Almost Silver Sue

I have started a new blog about transitioning from 26 years of colored hair to my natural color, which is predominantly gray, or as I am hoping it will be, silver. It is a place I go to write about the journey, the challenge, the anxiety, the frustrations, the hope that I won't look OLD but BEAUTIFUL and remain, as always, YOUNG AT HEART! Check it out here!

Monarch Beauty

On Friday October 23rd I was at my kitchen table thinking about my dear friend's only daughter's wedding I would be attending in a few hours when I noticed this gorgeous Monarch butterfly dipping into the blooms of a pot marigolds on my back deck. Of course I couldn't resist the opportunity to photograph this amazing thing of beauty. I was thinking about how Monarchs are often released at weddings in lieu of throwing rice or other traditions and so I did a little research (Googled, of course) and learned that there is a sweet Native American legend associated with the Monarch.

"If anyone desires a wish to come true, they must first capture a butterfly and whisper that wish to it. Since they make no sound, they can't tell the wish to anyone but the Great Spirit. So by making a wish and releasing the butterfly, it will be taken to the heavens and be granted."

In "capturing" the Monarch on my camera and "releasing" it on my blog here I send out all the best wishes to the bride and groom for a wonderful married life together, full of much love and lots of laughs along the way.

The Gift of the Gulf

What a beautiful sight it is, the water of the Gulf of Mexico in the panhandle of sunny Florida. It was a spontaneous decision we made to pack up and head to the beach for a few days. What a gift. It never ceases to amaze me just how incredible the sand feels when I first venture out on to it after such a long time away. I can almost feel my heart slow down and my body relax with every step. The water moving to and from the shore has just got to be one of the most soothing I have ever heard and watching the waves is the best meditation. Walking along the edge of the shoreline while gazing out at the endless span of spectacularly beautiful colored water brings me such a feeling of wonder and gratitude for the gift of nature and the magnificence and significance of life. What a gift.

A Mother's Heart

It was May 2008. The phone rang and it was Alan.  He was living in Charlotte and had only been there a few months. He had just started a new job teaching Spanish in a nice elementary school. We had just recently helped him move in to a great apartment. He asked me if I was sitting down.  Ok, that's never a good question.  Immediately my heart began to race.  And I sat down to hear the words I actually never thought I would hear.  I am being deployed. To Afghanistan. I have been called up and cross leveled.  What the heck does that mean?  I soon found out all the answers to the millions of questions going off like fireworks in my head.  My precious second born child and all time favorite (and only) son was going to war.  How can this be? How can I stop this? How can I change this? How can I keep this from happening? How can I keep him safe? Well, I also quickly found out that I was powerless to do anything about it. But pray.  I have been waiting for his return as long as I waited for his coming when I found out I was pregnant with him. Nine months. It will soon be over and he is coming home. Oh the joy to say those words. He will soon be home.  I know that my journey waiting is nothing like the journey he has been on living it.  But for a mother, it has been a journey of learning to surrender, to trust, to keep a strong and steady prayer for his safety constantly on my lips and in my mind and in my heart.  And the journey for me was made so much easier by none other than Alan himself.  His attitude, his outlook, his thoughtfulness, and his use of modern technology has kept me from much unproductive fear and worry. (Most of the time.)  Because we have been able to be in almost daily contact through the wonderful computer program called Skype, because Alan has kept everyone in the loop of his adventure through his BLOG, and because he sends mail often, the time he has been gone and in harm's way has been made a little more tolerable for this mom.  I could go on for pages about this young man who is one of God's many gifts to me and to this world and about how proud I am of him for reasons no words can describe.  My heart is so full of emotion and gratitude as the time gets closer that I will be able to see him, be in the same room with him and hold him and experience again the joy he brought to me after those first nine months of waiting 25 years ago.

