and the celebration continues...

with Saturday night sleepover... Pizza for dinner and a DQ ice cream cake for dessert... This morning they had blueberry muffins while I made them homemade waffles, pineapple on the side :) Better than a hotel, they didn't even have to move from sleeping bag and sofa :) Later, Elizabeth and I are going to a play... Really Rosie, at Raleigh Little Theater... yeah!

March 25th 2011

Spring willingly covers completely the blemishes and imperfections that had been so visible in winter... Wisteria is definitely the word and the flower of the day. We saw great expanses of it as we drove to and from horseback riding lesson, and we listened to an old audio cassette of the play Really Rosie, music by Carole King, illustrations by Maurice Sendak. Fun! I brought it with us on the drive to Erwin because I noticed the play is being performed at Raleigh Little Theater. When we got back, I reserved tickets for us for Sunday. yeah!

Different wells in your heart (Hafez)

There are different wells within your heart.

Some fill with each good rain,

Others are far too deep for that.

In one well

You have just a few precious cups of water,

That “love” is literally something of yourself,

It can grow as slow as a diamond

If it is lost.

Your love

Should never be offered to the mouth of a stranger,

Only to someone

Who has the valor and daring

To cut pieces of their soul off with a knife

Then weave them into a blanket to protect you.

by Paulo Coelho

Ahhhh Spring......

Spring
Violets have many leaves, each one so earnestly
heart-shaped that you could not imagine the plants have
thought of anything else to do. But they have: they make
blossoms, which rise yellow or violet, in multitudes, the
violet ones with violet-colored spurs. They like
dampness, they like hillsides and are comfortable also
in the shady woods. They like to be alone, or congregated
together in the grass, looking up as you pass by, saying
Hello, Hello. And what else do you imagine
they might do? Sing? I don’t think so, I suspect
they know when any further ambition would be
unseemly. So all their time is used up in happiness––
in becoming the best they can be
for the greater glory of______.
In fact, they know it’s okay to rest for the rest
of your life just saying: Thank you. Oh cast of thousands,
as are the stars of heaven, Thank you. Mary Oliver

Elizabeth Kathyrn's 15th Birthday!

and the first REAL Full day of Spring!! :)

As the Magnolia Moon rises....

Learning and enjoying all the wonderful colors and changes happening everyday as Spring unfolds. My newest fav is this lovely:

Magnolia 'Butterflies'

unfurling, emerging, unfolding, awakening...

The title of Sarah BanBreathnach's essay in Simple Abundance for this day is "Awakening Sleeping Beauty." First is a quote, "We are the hero of our own story." ~ Mary McCarthy. Then ... "In everyone of us there lies a sleeping beauty waiting to be awakened through love. Because she has slumbered for so long, she must be awakened very gently. But instead of waiting for Prince Charming to storm the palace gates, you must summon the magic powers of your authentic self to break an cruel enchantment that has left you unaware of your own glory."

It matters not what caused the cruel enchantment (what was your spindle?), when we waken, or how slowly. What matters most is that we do awaken and continue to unfurl, emerge, unfold and reawaken a little more each day, or even each Spring. It doesn't matter. It only matters that we continue to awaken. Remember, "your creativity, imagination, and authentic sense of style are far superior to any sorecerer's spell, no matter how strong." BanBreathnach continues: "One can never change the past, only the hold it has on you." That is why I decided to re-write my history. After all,"Where I'm from, we believe in all sorts of things that aren't true... we call it history."
— Gregory Maguire (Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West)

We began listening to the Wicked soundtrack again, just a week (now 2 days) before her 15th Birthday. "I couldn't be happier" that I decided to take us to see this fantastic play 4 years ago.

Back to work...

Time to go wake Miss Elizabeth... but after I took her to school...

Sunrise at the Arboretum

Then busy day, work, work, work, eyes are tired, so... I'll just add this beautiful surprise I found in my yard this evening...

Spring ahead or Spring forward??

