by wayward bindweed..... this persistent little daisy smiles!  And on a day when it's the only sunshine to be found....her smile is all that matters!  Simple joy in a chipped china cup in my own backyard... and a lesson in life that grows there!

on becoming a butterfly…

Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, 

it became a butterfly.   

(proverb)

For some moments in life there are no words.  ~David Seltzer, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

I find myself deep in the middle of some of those moments.  A tragic accident claimed the life of the 18 year old daughter of a co worker this week, and her 20 year old boyfriend.      A beautiful young woman I've watched grow up.    She had a smile that lit up the room...and touched the lives of all that knew her.  One tragic moment on a perfect Friday night changed the lives of so many.  Two young children, in love with life,  with so much to offer the world.....gone..by no fault of their own.     Two special families, reeling with pain, huge gaping holes in their hearts...but still reaching out to all that knew these kids to offer comfort to others.  These are moments that defy words.    Moments  when I need to hear the voices of our sons and daughters....just to tell them how great they are and how lucky we've been to be there for them, with them....how much we love them, before that chance is gone.   These have been moments where I've only been able to sit in stunned silence and offer up prayers for peace and comfort for these  families ...the mothers and fathers  and brothers and sisters...that are aching, crying, hurting, grieving....over the loss of these two young children.  There are no words.  But I have to believe that like the  caterpillar learned....there will be more. 

 (found this beautiful butterfly in Joe's garden today, dancing in the leftover zinnias....she seemed to agree on the MORE theory!)

a wing, a torch, a promise….

I will not die an unlived life.

I will not live in fear

of falling or catching fire.

I choose to inhabit my days,

to allow my living to open me,

to make me less afraid,

more accessible;

to loosen my heart

until it becomes a wing,

a torch, a promise.

I choose to risk my significance,

to live so that which came to me as seed

goes to the next as blossom,

and that which came to me as blossom,

goes on as fruit.

by Dawna Markova

Some may look at this photo and see an old man holding a bouquet of dead flowers.......I look at this photo, and see a 13 year old boy, holding the seeds of tomorrow in his hands....a life, very well lived.

a wing, a torch, a promise.  

I remember 1965, Joe.  

You have kept your promise.

(and with your loving touch, those seeds of tomorrow will bloom again in spring.

  Thank you for the beauty you bring to my world !)

fly.....

How does one become a butterfly? she asked pensively. 

You must want to fly so much that you are willing 

to give up being a caterpillar. 

Trina Paulus 

After years of inching along the stems in life, I think I"m ready to fly.

Hope my wings will be orange!

the boys of summer…

I can see you

your brown skin shining in the sun

you've got your hair combed back and your

sunglasses on....

(don henley)

And meet our boys of summer....baseball playing, ice cream eating, sand castle building, laughing, sweaty boys of summer.  They play hard, run fast, smile lots, sleep little......and occasionally stop for a hug for Grandma and Grandpa!  Love you all, our growing up boys of summer!  

(and all but one went back to school last week!)

what you’ve got to do…

there are so many people out there 

who will tell you that you can’t.   

What you’ve got to do is turn around

and say “watch me”.       

author unknown

The unplanned moments in life are often the best....and this unplanned photo, taken while wandering around Joe's garden , is all the proof I need.  With strength, determination, perseverance, grace and beauty...this chubby little caterpillar inched up that delicate flower stem.  It was windy, rain was coming and I was sure he couldn't do it.  He did.  He didn't have to turn around.  He had me watching.  Lessons in life...there for the taking, in the peace of Joe's garden.  Advice for my grandchildren, worth remembering....turn around, kids....tell the world to watch you!  

amazing….

When I see your face

there's not a thing that I would change

'cause you're amazing

just the way your are.

(lyrics by Bruno Mars)

These are our girls of summer….. our flip flop wearing, gum chewing, giggling gaggle of cheeky lasses.  Sweet little girls with bare toes, hair feathers and bows, earrings,  "bakeenis" ,  binkies and  bicycles... .....they fill our lives with joy!   And we wouldn’t change a thing.  They are all amazing!  Just the way they are.

making you happy….

 It's a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy.  ~Lucille Ball

In an  inspirational garden, a peaceful place, a testimony to hard work and commitment....standing in front of a statue  with history, a replica of what a man should be...it was easy to recognize what made me happy.  Despite the sweat dripping from places it shouldn't be....humidity that felt like a wall of water to breath through...and temperatures at record levels...I stood with my camera in hand, watching Joe water and trim and tuck and weed.....felt the misty spray on my face  (and wiped it off my lens)..... and listened to the chirp of the thirsty birds thanking him for their drink.  I followed the rainbow that appeared at the end of that hose in the mist and took my seat on the brand new bench to enjoy it.    This is what happiness is.....recognizing where you belong, and what you're supposed to be doing at that moment in time.  And this was mine....to sit in over 100 degree temps, in a garden carved out of the concrete in a middle of a school....to sit in the shade on a bench made from the hands of my very own carpenter...and watch him as he did what he does best......share his huge and loving heart with everyone...and everything...that crosses his path.  Birds, kids, teachers, administrators....he treats them all the same.  With a side of humor, a huge helping of common sense....and with patience, kindness and love. What a start I've made in my life, recognizing who...and what makes me happy.  And  what a lesson we all can learn from watching my  Joe at work.