Milestones

Today was a milestone in my daughter's life. Her godmother picked her up for a little female bonding time. She took her to her house and showed her how to care for her skin and how to apply makeup. She had all the necessary supplies. Her and I have been friends since we were 10 years old and I remember her using Oil of Olay when we were kids....I had to laugh when I saw Cassie pull Oil of Olay out of her bag!!


Cassie had a wonderful time. She was gone for about an hour or so. She left our house a 13 year old and came home a 16 year old in a 13 year old body.

She walked in the house carrying herself differently. Her shoulders were back, a spring was in her step. She was gorgeous and her eyes were sparkling. She looked older, and acted older.

We had a glimpse into the future tonight. Her father was speechless when he first saw her. I don't think he is quite ready for this yet. We told her she was beautiful, and she is. With or without makeup, she is beautiful from the inside to the outside.


"It takes a village to raise a child". This has always been one of my favorite quotes, it is so true. I feel very blessed to have a village help us raise our children. Cassie is a very fortunate girl and we are very fortunate parents. I don't think Cass will forget this day, I am sure I won't.


Thanks Nina....


I will leave you with another poem of Cassie's


I Love To Sing

I love to sing,
It makes my heart ring.
Like the bells in a church,
Like a bird on a perch.
Any type of song,
I can sing all day long.
I love to sing,
It makes my heart ring.

Fun Monday

Our wonderful hostess this week is Angela from The Lurchers.....and here is her assignment...





Show me your favourite photograph and tell me why it's your favourite.

As soon as I read the assignment I knew exactly which picture I wanted to use. This picture was taken last summer right before we brought our puppy Baron home. I think of it as the last few precious days when Zack was an "only" dog. To me this picture epitomizes the relationship between a child and a dog. Both Michael and Zack have huge smiles on their faces. They are enjoying a beautiful summer day..running side by side. Since losing Zack in May due to cancer...this picture has become even more special to me.

I am looking forward to seeing all the other favorite pictures this week!!! Thanks for a great assignment Angela.

Boxer Babes

Which one would you choose? Look at this picture of Boxer Beauties and savor their cuteness. Imagine their puppy breath. Imagine their squirmy little bodies in your arms.



Conjure up a memory of holding a new life...the way they relax in your arms. The way they mold their body into yours. The absolute trust they have in you. The warmth of their bodies as they snuggle close to your heart.


Imagine their sweet smelling puppy breath. Their soft tongue licking your face with puppy kisses. The way their eyes lovingly look into yours with complete devotion, trust, and love.

Imagine their wrinkles of excess skin. The size of their paws. The glimpse into the future of the dog they will become.

How can you choose one? How can you resist one?

Healing Words

In my previous post I shared a poem that my daughter wrote. I was unaware that she had a penchant for writing, or that she was so talented. Apparently she has been writing for about a year and just recently shared her poetry with me, and I immediately encouraged her to share them with her father. We were both very impressed. Realistically, I should not have been surprised. She is a very passionate child and she is very intuitive. She has always been able to share her feelings and emotions and she is very aware of her environment. I have always encouraged her to write, especially when she was knee deep in her pre-teen angst.


"Writing will release your emotions", I have told her. "It is very cleansing, you will feel better."


Apparently she was actually listening to me! Whenever she was overcome with emotion and couldn't speak coherently I would hug her and say "write, get it out". She did, unbeknownst to me. She showed me an anthology of poems she has written over the past year, she gave me a reading last month of all her poems. I sat there in awe at her raw talent, her raw emotions in black in white. I cried...and I couldn't help but wonder at her level of maturity. When I was her age I was incapable of this level of intuitiveness. She is only 13, but her soul is so much older.


Some of her poems are fun and light....some are heart wrenching. This past year was a very difficult year for her. She struggled immensely at school socially. She attends a small private school and she is just not like most of the girls in her class. She is not driven by popularity, she is not obsessed with fashion and clothes, she is not passionate about fitting into the mold. She speaks her mind, she is passionate about the environment, she is service minded and loves to help people, she is kind and accepting and has an open mind. I love the way she is, I would not want her to be any other way. I understand how the "system" works with girls though..and my heart broke last year seeing her in so much pain. I wanted her to fit in, but then again I didn't. I wanted her to be accepted, but I didn't want her to devalue herself. It hurt, she hurt....but somewhere along the way a change began.


