Today is a day to celebrate! Angel food cake for everyone! Today is Momma's birthday!
May there be laughter. May there be singing. May there be music. May there be dancing. May there be bingo. May there be craps games. May there be slot machines ringing. May there be love. May there be hugging of children. May there be delicious desserts. May there be harmony. May there be sunshine. May there be scrabble. May there be photography. May there be friends. May there be family. May there be word games and cryptograms. May there be healthy, friendly competitions. May there be cheering. May there be praying. May there be incredible food. May there be a frothy beverage or two. May there be karaoke. May there be grandchildren and great-grandchildren. May there be smiles. May there be boggle. May there be kind and generous deeds. May there be connection. May there be peace. May there be joy. May there be games of all sorts and varieties. May there be God. May there be wonder. May there be questions . . . and answers. May there be dreams. May there be playing. May there be more love.
You are missed each and every day! I will carry with me all the things I have just wished for others, because you always wished them for me.
Will you be in my thoughts today? Will you be in my heart today? Will you be in my actions today?
Today . . . and EVERY day!
You bet!!!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Simple Joys
The whirlwind that is my life seems to perhaps be slowing down a little.
Yesterday, after several months of neglecting my home, I took several hours to put it back together. I cleaned ~ a lot. Straightened things up and pretty much made it livable again!
Then, I spent several hours outside, tearing up bushes with hubby that we have disliked for about as long as we have lived here. Then, for another long while, we planted some new and exciting, pretty, and colorful items in their stead. We were VERY sweaty, VERY dirty, and VERY tired ~ but it was so much fun just being together. We laughed at all the drivers who never pay attention to the speed bump, bottom out, and then curse up a storm. We laughed at the incessant roots that never seemed to end and no matter how much we dug, and clipped, and chopped . . . there was always . . . one more. We jumped a little when a three-and-a-half foot black racer snake decided to let us know he didn't like that we were digging up his bushes. But found great joy when he actually slithered back and we allowed him to check out the fresh hole we dug for a new plant. He just wanted to know what we were doing.
From there, we enjoyed a delicious grilled Salmon dinner together laughing at our grumbling dog who has taken to being terrible vocal. After dinner, on a wild hair whim, we ran out for some Baskin Robbins ice cream. YUM! (Bad for me ~ but YUM!) And then home again to take "Grumbles" for a walk. Then hubby and I simply existed together, after a long, hard day, watching tv and holding hands.
Simple joys are everywhere. Far too often we skim right over them in the midst of daily mayhem. We neglect to absorb the beauty in nature, the freedoms we have, and the sheer brilliance of having found a fabulous best friend to share life with. I adore my simple joys!
Please, my friends, enjoy yours!
Yesterday, after several months of neglecting my home, I took several hours to put it back together. I cleaned ~ a lot. Straightened things up and pretty much made it livable again!
Then, I spent several hours outside, tearing up bushes with hubby that we have disliked for about as long as we have lived here. Then, for another long while, we planted some new and exciting, pretty, and colorful items in their stead. We were VERY sweaty, VERY dirty, and VERY tired ~ but it was so much fun just being together. We laughed at all the drivers who never pay attention to the speed bump, bottom out, and then curse up a storm. We laughed at the incessant roots that never seemed to end and no matter how much we dug, and clipped, and chopped . . . there was always . . . one more. We jumped a little when a three-and-a-half foot black racer snake decided to let us know he didn't like that we were digging up his bushes. But found great joy when he actually slithered back and we allowed him to check out the fresh hole we dug for a new plant. He just wanted to know what we were doing.
From there, we enjoyed a delicious grilled Salmon dinner together laughing at our grumbling dog who has taken to being terrible vocal. After dinner, on a wild hair whim, we ran out for some Baskin Robbins ice cream. YUM! (Bad for me ~ but YUM!) And then home again to take "Grumbles" for a walk. Then hubby and I simply existed together, after a long, hard day, watching tv and holding hands.
Simple joys are everywhere. Far too often we skim right over them in the midst of daily mayhem. We neglect to absorb the beauty in nature, the freedoms we have, and the sheer brilliance of having found a fabulous best friend to share life with. I adore my simple joys!
Please, my friends, enjoy yours!
Friday, April 27, 2012
Alfonso, the Great
Today, there is a celebration of the life of Alfonso Sellet, my step-dad!
