I am

I am...

rethinking

regenerating

regrouping

realizing

recognizing

readying myself.

I am a butterfly with angel dust on my wings. I am praying and protected. I am learning to look through the smoke. Directly at the fire. I spread and flap and hold my breath as I beat my wings and get stronger and stronger until I rise over that fire leaving all the dust and filth and ash behind. Until all I see ahead of me are blue skies and fields of wildflowers. As I uncurl my legs I release all that I hold dear and watch it frolicking free. Carried to safety. By me. My strength. Strength. Gained from God. From all that is good.

What Kids Really Want

Warning: Jolly Elf discussion. Not for little eyes.

Second born is in middle school. His school shares a project with the local grade schools. All first graders wrote letters to Santa. The letters were distributed to the middle school where they had the students elves respond.

Second born elf received a letter in which the child told Santa he (the child) wanted to give him(Santa) a gift this year since Santa is always giving to everyone else. The only other request in his letter was to have a fun and happy Christmas.

Simple and sweet, right?

Second born elf's best friend elf received a letter from a boy requesting two small toys. The boy also stated that if he could have his true wish for Christmas, it would be that his daddy would play with him more.

Ouch.

For Christmas this year, in honor of the letters to Santa, I am doling out extra hugs and love. I am praying the little boy's wish for time with his daddy comes true.

I am sharing this story in the hopes that it inspires all who are reading to slow down, sit in silence and feel the real Christmas spirit. Don't listen to the noisy media-bot and reach for your wallet to spread false holiday cheer. Dig deeper. Reach into your heart. Share fistfuls of love, armloads of hugs, mouthfuls of praise and compliments.

I wish all of  you a Heart Overflowing Holiday Season. Hugs all around.

This ornament has been on my tree for many years. When my oldest was just a wee lad we went to visit an old family friend. He spotted this Santa on her tree and plucked it off. He was fascinated by it. He grinned from ear to ear and would not take his eyes off of it. Diane, always full of love and generosity, insisted he keep the ornament as it obviously made him very happy. She passed away several years later, in her early 50's, of diabetes complications. Every year I hang Santa on the tree. With that ornament I hang memories of Diane, of her love, her generosity, her spirit. She resides in my tree every Christmas.

Wood Spirit

Hubby is a chainsaw carver.

We started Lorax Carving.

He's been carving for two years now.

Sometimes he carves what he sees in the wood

and sometimes he carves what others request.

One day I asked him to carve me a wood spirit.

He didn't know what I was talking about.

"I want a face coming out of the wood.

As if you are pulling the spirit out of the wood

so we can see it."

He picked a piece of wood.

He had no plan.

He just carved.

As he reached the left eye, the sap ran from the wood.

It was a spiritual moment for him.

He carves, the wood shows him the way.

This is what it showed him that day.

What if...

What if you woke every morning with the spirit of a child?

Every speck of nature a mystery.

Every color of the rainbow sheer joy.

Every person you met your new best friend.

What if you woke every morning with a fresh new outlook?

Every possibility waiting for you.

Every capability owned by you.

Every moment new and valuable.

What if you lived today like it was your last?

Every loved one embraced.

Every moment cherished.

Every experience fully appreciated.

What if you lived your life outloud?

Every action intentional.

Every dream reached for.

Every bit of yourself accepted by yourself.

What if you loved yourself unconditionally?

Every flaw erased and viewed as uniqueness.

Every inch of your skin viewed as the perfect gift of creation.

Every fiber of your being filled with love from the inside radiating out.

What if you saw the magic in life?

Every fairytale a possibility.

Every wish, hope and dream believed.

Every day a gift of spirit.

Well? What are you waiting for!

It's up to you!

Start your day with "What if...?"

Choose to answer with "YES! I can!"

Embrace the possibilities.

Believe in yourself.

Live life to the fullest.

Every morning we wake with the gift of a new day.

Spend it wisely.