Just one of the things I'm thankful for this year~

Thank you for all the b-day wishes for Juli...

Enjoy this little one- it only takes a minute- and you won't be sorry you listened- He is adorable!

My Asher...(well, he's my nephew!)

13th B-day~

Precious, Darlin', Baby-girl...
I love you more than all the world...


The little child who taught me about love-

She's still my "baby"- but So grown up!


Happy Birthday Sweetheart- I love you more than mere words can express :) What a gift you are to me- and you always will be~

For years I rushed around being busy and I missed me.

~Friar Leo

"No matter what has just happened, you are free in this moment to act with positive purpose. Whether the past has worked in your favor or not, the future is yours to create as you wish.

Life is too important to waste it feeling sorry for yourself or beating yourself up. Get up and get on with life, and make it match your highest expectations. "

~Ralph Marston (motivational speaker)

"You are talented at many things"

-my fortune cookie after dinner tonight

It's been a tough day for me. One of those days when you can't put your finger on exactly what's wrong but your heart and mind are out of sorts. The truth is there are MANY things in my life which are good, and MANY things I wish were better. Things I CAN control, and things I CAN NOT control.

I very clearly remember the first time I ever read the Serenity Prayer~

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

It was on a book-mark, or a coffee mug at a truck stop/gas station we pulled into on our way to Indiana. I was probably 12 years old. My dad was taking us to visit our Grandmother and I was so excited about the quote (I've always loved good quotes) I rushed over to share it with him. His reply was, "That is stupid. I can't stand that prayer, it's so depressing."

So much for the father-daughter Hallmark moment, huh?

Anyway, his reaction confused me. I couldn't fathom how he found the quote depressing and not profound. At the time I wasn't aware of the drinking problems which plagued his family, nor was I aware this prayer is one often used by alcoholics...I just thought it was a great "life statement". It wouldn't be the first or the last time my father and I failed to see eye to eye on something.

To this day, as much as I love the quote, I never read it without recalling dad's reaction to it. His disapproval lingers over the memory like a faint shadow, and truth be told, his disapproval about some things in my life lingers over me in more ways than I'd like to admit. It is time to let this stuff go. It is time for me to look at me with my own 2 eyes, and not through the eyes of my parents, or family members, or people in the church...or anyone.

I need and want to be me, and further more, I want to LIKE that person.

The sad truth of today is I didn't like the person I saw in the mirror this morning. I can change that. The mistakes of my past, bad choices, desperate responses, ugly words, judgements, and assaults against me- those are things I can not change. Knowing the difference between the two IS wisdom. Acceptance of BOTH things is divine.

The sun has now set in my part of the world. The day is closing as I sit in my office upstairs with mug of Jasmine tea and my thoughts. Despite the poor reflection I saw this morning when I awoke, the world went out of it's way to speak life to me today, via a preacher, a speaker, and a cookie.

I didn't wake up with Serenity this morning...but she found me before the sun set, and I am grateful.

Peace to all of you~

I Thank you...

For Soldiers past, present, living, and those resting in peace...

Thank you for the way you have touched my life- in ways seen, and those unseen.



The Army Hymn

Oh, Lord of Hosts! Almighty King!
Behold the sacrifice we bring!
To every arm Thy strength impart,
Thy spirit shed through every heart.

Wake in our breasts the living fires,
The holy faith that warmed our sires;
Thy hand hath made our nation free!
To die for her is serving Thee.

Be Thou a pillar for to show
The midnight snare, the silent foe;
And when the battle thunders loud,
Still guide us in its moving cloud.

God of all Nations! Sovereign Lord!
In Thy dread Name we draw the sword,
We lift the starry flag on high,
That fills with light our stormy sky.

From treason's rent, from murder's stain,
Guard Thou its folds till peace shall reign,
Till fort and field, till shore and sea
Join our loud anthem: praise to Thee!

Election? What election? (kidding)

We each voted early. It would have been nice to have voted "often" but we resisted the temptation, unlike some we've read about...but I digress.

However, the Sun, Earth, and water could not be resisted.

It was as if the land said..."Don't despair- Look UP!"

So we did.

The stream said- "Be still- listen. Life is good"-

And it is.

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I should think about moving to the mountains : )

"Day of the Dead"- PARTY TIME!!! :)

The Altar~

Frida was definitely honored here- K9 did a beautiful job putting this together.

Is there anything K9 can't do? :)

A miniture cemetery where one could remember ones we've lost... people really enjoyed participating in this project.

Ferocious kitty Beautiful art

Christmas preview! (everyone needs one of these on their tree!)

Good friends in great costumes!

I like the effect of these faces- seeming to float above our head in the room :)

I know- you've already seen this one- but she's so cute!