Alfonso really was a grand gentleman; the kind that's almost non-existent in the world today. He held doors for women; he pulled out your chair for you; he was chivalrous to a fault; he worked and played and loved with a passion and a drive that still amazes me. He danced and sang every day. He voiced his Italian opinion and had some seriously strong convictions.He prayed every day, too. He didn't just pray for his family, his friends, and his future. He prayed for the military, the police, the firefighters, and the leaders of this country. He prayed that doctors would find cures and that patients would be cured. He prayed for neighbors and he prayed for the people who had hurt him. He was a beautiful soul.
He was, however, very guarded. He was cautious and anxious. He learned, however, in the time he knew Momma to relax a little. He learned that good things happened because you believed they would ~ just like Momma taught him. Even in his elevated years, he learned a beautiful lesson:
Those who don't believe in magic, will never find it. ~ Ronald Dahl
I believe that as he grew into the family he married; he began to believe. I think he found it! We found it in him.
Love you sir! Rest in peace and enjoy your new surroundings! xoxo
Alfonso really was a grand gentleman; the kind that's almost non-existent in the world today. He held doors for women; he pulled out your chair for you; he was chivalrous to a fault; he worked and played and loved with a passion and a drive that still amazes me. He danced and sang every day. He voiced his Italian opinion and had some seriously strong convictions.He prayed every day, too. He didn't just pray for his family, his friends, and his future. He prayed for the military, the police, the firefighters, and the leaders of this country. He prayed that doctors would find cures and that patients would be cured. He prayed for neighbors and he prayed for the people who had hurt him. He was a beautiful soul.
He was, however, very guarded. He was cautious and anxious. He learned, however, in the time he knew Momma to relax a little. He learned that good things happened because you believed they would ~ just like Momma taught him. Even in his elevated years, he learned a beautiful lesson:
Those who don't believe in magic, will never find it. ~ Ronald Dahl
I believe that as he grew into the family he married; he began to believe. I think he found it! We found it in him.
Love you sir! Rest in peace and enjoy your new surroundings! xoxo
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The journey IS the destination
Today, I am both ecstatic and melancholy. I believe that this feeling will last for a little while. It's been an interesting sort of month. Quite a journey . . .
April first marked the two year anniversary of my mother's passing.
April seventeenth, her third husband finally joined her.
April twenty-first marked the single most successful Margaritaville in the Tropics event for All Children's Hospital in its twelve year history.
Today is the last day of classes for my son's first year of college. For those of you that know what he has been through, this is a most momentous occasion. He is doing phenomenally - educationally, physically, and personally. I couldn't be prouder.
Tomorrow is the memorial for my step-dad, "Alfonso the Great". I will not be there as I will be attending the burial in Arlington in June. It is an honor to be working on his ceremony. I miss him.
April thirtieth is my mom's birthday. I'm hoping to set a flower adrift in the Gulf - a little ritual I have that helps - if only a little.
And . . . just a short while after that, my incredibly beautiful baby girl turns twenty-one. She's amazing!
Time is fleeting folks. Enjoy what is before you. The journey IS the destination!
April first marked the two year anniversary of my mother's passing.
April seventeenth, her third husband finally joined her.
April twenty-first marked the single most successful Margaritaville in the Tropics event for All Children's Hospital in its twelve year history.
Today is the last day of classes for my son's first year of college. For those of you that know what he has been through, this is a most momentous occasion. He is doing phenomenally - educationally, physically, and personally. I couldn't be prouder.
Tomorrow is the memorial for my step-dad, "Alfonso the Great". I will not be there as I will be attending the burial in Arlington in June. It is an honor to be working on his ceremony. I miss him.
April thirtieth is my mom's birthday. I'm hoping to set a flower adrift in the Gulf - a little ritual I have that helps - if only a little.
And . . . just a short while after that, my incredibly beautiful baby girl turns twenty-one. She's amazing!
Time is fleeting folks. Enjoy what is before you. The journey IS the destination!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Thanks!
After a nine-month preparation for a mammoth fundraiser that turned out extremely successfully and THE most profitable in its existence . . . there needs to be much and many 'Thanks!'
