ATC's

Love to make ATC's with my group of artist friends.  Here's for our most recent swap . . . Birds.

His little feet are a tad interesting, but I like the feather.  Must practice bird feet more.

Hollywood Tags

Recently joined a Hollywood Tag swap with one of my Yahoo groups, Altered stART.  Each participant needed to select a star or movie and then make one tag of each participants selection.  I chose Elvis Presley.  These tags were such fun to make.  I'm anxious to see the finished product.

Marilyn Monroe, Bette Davis, Judy Garland, Carole Lombard, Mae West, Maureen O'Hara and Elvis, just in case you didn't recognize any.

My next project is a Halloween Fat Book.  I'll be using a new Tim Holtz stamp that I need to pick up from my favorite store so I can then get started.

A Wonderful Father's Day

We had a great day today celebrating with Tom for Father's Day.  I had the bright idea that we should take a pedal boat out for a ride.  We surprised Tom for fear that he would refuse and he was close to doing so when we pulled into Okeeheelee Park.  I dragged the three of them, mitching and boaning, until we climbed into the four-seater and then thoroughly enjoyed ourselves while making meaningful family memories.  We laughed till our bellies ached and enjoyed the beautiful weather and cool breezes while on the water.  There was a little island that Rachel went out to explore.  Tom and Logan tried to drive away and leave her, but Mom prevailed.

We listened to music on Rachel's iphone and laughed again when Logan's hat when flying into the water and we pedaled like crazy to reach it before we couldn't.

We then went to The Diner for lunch and then home to open some presents.  It was a great day and Tom enjoyed it.  A day we will always remember and that's how it's supposed to be.

Happy Father's Day to my Dad in Heaven . . .

 This picture was taken before he was married, before he even thought of the children he would have or the amazing Father he would turn out to be, before he could have realized the everlasting impression he would leave inscribed within our hearts.  Rest in peace, my dear Father.  God Bless.

Chapter Complete

I started these picture frames in 1995.  Today they are complete.  Seventeen years of public school.

"Our" schooling actually began before that when Logan and Rachel both attended the JFK Medical Center Preschool.  I served as President of the Parent Advisory Committee for several years, always busy planning fun events for the children.  We envisioned a charter school way back then when my kids were little, a place where we could keep our kids sheltered and safe.  The JFK Medical Center Charter School just celebrated its 10 year anniversary.  I was a founding member of the Board of Directors and still serve on the Board.  I always wanted to be very involved in all my children did as they were growing up and I have no regrets.  It's been a fun ride with a kazillion memories that I pull out from time to time. 

Today I put the last picture in Rachel's frame.  My babies.  They are not babies anymore.  I hope they remember the things I tried to teach them along the way.  It's kind of liberating to watch them spread their wings to fly.  I remember that feeling.  It was beautiful then and it is beautiful now.  Reach for the sky, my little chickadees.

Happy Mother's Day

Word of advice - don't take three months off from blogging because Blogger will change it up! 

I have been missing blogland and am anxious to catch up on what my fave's have been doing.  I've been a busy bee and I hope I can make up for lost time by posting some of what I've been up to so I can keep up with this journal of my life.   

Right now, though,  I'd like to say, Happy Mother's Day to all.  A recent visit with my dear mother gave me the opportunity to enjoy the woman I love so much, the woman who makes me the way she sees me, the woman who is my greatest inspiration, the woman who is so very special to me.  I snapped this photo of us before leaving for the airport.  I can still feel her presence beside me, though many miles away.  I love her so!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day

For my lovelies . . . Good thing Rachel snapped this picture as this pretty pink cake was practically devoured before I even got home from work today!!  I'm so glad I picked up this heart shaped cake pan!  I love it and I know it will get lots of use!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day and that you were able to spend some time with your own lovelies.  Such a sweet holiday!!

Freedom

My beautiful baby girl is 18 today.  She's been counting the days, anticipating some sort of magic that will occur and give her the golden ticket to becoming an adult as she greets the day.  It's interesting how it goes for each person as they hit that amazing number.  I am sad in a way, but also renewed.   I have had so very much fun with Rachel for so many years of her life, but I need to step back and let her fly.  So go ahead, my big little girl, follow your dreams.

W2 Stories

Today at work I had to call a couple of people whose W2's were returned.  Funny how everyone believes that their W2 will be forwarded if they move and forward their address.  W2's are not forwarded.  They are returned to the sender and they sit there until you remember to inquire about them or someone like me calls you to find out your new address.

I love people's stories.  I think that is part of the reason why I love to interview people.  I work in Human Resources and I interview nurses.  Everyone has an interesting story.  I always like to find out the motivation to become a nurse.   I ask them to share with me their good stories and their bad and it's just amazing how nurses can tell you a story on a moment's notice and it's like they are reliving that moment in time, their passion is so raw.

