Why in the world would I claim, "It is great to be me?" One might first imagine that the reason is that it is a mere 10 minutes until 5 and I am already in my favorite Folly Beach tee, old blue flannels & fuzzy slippers. Or maybe it is because a certain WW II project has been turned in & presented ... and I must say a cetain curly haired kid I know knocked it out of the ball park. Possibly it is that another kid I adore took a hit, shed a tear & yet dusted himself off and put himself back in the game ... I just love that spirit. And yet it may be that a ball of fire little guy gave me just the chuckle I needed when I relayed today's events ... perspective is an amazing thing ... Oh, yes just a few reasons Me is a good thing ... But let's get to the real reason of me liking me today ...
Grumpy, Late, Rushed, Grumpy ... All ways my morning started. Definite bright spots occured --- Funny how those moments keep popping up to try to steer you towards the light. Morning seemed to be on track to get better & even held a little promise of things to come ... And then me, myself was asked a very simple question that I did not answer so well. Now if there is one thing I know how to do it is talk ... So to say I am bothered when my words fail me is an understatement.
Enter another bright spot ... "Come on, Me --- Brighten Up!" So I shake off the negative, invite my hubby to lunch, he agrees and I set off on a couple of errands before we meet. At this point there is no lady like way to describe what comes next ... So please forgive --- I wipe what a think is a random rain drop off of my face and realize that water it is not. I am not sure what the birds have against us ... but really. So, on with the tale .... I have nothing in my car or bag except tissue paper, the kind you wrap with, and hand sanitizer. And so the clean - up begins. The hair is now a greasy mess (and believe it or not NO pony tail holder) and I have a very clean yet "not" clean smell.
Cancel lunch ... Are you kidding? Day proceeds ...
Now how does this day show greatness? Let me explain ...
- Even when I take myself too seriously & fret over each answer - a simple something, like a bird with bad timing, swoops in and takes my mind in a new direction ...
- Even when I show up for lunch not well groomed I can get a chuckle out of the man I adore & cherish ...
- Even when I show up a little out of sorts a girlfriend says, "You look skinny --- hair not so great" but YEA for the skinny ...
- Even when I feel tired, overwhelmed & unsure I realize that today is May 18th ... Big Deal - Not really ... But yesterday was the 17th & I didn't stop and make a note of it ... Healing is a WONDERFUL thing!!!
I am guessing we all have days like today ... What if we all simply shake it off to GREATEST ... Days like today remind me that I am LIVING ... Life is a journey - BUMPY, SMOOTH, TREACHEROUS ... I am so thankful to be TRAVELING ... birds & all!!!
Your Journey Makes YOU GREAT ... It is as SIMPLE as that!
much love, me
Today I was a part of a SURPRISE!!! We had an early Surprise Birthday Luncheon for one of my best friends ... Turning 40 is FABULOUS - but what is more FABULOUS is the look on someone's face when they are covered up with affection. We did that today!
I have been very blessed in the friend department. I had a wonderful best friend when I was very little. Bea J & I toddled around together and for years traveled to new places when our Dads' got transferred. Bea J died when we were in college. Her death was my first experience with loss. I think of her often & love knowing my Dad has one of his girls close.
I moved to Columbia and started the 1st grade. Easy to make friends when you are 6, I know. But I can say I made friends at 6, moved away & still treasure them. We once upon a time called ourselves the Purple Ladies ... Remeber that, Shelley, Kristine, Greer, Leigh & Karen? Makes me chuckle just thinking about it.
My Mom & Dad did the unthinkable ... We moved in MIDDLE SCHOOL. Still not sure I am over the shock of that one ... Friends were a tad slower going at that point ... But my luck hadn't run out. Christy, Becky, Jac, Trina, and more turned up and stayed. High school added Misty, Michelle, Dana and many more. And then it was time for another change --- College ... Welcome, Meredith College. What was I to find there ... Christy, Holly, Nikki, Ashley - just to name a few. And these aren't just girlfriends of my past. Not a day goes by that I don't hear or touch base with one or more of these sweet creations.
Graduation, Move, Marriage --- Bring in Shannon, Ann, Jennifer, and Kara. We married, become Moms, sent our hearts to Preschool ... We celebrated 1st birthdays, we walked fussy babies, we got through some pretty long days ... Hello, Kindergarten ... Mitchell, Brown & William made new friends & guess what so did I ... Shannon, Kim, Sonya, Allison, Kristy, Dee, Dora, Tracy, Kim, Julie, Cindy, Heather, Brandon, & some many, many more ... And these girls have seen me through K - 5, business scares, moves & losing my Dad ... You haven't seen a friend until one pulls up at the exact moment you begin to lose yourself. She is the one who takes your hand and brings you back and she is willing to do it as many times as you need her to.