There are no 'headliners.' There are no big wigs, no names in spot lights, and no one person who was, or is, any more integral than any other. A task that large is comprised of a plethora of the tiniest of components. Without those that were out gathering auction items, the auction would not occur. Without those out pleading for sponsorships, there would not have been such a great base to start. Without those who simply chatted it up with every friend they knew, attendance would not have been so grand. We had friends who brought friends to help. We had friends who offered friends for vital services. We had friends who offered services in ridiculous time frames under ludicrous circumstances, and did it all happily and eagerly. And then you had all those who were charged with tasks, that attacked them in a tenacious manner for the sake of the cause.
It is the interweaving of every effort, the culmination of many cohesive efforts, the purposeful performance of many passions, that created a favorable forecast for fundraising fortune!
For those that assisted in ANY manner, I would like to personally take this moment and forum to express my most sincere appreciation. The good that you have helped to bring to fruition is so much more plentiful than you could possibly imagine. Lives touched. Health improved. Children saved! Your efforts are vital and valuable. I thank you from the bottom of my heart; for I know ~ first hand ~ how blessed I am to have been the recipient of where this money goes!
Seriously . . . Thank You!
There are no 'headliners.' There are no big wigs, no names in spot lights, and no one person who was, or is, any more integral than any other. A task that large is comprised of a plethora of the tiniest of components. Without those that were out gathering auction items, the auction would not occur. Without those out pleading for sponsorships, there would not have been such a great base to start. Without those who simply chatted it up with every friend they knew, attendance would not have been so grand. We had friends who brought friends to help. We had friends who offered friends for vital services. We had friends who offered services in ridiculous time frames under ludicrous circumstances, and did it all happily and eagerly. And then you had all those who were charged with tasks, that attacked them in a tenacious manner for the sake of the cause.
It is the interweaving of every effort, the culmination of many cohesive efforts, the purposeful performance of many passions, that created a favorable forecast for fundraising fortune!
For those that assisted in ANY manner, I would like to personally take this moment and forum to express my most sincere appreciation. The good that you have helped to bring to fruition is so much more plentiful than you could possibly imagine. Lives touched. Health improved. Children saved! Your efforts are vital and valuable. I thank you from the bottom of my heart; for I know ~ first hand ~ how blessed I am to have been the recipient of where this money goes!
Seriously . . . Thank You!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
A wish for you . . .
He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. ~ Psalm 91:11
It is that comfort that causes me to wake each day.
Knowing that no matter my path, no matter what tasks lie before me, no matter who might step into my life today . . . I am with angels!
It is a glorious gift each day that I wish for each of you!
It is that comfort that causes me to wake each day.
Knowing that no matter my path, no matter what tasks lie before me, no matter who might step into my life today . . . I am with angels!
It is a glorious gift each day that I wish for each of you!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Build wisely!
For any of you who might have ever, in your lives, felt a little alone, or perhaps betrayed, or maybe like you're swimming against the current . . . this one's for you.
A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.
~ David Brinkley
Not sure why this inspired me so strongly, but I just feel that we have all had those moments when we were targets for something other than complete niceness and those moments hurt. The challenge in life, is to take those moments . . . those bricks of insensitivity, hurtfulness, ignorance, and jealousy . . . and build something beautiful. Use the blood, sweat, and tears that you have poured into your projects and efforts as the mortar to bond those bricks steadfastly together. Build your foundation on faith and belief. Stack your walls with passion and soul. Inset windows to view the beautiful and bountiful blessings you have. Open your doors to goodness, kindness, and generosity. Top it off with heart and happiness!
An incredible 'life house' built despite what others have said and done to you. You can build whatever you choose to build! Build wisely!
A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.
~ David Brinkley
Not sure why this inspired me so strongly, but I just feel that we have all had those moments when we were targets for something other than complete niceness and those moments hurt. The challenge in life, is to take those moments . . . those bricks of insensitivity, hurtfulness, ignorance, and jealousy . . . and build something beautiful. Use the blood, sweat, and tears that you have poured into your projects and efforts as the mortar to bond those bricks steadfastly together. Build your foundation on faith and belief. Stack your walls with passion and soul. Inset windows to view the beautiful and bountiful blessings you have. Open your doors to goodness, kindness, and generosity. Top it off with heart and happiness!
An incredible 'life house' built despite what others have said and done to you. You can build whatever you choose to build! Build wisely!
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