Cassie began to hold her head up again. Her confidence level grew. Her self esteem was elevated a few notches. Her teachers noticed a change and commented to me the positive changes they saw in the classroom. What precipitated this change? I was not sure at the time - could it be karate? could it be our long talks? our encouragement to her to be true to herself? our desire and suggestion to pull out of the school and home school her 8th grade year? her decision to stay for 8th grade? I didn't know, but I suspected it was a combination of all the above reasons.


I have a different opinion now. While I do think all the above reasons played a pertinent role in her metamorphosis, I now know another reason that I feel played a major role in her change. Her writing. Her poetry. Her feelings and emotions flowing onto the page, flowing out of her soul, her heart becoming music and magic on a blank canvas. The words she could not find, could not orate....the words she found through her fingers, through her pen. Healing words.


Me
Cassie
Kind,
Loving,
Fun,
Wishes to swim with dolphins,
Dreams of becoming a marine mammal biologist,
Wants to make a difference in the world.
Who wonders what it is like in space.
Who fears death.
Who is afraid of war.
Who likes to have a great time.
Who believes in heaven and hell.
Who loves pizza and ice cream.
Who loves karate.
Who loves her family.
Who loves to help people in need.

reprinted with permission from author


I hope she continues to write...she has some tumultuous years ahead of her.

An Award....and a Meme

My wonderful fairy loving friend Karisma has bestowed upon me this brilliant award!!! Thanks so much my friend...I will wear it proudly!! Along with the award there is the following meme:

A.) attached or single? Attached for the past 25 years

(B.) best friend? Terri, we have been friends for 32 years!!! Her real name is Putt.

(C.) cake or pie? Both

(D.) day of choice? any day is a good day...it is all about your attitude!

(E.) essential item? hand lotion, wearing gloves all day at work does a number on my hands...and on my off days I am in my garden playing in the dirt.

(F. ) favorite color? green, as in the color and as in living green

(G. ) gummy bears or worms? Neither, much prefer chocolate

(H.) hometown? same town I am now living in!

(I. ) favorite indulgence? chocolate
(J. ) January or July? both...I love curling up in winter with a good book in front of the fire, and I love playing outside in the summer

(K. ) kids? 2, a boy and a girl

(L.) life isn't complete without? hugs and kisses and laughter and sunshine and rainy days.

M.) marriage date? April 9, 1988
(N.) number of brothers & sisters? 4 brothers, no sisters....but I now have sister in laws

(O.) oranges or apples? both

(P. ) phobias? claustrophobic, and flying....how am I going to get to England next summer??

(Q.) quotes? Live, Laugh, and Love
(R.) reasons to smile? too many to list....enjoy each day and always look for the silver lining!

(S.) season of choice? all, I love the change in seasons
(T.) tag seven peeps! Hmm...let's see here....how about Stella, ChrisB, Chrys, Melissa, Angela, Marmite and Tea, and Cyndy

(U.) unknown fact about me? what secret can I share?? I don't watch much TV, but I love the shows Jon and Kate plus 8 and Supernanny

(V. ) vegetable? love them....all of them, except eggplant

(W.) worst habits? snacking at night while playing on the 'puter

(X.) x-ray or ultrasound? neither....I take xrays at work regularly..and an ultrasound, in my life, means there is something wrong.

(Y.) your favorite food? chocolate
(Z.) zodiac sign? Gemini, can't you tell by my answers...I am definitely a twin!!

Whew...that was a long one....are you still here??

This and That....plus a Bonus at the End

I found more surprises in my mailbox this past week.....I love getting mail that isn't a bill, or junk....getting presents from blogging friends is the best!!!


The first one is from my friend Jan. She is a book lover, like me, and she is very generous. Last month she gave away a number of books and I was fortunate to win one. Here it is.....