Now above is just the tip of the iceburg ... and I am not sure how I got so lucky! And maybe lucky is not the right word --- Thankful is more what I feel. Friends are the Family you get to choose. I think I have chosen better than most and I am always looking. Not to replace --- Not in my world ... My very favorite thing is too have all my girlfriends from all walks of my life together. If I were to design my BEST day ... All my GIRLFRIENDS would be in the very same room, laughing, telling stories & learning to love more & more...
If you are my friend & you all know who you are (and it for certain isn't only the few names above - they simply go with the flow of my tale) Be certain of a few things ... You are cherished, You are celebrated, You will forever have someone at your side ... I love you, GIRLS --- Each & EVERY ONE of YOU!!!
Happy Birthday, Sweet Shannon ... It is your Special Occasion & Yet YOU are the GIFT!!!
Celebrate Your Friends TODAY ... Take Care of Your Friends TODAY ... Be Thankful for your FRIENDS TODAY ...
love, me & my many friends ....
Well, my Mother's Day post is a bit late ... Oh well --- Been Busy being a Mom so I guess that is a good enough excuse!
First & foremost Happy Mother's Day to all Moms ... It is a job that holds the most possisbilities. I am lucky enough to call my Mom Mama. She is like no other. Kind, Amazing, Strong are all immediate ways to describe her. It is only now after 37 years of being her daughter do I know the secret of motherhood. Simply speaking I was designed to be her kid! Ever wonder why the actions or attitudes of other children annoy or worry you? Probably why God gave them to different parents! Now my Mom has much to offer --- She also has been known to expect much ...
Case in point, most of you know I lost my Dad recently. Mom without even trying used cancer, big decisions & the loss of her soul mate as teaching moments. "It is okay to be sad, but we will not use our last days on this Earth with your Dad hysterical," she reminded me. "If your Dad is calm & content, we are calm & content," she insisted. "I love him deeply enough to let him go," she comforted.
Sometimes expectations seem out of our reach. Maybe that is the job of mothering. Encouraging, Challenging & Willing to Celebrate and Pick Up the Pieces. Maybe another kid couldn't have live up to Mom's expectations --- I have ... She taught me I am stronger than I think, wiser than I believe & that I am always enough!!!
My example of mothering is better than most ... I am most proud of the mothering I have done so far! Raising perfect children - I am not ... Being a perfect Mom - I am not ... What I do is ENCOURAGE, CHALLENGE, CELEBRATE & STAND BESIDE ... At the end of my days I will know that like my Mom I was present in the Good, the Bad & the In Between ...
Thank You, Mom ... I am a better person because of YOU, I will always try to be the person YOU believe me to be, and at the end of the day, like YOU, I will know JOY!!!
love, me
Days like this are the reason why people live in North Carolina ... I was driving home a little while ago on a nondescript road that I drive a zillion times a week --- And I SMILED! The grass is an amazing green & the sky was picture perfect & I actually thought to myself, "Heaven cannot be any prettier!"
Well, I am sure Heaven is perfectly amazing as is the One who created it. And with that same amazing creation He created each of us. Tall - Short, Skinny - Not so Skinny, Book Smart - Commom Sense Smart ... Each perfectly designed for His purpose...
Today was the 3rd day of End of the Grade testing for my fellows. Tired, Stessed, Not feeling their Smartest --- All attributes of such testing. Well, this morning the "Common Sense" Mom made an appearance. You see in the last 24 hours I have been reminded of the importance of LIFE ... Not complicated matters - Simple things ... such as LOVE, RESPECT & KINDNESS ...
So how did this "Common Sense" Mothering come across ... A few helpful hints to 3 Grumpy Fellows---
- In life no one is all that interested in whether or not you were an A student or a C student ... Rather - How do you use your talents to make this world a better place?
- In life no one is ever going to ask you if you had trouble ''bubbling" on a standarized answer sheet ... Rather - Did you go in believing in yourself, Did you try your best?
- In life no one is keeping a score card on how many times you got it right the 1st time ... Rather - How many times did you fail & try again?
"Ok, Boys ... Enough is Enough --- It is a simple test ... Put a Smile on your face, Be Thankful, Listen, Try ... And then Let It Be!!!," said a very WISE Mom!
And then the very same WISE Mom thought, "How am I doing?" So I SMILED, I am THANKFUL for it ALL (good & not so good), I LISTENED, and I will TRY --- To LOVE ALWAYS, To RESPECT EVERYONE & To Let KINDNESS be my 1st Response ...
A Standardized Test meant to Test our Children ... Maybe, Just Maybe We All Just PASSED ...
love, me