Each nurse I called had moved out of the State of Florida.  Being the inquisitive person I am, oh okay, the nosey person I am, I had to find out their story.  One nurse moved to Key West.  What fun is that?  Have you ever been to Key West?  I cannot ever imagine living there, but oh what fun that must be!  Think Jimmy Buffett, flip flops and shorts everyday.  She truly loves living there and is so glad she made the move.  She said she feels so much calmer and is enjoying life so much more.  I could hear it in her voice.

Another nurse moved back to New Jersey after having lived in Florida since she was 16.  She reconnected with her high school sweetheart through Facebook and they are now planning on getting married.  She absolutely loves being back on her old stomping ground, feels so content to be back home and is head over heels in love.  She sounded fantastic.

I loved hearing their stories and the excitement in their voices.  Our journey's are interesting.  While we can be so connected with someone day in and day out, one day they could be gone, off exploring new territories, never to connect again.  It's interesting how paths cross.

My Nephew

Philip and his girlfriend, Shanna, joined us for dinner tonight.  It was so very good to see them both.   We all have interesting paths to travel in our lives and Philips journey is no exception.  If you remember my sister that lived next door to me for a brief year or two about a year ago . . . Philip is my sister's son.  They used to live in Florida, about an hour north of where we are.  My brother-in-law, Philips dad, passed away in 2003 from end-stage renal disease.  Philip was 15 and his brother, Kyle, 9.  It was not a good time.  Shortly after, Philip got in trouble for making a bad choice and he paid the price for it.  Coupled with the family's heartache, a big price was paid by all.

Now, just about eight years later, Philip is amazing.  He has matured into a fine young man and my heart was clenched just listening to him talk about making it on his own.  Sometimes we need knocks along the way so we know which way to go.  And sometimes having a pretty, encouraging friend share the journey, makes our travels a bit more exciting.

It was a fun, relaxed evening.  The only way it could've been any better is if my sister still lived next door.

Powerful Words

I had a superb day.  It started with an amazing sermon at my church by John C. Maxwell.  Have you heard of him?  You must hear him.  I don't remember the last time I was so excited to hear someone speak.  I try to go to church on a regular basis, though I am not always good at it.  I've been going faithfully for the last few weeks and I was so excited last week when they announced John C. Maxwell as this weeks speaker.  The man is so eloquent, so funny, so inspiring, so real.  I sat in church this morning, so excited, waiting for everything to start and thought to myself that this was going to be good, it always is. 

He spoke about winning and habits and how, "if you develop the habits of winning, you will make winning a habit".  "Winners are passionate about what they do".  "Maturity doesn't always accompany age, sometimes age comes alone".  He said he was once approached after a leadership conference he presented and someone came up to him at the end and said, "I know what I want to do!  I want to do what you do"!  John Maxwell looked at the young man, smiled and said, "Do you want to do what I did to do what I do?"  Oh yes, it's all a process and the process itself is as important, if not more important, than the end result.

Are you passionate about what you do?  Passion fills one with energy and is the catalyst of self-discipline.  Want power precedes wil power.

Thank you John Maxwell for starting my week with a bang.  I knew you would and it was so good.

Beautiful Words

My Symphony

To live content with small means.... To seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion.... To be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich.... To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly.... To listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart.... To bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.... In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common....

...........this is to be my symphony.

William Henry Channing 

On a recent blog hop, I visited Laura at 52 Flea and was instantly touched by "My Symphony" on her sidebar.  I asked Laura if I could quote this poem on my blog and she was thrilled that it held special meaning to me also.  Laura said she found this poem in her Nana's attic when she was a teenager in an old frame with watercolor morning glories painted on the frame.  Hearing this little story makes me love this poem all the more.

Rita Coolidge once sang to Kris Kristofferson, "words are all I have to take your heart away".  I always loved that line.  I love words.  I love to use them.  I love to write them.  I love when I find pieces that brand themselves upon me.  May beautiful words be music to your ears. 

Exploration

Happy 2012!!!  Exploration is my word for 2012.  I love it!  I want to explore as much as I can, whether it be art, books, friends, healthy living or life in general.  I am looking forward to a big, bright, beautiful year and I hope it is the same for you!

Tom and I have been snapping some pictures the past few days, on my exploration journey.  Here are some shots from the Arthur G. Marshall Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach, Florida.

This next photo was taken in the equestrian part of my town.  I love going just a few minutes away, yet you feel as if you are miles from home.

I am so excited about all of the possibilities a new year holds.  I love the feeling of newness.  I love the feeling of optimism.  Yes, I'm making resolutions.  I love to make resolutions.  Exploration is on the top of my list!  Happy New Year!!