Art by Diane- (the painting in the back ground is a piece K9 is working on- it will be fabulous and BIG)

Arty/pottery by Betty ( http://www.fishbonestudio.net/)

Art by Elyse

The Band! (They were SOOOOO good!!!)

Guess who? :D

Love you Dawg! :)

IF ONLY YOU WERE HERE!!!

The party in progress- at least what I can show you!!!

lol!

You have no idea how much I wissh you were here!!!!

ALL OF YOU!!!

A "break"- exactly when I needed it : )

I went to see the ortho MD again...

The Dr fussed at me and said, "You are doing too much! You have a micro tear in your tendon. Put your arm in a sling for 30 days."

I laughed at him. This is my RIGHT arm we are talking about! And I am a MOM!

He seemed to think my being a "Mom" was irrelevant.

I went home- pondering how in the world I was going to manage things with my RIGHT arm in a sling- and basically decided I needed to go away for a little while. When I suggested this to my family...they all laughed at me!

About 2 hours after my Dr. appt- I got a phone call from someone near and dear to all of us...

K9 was on the phone!

I was planning a trip to see her on Nov 1st for her art show- and it turned into a week-long invitation to go to the cabin!

Gawd- I love that dog!

So- wish granted! Christmas came early :) I don't promise to wear the stupid sling the whole time I'm with her, but I do promise not to do the "Mom" thing for at least a week!

There will be updates and photos...and most of you should expect your ears to be burning at some point next week :) We will be talking and thinking about you :)

*Prisim- you will most definitely be missed on this trip- I'd give almost anything for you to be with us.

More soon~

Lilies and TMI

I love, love, love this image. I took this shot 2 summers ago and I need to have it blown up and hang it in my house somewhere.
I love the color, and the curls, and water...and it's untouched. I might love it even more if I edited the background color a little. I'll play with it and see what happens.

This is the actual crop of lilies in my front yard- and in 4 weeks I MUST dig up the bulbs and re-plant them. I will have plenty to give away. Would you like a handful of Easter lily bulbs?

Email me at cora.blue@hotmail.com or maydensvoyage@hotmail.com and tell me where to send them- and I will : )

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I wanted to do this last year but a good hard freeze didn't come until late in the season and by then I was up to my ears with Christmas and such. These flowers are hardy and I think they will grow just about anywhere- and they don't need to be fussed over. I've planted them in the shade and they grew, and in full sun.

I was given some bulbs about 14 years ago from a plant given to a great-grandmother back in the 70's- and have dug them up (when we moved) and re-planted them...they are gorgeous and I love them.

So...if you want a bit of Mayden's favorite flower in your yard- or in a pot on your deck- just send me a note and I will mail them in a few weeks.

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Personal note: (the TMI part :)

I'm having a fit with my right elbow (not the one I fell on). I've got tendonitus, had the cortisone shot, and I'm still having a lot of trouble with it. T's been gone for most of the month (work and play) and I am heading out for some girl time this weekend when he returns (beach trip!).

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I'm inside out over the election stuff and the bail-out and if I start writing about it I don't know if I could stop. I was glad to hear the banks who are getting part of the 700 BILLION have to pay a 5% return...but of course one has to show a profit in order to actually pay a return...and who can be sure that will actually happen? Sigh...blah...not good.

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I've been up to my ears with "Mom, sister, and caregiver stuff" and writing has taken a back seat...I'm sorry. I'm actually more sorry for me- because it's a waste and I know it. I miss you all.

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I'll go back to the ortho Dr. again and see what he says. Surgery might be in order- but with this involving my RIGHT hand I am hesitant. On the other hand (no pun inteneded) I am so limited in what I can do with my right arm I might as well do whatever it takes to correct this and get back into the swing of things as soon as possible.

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Here's a revelation about me...(I just realized it!)

I loathe being limited in any way!!!

How about you?

Getting old is going to be (IS???) quite a learning (and humbling) experience, isn't it? :)

Oh...lol! "Proud to be an American! " :) (just laugh!)

A little prevention/treatment humor for those who find little to smile about with their investments these days . . .

If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Delta Airlines one year ago, you will have $49.00 today.

If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in AIG one year ago, you will have $33.00 today.

If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Lehman Brothers one year ago, you will have $0.00 today.

But, if you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drank all the beer, then turned in the aluminum cans for recycling refund, you will have received $214.00. Based on the above, the best current investment plan is to drink heavily & recycle. It is called the 401-Keg.

A recent study found that the average American walks about 900 miles a year. Another study found that Americans drink on average 22 gallons of alcohol a year. That means that on average Americans get about 41 miles to the gallon! Makes you proud to be an American!

Thanks to my friend Paige for this one...it was too good not to post! :)

Thunder- and Sunsets

Aren't we both at times?

I would give almost anyting to be paid to do this kind of work-

being in the right place at the right time~
but it's a gift...not really a talent.

:)