Wait. What?

Someone pointed out this morning that today is the last day of August. Wait. What?
This month has been so full of wonderful things that even without a mission list we got so much done. I suppose when the heart decides it wants something enough, it doesn't much matter if you write it down, set a reminder or add it to the calendar. The heart decides to go for it and just like that it happens.
This month we had our pictures taken and ordered so we can hang on the walls, painted one room, skipped away for a vacation, soaked up many moments with family, helped fix a pool, spent time in the sun, finally returned the library books that were haunting me, passed along many clothes that needed to move out, stayed somewhat on track with my current course, and celebrated.
August, I'd certainly like to meet up with you again. You were filled with exactly the kind of awesome that I live for.

On my mind.

People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home.
~Dagobert D. Runes
Tourists don't know where they've been, travelers don't know where they're going.
~Paul Thereaux
For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.
~Robert Louis Stevenson

Reinventing rest.

It's vacation week around here.
We've worked...and rested.
We're off on an adventure...not exactly my idea of rest but I'm running with it!
See you next week!

Show, Song, Sing-a-long

You may not know but The Vampire Diaries is my one hour of self-indulgent TV time. September 15 is the 3rd season debut date...in case you watch, too.

A labour of love.

I tossed restlessly through each pain still in denial of what was becoming much too obvious. By 4AM I'd had enough and done what any person does at that hour; I began washing, drying and ironing laundry. The slight flaw in my productivity plan was that the washer/dryer are in our basement, a monstrous 12 steps down and back up. I made it work or at least as best a bull in a china shop might. Gravity does funny things to people.

By 7AM the denial had worn off and I was prepared to admit that I was, in fact, in labour. I called my friend who had just gotten to work. She took over from the moon and talked me through contractions all the while timing and gauging the severity. By 8, I was waking Hubby.

He ran out to get the car ready only to discover a peregrine falcon diving after its prey in our yard. A bizarre but intriguing experience as I watched from the kitchen window. We were ready to go. Overnight bag loaded, snacks , camera ...Hold the train! The memory card. I hadn't emptied the card. I had visions of clicking away at the shutter only to get the dreaded card full message and there was no way and on and on I ramble out excuses between contractions. I did a not-so-quick file transfer and we were off.

At the hospital, things started off slow. They confirmed what we already knew and then we waited. I was ok though the pain was gaining in intensity. At some unmarked moment everything changed. My friend arrived. My sister came in. There was a flurry of people in and out, checking, watching, silently waiting. I screamed, begging for relief. The nurses were tucked over in a corner negotiating who would be the unfortunate one to break it to me the only relief was delivery. Meds would not make it in time. I screamed. No one listened. I screamed with everything I had. They still didn't hear.
10 more minutes of body twisting, pretzel shapes, legs bent to my ears, ice-cold cloths and (you guessed it) more carnal screaming and it was over. Silence hung in the air. The doctor didn't even know anything more than a baby had been born.
The nurse who had taken the baby heard my disoriented question and responded with, "Congratulations, it's a girl!" and then the baby cried. I cried and they laid her in my arms. The newness, the wonder, the miracle. My daughter.
Happy Birthday, Baby-of-Mine.

Remember 2008?

You don't? Really?...C'mon, really?
I happen to. Follow me on this one.
Today, August 17, was a Sunday. Back then, last night was a Saturday evening and we had been to a wedding celebration. We called it a night early. I was tired, heavy and my feet were swollen. Hubby was supportive. As best he could, he kinda understood.
I woke late, lethargically rolled out of bed and shuffled around. I was heavy and my mood could have been compared to a blend between Eeyore and habanero peppers. One moment I was moping. The next, I was spitting something saucy at any given undeserving recipient.
The sun was up bright, hot and dancing high in the sky. He shone for me that day. He smiled knowing it would be soon and trying to encourage me. He must've have know it was the moon who would entice me. The moon would help me breathe. The moon would see me through. But on that Sunday, as afternoon rolled around, that sun called to me. I did what Eeyore-on-Habaneros would do. I hauled out the mower and got to cutting the grass. A task that any other time would seem simple took everything out of me that day. After I'd finished, I rested. But that sun knew. In the dying light of the evening, he winked at me as brilliant pinks and purples, vibrant oranges and reds kissed the horizon finally giving way to the darkness of night.
The moon made her arrival. She perched high in the sky and shone bright.
I laid down about midnight feeling defeated and disappointed. Another day gone. I don't remember falling asleep.
Then it happened. Just as the sun had promised, at a quarter to one in the morning, I was startled awake. Even the dog was alarmed by the jolt.
The moonlight filtered in through the blinds and encouraged me, "Breathe."

Why do you think I remember so many moments of today? Check back tomorrow when I'll tell you.

Bring on the rain.

Because everyone can use an ounce of encouragement sometimes.

On my mind.

If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?
~John Wooden
The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.
~Ayn Rand
It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out - it's the grain of sand in your shoe.
~Robert Service

Right now.

I'm determined to make it happen.
I am focused and strong.
I am ready to plan.
I will rock it like nobody's business.
Right now, I'm really lazy and need some accountability.
Have a happy weekend!

That's Crazy.

With these lyrics, I'll take two servings of this song.
Be your best friend, tell the truth, and overuse I love you
Go to work, do your best, don't outsmart your common sense
Never let your prayin' knees get lazy
And love like crazy

In hiding.

I want to hide behind this lens.
Observe the world as it ticks by.
No to-dos.
Nowhere to be.
Nothing calling me.
No tasks haunting my mind.
Inhale.
Exhale.
I hope you enjoy a slow weekend.

Noteworthy: 5 things

I've seen this many times and may have shared before but I think it's always worth a reminder - one I hold especially dear today.
There are five things that you cannot recover in life:

1. 
   
   The stone after it is thrown.


2. 
   
   The word after it is said.


3. 
   
   The occassion after it is missed.


4. 
   
   The time after it is gone.


5. 
   
   A person after they die.

I ask today that you are aware of at least one of these, literally or figuratively, and think.

On my mind.

There is real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.
~Norman Vincent Peale
When you develop yourself to the point where your belief in yourself is so strong that you know you can accomplish anything you put your mind to, your future will be unlimited.
~Brian Tracy
Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul; the blue prints of your ultimate accomplishments.
~Napoleon Hill