Which is it and what shall we do?? Full busy day from breakfast to grocery shopping to mowing the lawn, trimming and water to a visit to MC. We thought we were going to play some tennis, but decided to take Misty for a long walkabout campus to look at some of the new plantings and to the lake instead... Gorgeous day! and a gorgeous family :)

I can do anything... a rewrite for Jan 2018

Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream." ~ Lao Tzu

Being conscious of Being aware. Look : see : hear : listen... 

"Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will Cultivate success." ~ Lao Tzu 

Dare to Dream... "A Million Dreams" The Greatest Showman audio here

Energetically we're still coming out of a powerful period of release, introspection, cleansing and reflection...⠀" AskAngels on Instagram click here

Fearless

Grounded 

Happy snow Day from History, Political Science, and International Studies Department

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Philippians 4:13 

"Just take a leap of faith, either God will catch you or you will grow wings and soar." ~ source

"Know that you have it and couldn't lose it." ~ God Works Through Faith by Robert Russell

"Leap of faith into Arms of Strength" blog post click here for "Where He Leads"
"Love is not a result; it is the very ground of being." ~ Nisargadatta Maharaj

Navigate Newly planted seeds - feed them well... God's love is like radiant diamonds...

 on p. 27 of this pdf

Patience

Quantum leap of faith

"Sometimes the only means of transportation is a leap of faith." ~ Margaret Shepard 

Three gifts from God: 

God Works Through Faith by Robert Russell

Unify with God and Untangle with love and with almighty assistance.

Valerie is on my mind this fantastically beautiful, snowy morning in January 2018, as we near the 4th anniversary of her passing, I'm confident she is at peace and in awe.

eXpectantly eXpand vision

Zac Efron, Zendaya - Rewrite The Stars LYRICS (from The Greatest Showman) click here 

Friday off - Spring break - yeah!!

So many WONDERFUL things about this pre-Spring, Spring Break day off. Elizabeth's expressive face AND hands are indicative of how important it is for me to keep taking her to her horseback riding lessons :) On the way there, and again on the way home, we made a point of finding a spectacular magnolia we were told would impress us. It did :)

Spring and growth go hand IN hand...

I have chosen to borrow this from Paulo Coelho's 20 sec morning blog, but borrow is not the right word...

Today's agenda includes....

Currently doing the final preparation for this.... Oh what a headache I have. It was a wild and crazy time in the library this morning and I am whooped!! The place was a buzz with last minute changes, a few hissy fits and much ado about everything. But, it does seem the whole thing was a big success, and everyone is glad it is fini'

I am tired and very much looking forward to spending a quiet evening with my daughter :)

Watching Garth Brooks on Oprah... The show is closing with "The Dance" ... "I'm glad I didn't know... I could have missed the pain, but I'd have had to miss the dance..." Still, I do thank God for unanswered prayers. All is as it should be....

Lists spinnin' 'round in my head - March 5, 2011

After I took Misty for her walk, I noticed the lilac Mom sent me 2 years ago is about to bloom!!!

Bloom!!!

Calmed me right

Down :)

Elizabeth at her father's

Facial - a treat with and From Amber, Joan's daughter-in-law

Gave blood Thursday evening, and the cats have been waking me at 1 am and 4 am for weeks! 

Had to laugh when I remembered why I was feeling so lethargic

I worked late Monday night and that kind threw me off for the rest of the week

Juggling more the even I realize sometimes

Keep

Lounging for awhile especially after I figured out why I felt so darn Lazy: Library to pick up 

Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry 

Now?

Online 

Play with my girl :)

Quit PRAXIS? eventually

Recommended by Maura Cullen Faulise

Shop for Elizabeth's 15th Birthday

Target and Hallmark for lilac candles and then.... 

Unwind...

Vacuum my car and fix garage door? (2 years later, I actually HAD to replace it so I could sell the house)

Wizard 101 play with my girl

fiXes needed... call Kevin and get started on the list?

Yearning for an end to the lists...

Zzzzzz