Tag Archive | Family

Mom

May11

Mom, thank you,

You dried my socks in the oven, only once, kept my school work, and my childish picture lives in your purse. My creative spirit was as foreign to you …well I might as well have been from Neptune, but you let me know that you were walking beside me. When you decided to care for four other kids beside the two toddlers of your own, suddenly the house had a lot less room, and I did not hear complaining. There were a lot of craters in the road then, but you gave. Under 25 years old, and a house full of kids, but you were efficient with little.   Mom, you said, “Let’s take them home,” when those almost teenagers needed you and Dad.  I only heard laughter and encouraging words in that house. There were reasons why it should have been the opposite, but faith and love ruled! Your chocolate pies could bring world peace. Thank you for teaching me to love and respect the library.  You told me that my puppy went to heaven when I flung myself on the bed and cried out my broken heart. And I SO thank you for intercepting the note to my Sunday School friend that asked him if he would marry me. Remember, I was only seven. There was almost always a home-made meal even while you and Dad were working all the time at your business.  You were the manager, and 99% of the time all business: rules ruled.  Even by high school, perfect and the word Mom just went together in my mind. Thank you Mom, you taught me by example the definition of an unselfish soul. There really aren’t enough words for all the good that you have done.  Now I say to you, “I am your home.”  Sometimes in traffic, when it is quiet, you ask, “Who is this?’ while you hold the purse picture. “Some silly girl,” I say. And then you smile at my picture, and kiss the air as if those kisses could float to my twelve-year-old face. “No it’s you, Terri,” and then I hear small laughter. It IS me…Mom, and I love you. Happy Mother’s Day.

Nie’s Blog!

Mar31

   Have you heard of a blog called nieniedialogues?   It is an inspirational site about the life of a beautiful young mother who was severely burned in a plane crash.  I have been following her blog for about a year. She is amazing, and her book, Heaven is Here, will be available in April.  With four kids and one to arrive shortly, Nie has really had a difficult time especially with the pregnancy complicating the painful scar tissue.   Her injuries have required many surgeries, and there are more scheduled. Her little boy told her that her scars looked like they were, “going away.”  That is the way it is when you love someone, or should be.  Loving someone creates a soul-sight that looks  farther than the physical appearance.

    I have always tried to teach my kids that a person shouldn’t be judged for what you see on the outside, but not to be liberal with your trust either.  We say all kinds of things to our kids, right, trying to make it all sink in somewhere in their minds and hearts, but do they really listen?  Maybe somewhat!  So, it was thrilling when my daughter befriended someone at school, tried to ease the terrible shyness, and made sure that the prom was not missed by that person.  The effort that she took to improve that person’s life was extensive, and wonderful to see! 

   When you love someone, the outer appearance becomes just a part of all the pieces. For instance, could you accept the mind and heart of someone who has committed terrible acts against the human race, but who had the most beautiful or handsome face that has ever breathed perfection? I know you couldn’t, and neither could I. Beauty isn’t enough for happiness.  I’m sure my fellow bloggers know all of these things already!!!  It feels good though to say so at least ever so often, because it is crazy out there. But those that love tenderly soften the harshness of life by practicing the basic aspects of human kindness. A simple courtesy would be an improvement in our ever crass growing world don’t you agree?   The basics like hello, thank you, and how are you should be the norm as well as acknowledging that our skin wrapping holds a soul  that wants friendship, forgiveness, and care like most people in the world. Of course, there are those who do not have a heart such as the ones who have harassed Nie for her appearance. Unbelievable!

     I’ll  never forget the woman I saw as I was walking up to the grocery store. She was carrying a bag of food, and she handed it to the man sitting on the bench. She said, “Here are the groceries you ordered, Sir,” with such dignity that it sounded as if she were saying, “And thank you mayor for your years of service.”  Of course, he hadn’t ordered groceries at all. He looked at her with the most beautiful blue eyes, and smiled slightly as he took the food.  It seemed that perhaps someone took care of him, and maybe that person could not any longer. He seemed childlike. Why was he there? Maybe he had destroyed his own life with terrible decisions? Maybe someone he trusted took what belonged to him? Maybe there was a disability that could not be seen? None of that mattered for just that singular moment when kindness gave.  My soap box is getting wobbly so I better get down!

