Whoooo's ready for summer?!?!

Peonies

The peony is named after Paeon (also spelled Paean), a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing.

My peonies are growing like crazy this year!  I received a peony plant for my birthday two years ago from one of my most dear friends in the whole wide world.  Little did I know that this plant would make me smile every morning.  The first thing I do in the morning when I wake up is look out the blinds of my bedroom window to see how big my peonies grew overnight, like they do that or something?!?!  But it never failed, every single morning I would look.  I would also go outside as soon as I got home from work to look at my peony plant.  What started out as one lonely little plant, became two.  How?  No clue.  Lucky?  Perhaps, but I personally think God played a special role in it.  Why you ask?  Because He sees how happy this flower makes me and because peonies are simply not known for seeding.  I find it no coincidence, especially after all that I have been through, that this flower is named after medicine and healing.  Ironic?  Not so much.  God makes no mistakes.  

Thank you dear friend of mine, for one of the most precious gifts I have ever received.  Even better...it's the gift that keeps on giving ;)

Now watch in amazement how my peonies grow...overnight.

They are the most beautiful flower I have ever seen.  Dontcha think?  I ended up with 61 buds on my plants this year! 

When we move I do plan on digging my peonies up and taking them with me, however, during my research of peonies I found this interesting fact..."Once planted the Peony likes to be left alone and punishes those who try to move it by not flowering again for several years."  Hmm, this plant isn't stubborn at all!  And it by no means resembles its owner.  Not even a little bit!

"We have an unspoken tie with the natural world; the way it affects our emotions and our senses is a truly wonderful gift."  

No More Candles

I am getting old.  I just had a birthday.  It was yesterday.  I turned 29.  I am old.  One more year and I turn the dreaded 30.  I am so old.  Not really, but kinda.

Over the past 29 years, I have come to realize why birthdays are special.  They are special because it is a day where all of ones most closest friends and even some that are not so close take time to wish one a Happy Birthday and/or reminisce about times/friendship/family/love/memories.  These moments make life wonderful and make birthdays special.

They are also special because it is a day where we get to eat a cake with our name on it, and who doesn't like a good delicious chocolate cake with cream cheese icing, mmmm...

I just want to say thank you to my dear friends and family.  I love you to the moon and back.  I cherish each and every one of you more than you will ever know.  Thank you for the kind words on my birthday.  It means so much!

My dogs...

Photos courtesy of my ridiculously talented husband.

Words of wisdom from a 90 year old woman...

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.

It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will.

Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .

Owen

Andrew & I have become quite fond of this little guy!  We love him...and his parents are pretty cool too!  It's been so fun watching him grow.  One year sure has flown by!  Isn't he a doll?!?!

 

Photos courtesy of Andrew.

Speed Bumps

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”‘ – Rom 8:28

The past few months have proven to be very very hard on my heart.  I am drained.  Emotionally, physically, and mentally drained.  This path I have chosen to take in life, although it is very rewarding, it is not an easy one and the sacrifices I have had to make and the speed bumps that I have hit along the way have been rather large these days.  In fact, they are huge, and this path...it is a very difficult one.  I love taking care of children.  I love the people I work with.  I love my life.  But...I work way more than I will even begin to explain, and right now I have way more on my plate than I feel anyone should.  My body is tired.  And my heart...it hurts.

"Faith is what makes life bearable, with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, startling joys." Madeleine L'Engle
 

My day this month begins very early and ends very late.  I have one hour to eat, exercise, and spend time with my husband.  Like I said, I am drained! However, its not the working that bothers me, not even a little bit, I can deal with the physical exhaustion and I don't mind working hard, I actually like to work my tail off, it is where my ADD fits in the best, or should I say the chipmunk on speed in me.  But I am so tired.   Chronic fatigue?  Yes, most definitely.  I am used to it though, the physical exhaustion that is.  The emotional exhaustion though....not so much.  The past few months have taken a toll on my emotional well-being and stretched my heart out to the max.  Thank God for an understanding husband, to say the least!  Sure don't know what I would do without him these days. 

No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

I find it to be no coincidence, with all that is going on in my life right now, that this past weekend was Easter.  Thank you God, for a day to remember what is truly important in life.  God does nothing by mistake.  Everything we face in life has some meaning, some hidden purpose.  I could question God all day long about things that happen in my life.  But I don't.  These things, or these speed bumps I should say, have molded me into the person I am today.  I am a better person because of the things that I have had to and are currently enduring.  These "bumps" help me, somehow someway, to see the whole picture that God is trying to paint.  I have become a more sympathetic and caring person because of it and I am able to help others in ways that I never thought I would be able to.  They have also helped me to realize that I have the best support system, ie family and friends, in the whole universe, I am so blessed and so lucky to be surrounded by such caring people.

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you learn to appreciate them when they're right.  And sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together." - Marilyn Monroe

One of my favorite sayings in the whole wide world is, "If God brings you to it, He'll get you through it."  It's soooo true.  I don't know what I would do without my faith.  I 'd be one lost puppy that's for sure!  There are no mistakes in life, everything is a blessing in disguise, it is just up to you to find it!

What we might think of as speed bumps in our life’s road are usually only God’s way of slowing us down enough to get our attention. Conover Swofford.

I challenge you to take the good out of the bad, to see the true messages behind the speed bumps in your life, count your blessings and cherish loved ones.  And always always always remember, be kind to those you encounter, for somewhere out there, there is always someone else fighting a harder battle.     

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. ~Leo Buscaglia