Time To Leave The Nest

March 23rd to April 30th was a time of nesting, laying eggs, sitting patiently, hatching, feeding, and nurturing.  Today on May first it was time to encourage their children to take the risk and fly.  Out they went with their parents nearby cheering them on, one at a time in the pouring rain, not looking quite so sure that this was really the best idea.

When the wrens began nesting on my back porch I was curious about the process.  I learned that a male wren will scout out several nesting spots in his territory and he will mark them by leaving a stick or two in each place he finds acceptable. Next, he will find a mate and escort her to each one and she gets to choose the one she finds best suited to her needs. Then the gathering of material begins and nest building commences. 

I watched these wrens build a nest in a damaged Christmas bird feeder for quite a while on March 23rd which was my 51st birthday.  They worked for three long days, the two together, bringing in sticks and bits of moss until it was ready for the eggs.  I kept watch until I noticed eggs in the nest and then checked back every now and then for babies.  I was not disappointed.  I thought there were only 3 but today I realized there had been 5.  I watched in complete amazement on this stormy, rainy, Friday as these tiny little birds made their way out of that Santa bird feeder which they knew as home and took their very first flight.  

I truly feel that I was given a special gift to have been able to witness a tiny part of the miracle of life that, though incredibly amazing and happening all the time, usually goes unnoticed. 

 

My Favorite Tree

It is difficult to realize how great a part of all that is cheerful and delightful in the recollections of our own life is associated with trees.  ~Wilson Flagg

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.  The next best time is now.  ~Chinese Proverb

If you would know strength and patience, welcome the company of trees.  ~Hal Borland

These are photos of my favorite tree. It's hard to miss because it stands in an empty field by the road I use many times a day on the way to and from my house.  I have photographed it often (however, the above photo was taken by Claire) and in every season.  There is just something about this tree that gets my attention every time I pass it.  I believe it is a maple tree. Its fall color is glorious.  I wonder about this tree. I wonder how old it is, how it happened to grow there, was it intentionally planted or just a seed that took root by chance, what it has seen during it's life. I'm fairly certain I wave at this tree like an old friend when I pass and I think it waves back.  

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
~Joyce Kilmer, "Trees," 1914

 

Hey JC JC You're alright by me...

In honor of Holy Week, I thought I would take this opportunity to share how I REALLY learned about the passion, death, and ultimately the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And yes, I am proud to say it.  I "got it" from listening to Jesus Christ Superstar, A Rock Opera.  What an amazing experience it was to hear the gospel in a medium I could relate to! Rock music!  To the best of my recollection, I was hooked after my first time. And added to my joy was the fact that the album (yes, a double album of 2 vinyl records each in their own sleeve) came with a little booklet with the lyrics!!  As a young, emotional, and always seeking  girl with a passion for writing poetry to express herself in ways that sometimes rhymed and sometimes didn't, I was a great admirer and appreciator of the lyrics of all the songs I loved back in the day and to this day. Imagine my excitement when I could follow along while the story of Jesus, Mary Magdelene, the disciples, Pilate, Ciaphas. the arrest, the trial, and at the end, the death of Christ came to life for me in song and then imagine my absolute thrill at the realization that this was all in Scripture!!! Wow. Talk about life changing.  You see, for me it's one thing to read scripture, hear it homilized at mass, share it in Scripture study groups, etc. but put it to music, ROCK music, and I GET IT. I have to say that I believe God works in mysterious ways and in ways that speak to me where ever I am at the time and that He always provides wonderful ways for me to learn. God gave me the Rock Opera Jesus Christ Superstar to help introduce me to my faith. It was a gift I have loved for a long time.  From that introduction of Christ's passion I have been able to grow in my faith in countless ways. 

A little related aside to my love of Jesus Christ Superstar...In January 2008 I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Madrid, Spain with my bilingual son, Alan.  While touring the city we saw a marquis for none other than...

Needless to say, we bought tickets and went to see it that evening.  It was an awesome production and even though the entire opera was in Spanish, I knew ALL THE WORDS!