     Well, I hope you check out Nie’s site, and let me know what you think!  It will be inspirational!

     http://www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/

     http://www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/2012/02/i-see-you.html

Six days of Finding

Feb21

 

 

 

 

 

    Sunday: 2-19 :    Rain….. moving abstracts on puddles,  shimmering noise of falling drops, knowing that Spring is already getting ready to take Winter’s place…welcome.

  

 

 

   Monday: 2-20 :    On a walk I noticed the tiniest lavender flowers staring up at me. “Whatcha doin?”   What I am doing is walking because I love chocolate. Don’t worry flowers don’t talk to me often. Spring’s fingers are spreading out pushing Winter away.

Rain, Tree, no Crow (096/365)

Rain, Tree, no Crow (096/365) (Photo credit: Dr. RawheaD)

Tuesday: 2-21 :     I did see about 100 rain drops or so hanging from the pine needles near the gate.  All I could think of were diamonds in the pines. It made me remember  what I learned in childhood, “Until the daybreak and the shadows flee away….,” Song of Solomon.  Ill, not functional, and fumbling I accidentally mark someone as spam, but I’m not sure as due to blurry contacts.  What a mess!

 

 
 

Wednesday: 2-22       Watched the sunlight streaming across the road in fuzzy bars of light. Lovely! Feeling better.  Gaining a friend wakes up the soul sections one never knew existed; losing a friend brings silence to the sections that refuse to sleep.

Sharon is twelve, and brought flowers. It is refreshing to see childhood sweetness!

 
 
 

Thursday: 2-23:     It is so windy outside. This reminds me of going home….where I belong….and a song. Later in the morning, during a walk the  birds were chattering away in the trees.  It seems that I am  surrounded by a choir. They are moving to the sunshine just as I am. I hear the neighbor’s hens some distance away cackling.  Cackling sounds funny in chorus with all of the light musical chirping, and this reminded me of a country choir with a white-haired lady.  Ms. H. in fact.  She was  stocky, cheerful and every Sunday morning she wore her shiny faux pearls as she sat on the front choir row.   Loudly, she sang with joy, and her harmony could scare the skin off of a rhino. Such a spirited soul that felt the music, but her vocal chords could not follow her heart!   Everyone  treated her like a Queen…..anyway!  Love looks the other way!  Kindness a choice.

    Now human nature is natural whether it is a corporate boardroom, or a country church in the middle of Boondockville.  People get sad, mad, and petty no matter where they congregate. But in this situation there was kindness…love. I don’t think she ever knew that she couldn’t sing. Getting a greeting and a handshake from Ms. H. was never boring.  Her going away present to me was a faux pearl necklace in a used box. It is still cherished as I have every friend that I have made.  As far as I am concerned, my pearls are the real thing as they were given by such a genuine beauty, voice and all…Ms. H!

Haliaeetus vocifer English: An African Fish Ea...

Image via Wikipedia

Friday: 2-24:     Windy, chilly, and took a walk anyway!  I have been thinking lately of one gentleman who worked at a popular store chain. His job tedious due to boredom. His world small with conversations of where to find an item, and how are you today?  But inside his mind were questions that he wanted answered so he began to study. Working away at his job, while the questions were beginning to be answered, he ended up with a degree in political science, a Masters, and a PhD. But in that process of achieving, the answers about life had a chance at a new perspective.  Now, he is a respected professor, the students fight to get a seat in his class, and he is a teacher that cares….rare isn’t it?  Handsome, I am sure that he had been called that many times,  and riding bulls in the rodeo was just  fun for this athletic man.  I had to ask   myself  what kind of power, drive, intellect, heart and soul does it take to achieve one’s goals when your body was taken away at twenty-one?  Life changed his world, but he sculpted what he wanted his world to be with the options that were open. He jokes around with his students about his wheelchair, and they work to gain his respect.  He made a path.             Terri O.A.

 

Only the teacup image is mine. Thanks for reading!