After being in New York since Thursday, helping his mom get wired with her new computer and easing her onto the information superhighway with the rest of us, Hubby-Honey has returned home safely.
Commence to Big Boy, Baby Girl and me doing a happy dance. Single moms: my hat's off to you.
Being reunited has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.
This is courtesy of Big Boy and Baby Girl. Fair warning: it is going to play incessantly in your head after you hear it.
Rockin' out with my kids has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.
My kind of Easter service. No fancy 'do or duds required--just a warm family huddle. And the kids were occupied by the magnificence of nature ("Bye-bye moon! Hello sun!"). All followed by sweet slumber and a relaxed afternoon.
For a new Easter family tradition, Stone Mountain sunrise service, you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.
Happy Easter, everyone!
Today my friend Theresa buried her 80 year-old mother.
The service was a celebration of life. In the midst of her grieving process, Theresa gave the family's acknowledgements in her own unique, "Big Love" manner.
Though people had attended to show support for her and her family, Theresa, in her typical fashion, ended up giving us all a gift to go home with, and I'll share it with you.
It was her admonishment to make the most of the time you have, right NOW, to:
* let those you love know you love them,
* address grievances and grow past them,
*call, write, visit, thank those you've been meaning to...
so that when the time comes (and you don't know when), and you or they are the "guest of honor" at such a ceremony, you can have the peace that comes in saying goodbye with a conscious that knows all that was left to said and do was said and done--with love.
And hence, you will be able to experience joy in the midst of grief, and celebrate in the midst of mourning, because you made the most of the moments together you had.
Perhaps no easy undertaking, but well worth it in the end, don't you think?
I do, judging by the way Theresa was able to stand at that podium with a smile and share these words with us. There was no denying that although she will miss her mother, she will be able to go forward knowing in her spirit that the time they were blessed with was time well spent. She has the loving memories to prove it.
For the reminder to give folks their flowers while they're still here, Ms. Rena Belle and Theresa, you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.
Next to the first day of summer, to me, it's the most wonderful time of the year, and it's just been added to The Thanks Ranks.
My beloved Atlanta was hit pretty hard this weekend with unfathomable tornado activity.
Friday night into Saturday morning made for a scary, stormy time that had even the best of us "brave adults" a little rattled.
Then to have daylight reveal the damage, and to spend a good part of Saturday afternoon playing "dodge the tornado activity in metro Atlanta--Round II" after we'd tried to get out and get on with our day--ducking for cover in the mall, at my folks' house, anywhere with lower level covering--it was all a little much.
But what really, really, did it was for my family to drive around familiar neighborhoods of those we love today and see trees and roots where they didn't belong, and roofs and walls missing from where they ought to be. It broke my heart.
I ache and pray for those who were affected. I am humbled and grateful beyond words that our house was spared. Can't even give a cutesy, "Just been added..." ending this time around, but my gratitude is deep.
Adjusting to our new status with Hubby-Honey not working in the traditional sense to which we were accustomed, I have to be a little more selective with what I purchase on my "Whole Foods runs".
This morning, it was Publix Super Markets proving itself worthy of my purchasing dollars, with Organic Valley milk half-gallons on sale for $3.29. Big Boy and Baby Girl want their "special" and "choco" milk--they don't care where it comes from, so long as it's in the fridge when they're asking for it.
Big Boy had his "Trike-A-Thon" at school today. "Milk makes me strong and healthy!" he exclaimed at breakfast this morning. The secret to his pedaling success, I guess? Milk in place, meltdown avoided, a triumphant trike-a-thon tale this afternoon.
Organics at a bargain and biking at its best has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.
Human 'being' or human 'doing'?
Given this inspired word, I do believe I've been a human 'doing'. I want to change that, moving into my 'being'ness.
This realization, and the joyful shift it has brought about has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.
More to come in this space. Getting back to basics. It feels good.
Happy Birthday, Little Mai!