Here is the inside flap...the book sounds very interesting and I can't wait to start it. Since I am relaxing now I plan on doing a lot of reading. Thanks Jan...you are so kind and generous!!

The second present came from Swampy, I think she dropped it off when she flew over on her broom. I opened the package and was so excited to see that it was a pair of shoes!!! I love shoes. I couldn't wait to try them on but when I tried to open the box I noticed that it was completely taped shut...odd....most shoe boxes are not taped shut. I ripped through the tape and opened the box and found....

...a note from Swampy. Hmm..what is she talking about...bumper sticker? t-shirt? towel? where are the shoes? Maybe they are under all this other stuff?

Here is the bumper sticker. I started to go outside to put it on my neighbor's car, just like Swampy said to do, but Cassie stopped me. Apparently she thought it was a bad idea, whose kid is she anyway? She decided it would make a good bookmark. It now resides in her current read.

Here is the towel. She said to mop my floors with it....Mop? who has time to mop? Where are the shoes??? still looking...

Here is the t-shirt I will wear with pride. I need to learn to stop opening these gifts in front of my daughter. Guess who appropriated the t-shirt? You guessed correctly.....my dear daughter, of course. I hope she wears it with pride. I think Baron is giving me a look of sympathy. I still haven't found any shoes....

Wait! The box is empty.....Swampy, you forgot to send the shoes!!

Thanks Swampy....I love my gift from your garage....even if you forgot the shoes.

Since my darling daughter stole my bumper sticker that I was going to put on my neighbor's car and the t-shirt I was going to wear with pride, I thought it was only fitting that she give something back. Here is a poem she wrote. She is becoming quite the budding poet and songwriter.

The Wind

The wind blows through as a sign of life.

The wind blows through my hair.

The wind blows through the field as it makes flowers sway from side to side.

I smile when the wind blows because I know

That when the wind is blowing

It is blowing through my soul.

And when it is in my soul,

I know that is where my soul will be

When I expire.

by Cassie

Fun Monday

Our wonderful hostessess this week are the Mothers of Brothers...and their assignment is the following:

This Fun Monday assignment was to choose your favorite words or words. And the trouble is - it’s hard to choose. We bloggers love all words. But luckily, these are words and not people so we don’t have to worry about offending the words we didn’t choose.

My favorite word today is relaxation....that is what I am planning to do for a long time....relax. Relax, relax, relax....that word is wonderful! Yesterday we had a wedding reception at our house for our cousin and her fiance...they are en route to Hawaii as we speak to officially tie the knot on Friday. Since we were not flying to Hawaii, we planned a pre-wedding reception at our house. We have been preparing for this day for months, and months, and months. Every day off, every weekend....getting the house and yard ready.

We had family flying in from New Hampshire and Southern California. It was also a family reunion....we have never been together, all of us, ever...this was the first time. It was a huge occasion....and we had so much fun.

This is actually my husband's family, but I claim them also. I have been in the family for 25 years now, I call them mine. Friday was a whirlwind over here, setting up and getting things ready.

Saturday morning was a blur putting the last minute touches on everything. Luckily we opted to have the food catered, it was delicious.

One of my dear friends is a chef and she created all the fruit art...she is amazing.

Since they were getting married in Hawaii I ordered traditional leis for them. Our neighbors are Hawaiian and they helped me order the leis..they were beautiful.

I love these kids...they are fun, and cute, and kind. I love spending time with them. I was sad to learn that they are planning on moving to Hawaii. He was raised there and they would like to live there while they can....I am happy for them..but sad too.

They did a practice run at cutting the cake...

...and smashing it into each other's faces...

This is the whole gang.....we are actually missing one spouse and 2 grandchildren...not bad though!!

The aftermath....I loved planning it...I loved setting it up....I loved the actual party....

...I hate cleaning up!!!

The party started at 1:00 and the last guest left at 8:30.....what a great day....

I love this picture of Cassie and the bride, Andrya...it epitomizes what an incredible day it was!!

And that is why my favorite word today is Relaxation....now head on over to Mothers to Brothers to see what everyone else's favorite word is...