it's that time of year again...

"With stammering lips and insufficient sounds,

I strive and struggle to deliver right

the music of my nature..." ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I continue to be inspired by the grace and intelligence of the woman who bless my life everyday. This time of year is a huge transition for everyone at Meredith College, but as each graduating Senior reminds me, we are all truly blessed. And then I have my daughter gearing up to head that way. She amazes inspires me each day as well, with finished projects I would not know where to being to accomplish. 5 years ago - wow - already 5 years - I was desperately trying to finish my thesis about KAte Chopin and The Awakening. This morning I glance down at the page of Sarah BanBreathnach's Simple Abundance and read not only the quote above, but also the following: "Kate Chopin wrote in 1900, "I wonder if anyone else has an ear so turned and sharpened as I have, to detect the music, not of the spheres, but of the earth..." Had I read THAT 5 years ago - and mind you, I've owned Simple Abundance and have read it almost every day since Summer 1999 - I may have been more at ease about turning in that thesis and letting it go. Apparently it is today's lesson. I think maybe I've learned more from the young women who have passed through my small scope of perspective at Media Services and the Library than I did from struggling through too focused on my own classes and grades, but isn't that the point? Ok, I am rambling now, and will come back to this later, once I have seen their bright, shiny, currently struggling abit face - my daughter's included. Time to wake sleeping beauty...

Totally revamped my 4/22/11 post in honor of the arrival of Violet!! 4/19/16

Awestruck 

Beyond Happiness... great article

Congratulations Caroline and Andrew Roque 

 sunrise in North Carolina, on April 19, 2016

Day one of Violet's beautiful life

Every day my story is unfolding. Embracing the day, Embracing the truth Earth Day Every Day

Feeling

Grounded

"Here's our new baby girl...Violet Mae Roque! Born 1:23am 7lbs 12 oz and doing great! 😍💗

I resign ... I am not in control, but I do make a difference

 

Joy of BEing Jackie

Ken is now a grandpa and 

Loving every minute
Morning glories by Valerie Lorimer Contemporary Arts

Nurturing my life in every way, I write a New Narrative

“Our capacity for wonder and reverence is rooted in the body.” Dacher Keltner, PhD, Born to Be Good

Prince chose this symbol "which was explained as a combination of the symbols for male (♂) and female (♀). wikipedia

Quote: "... a symbol with no pronunciation, that is a representation of me, and what my music is about... it is who I am...The symbol was soon dubbed "The Love Symbol" wikipedia

Real life is messy, and marvelous with all kinds of shades of grey, purple even.

Sunrise on Violet's day of birth was Spectacular!
Tracy Ann holding Violet Mae, my niece and her niece

Unfolding everyday, a new life story...

Violet Mae Roque! Born 1:23am 7lbs 12 oz ·

 

Writing a new narrative from Within.We create the story of our lives with Wide-eyed Wonder.

eXperience l!ife

“You write your life story by the choices you make.” ― Helen Mirren

 "Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald : “I’ve come to wonder whether artists in particular seek out hard times the way flowers turn their faces toward the sun.” ~  Therese Anne Fowler, Thank you, Brooke Mayo, for today's "Z" inspiration :)

some things changes...

some don't, but I chose to constantly learn and grow. CSA Day always brings out the best and brightest and this year was, of course, no exception. I do so love it when LIFE places me where I need to be to learn and grow. My assignment the last few years has been to be the technology person assigned to a specific room. A couple of times my boss has put me where the Literature related topics were being presented. this year he assigned me to the room that has been giving presenters problems lately because he knew I'd be able to handle it, especially since I have been doing exactly that all semester. He (and I) later realized the first presentations in that room were related to Biology research. fun. The presenters were fantastic and I even scribbled down a few new words and other things I did not know but found interesting. It was an absolutely perfect weather day and in the middle of the morning session I received the sweetest text from my friend Jenn, asking if I'd be able to get lunch or if I wanted her to grab me a plate of food. I was able to take a break, so we had lunch together in the amazingly gorgeous courtyard. It was nice to see that the guys responsible for making it so, also got to take a break and enjoy the music and food.

words that resonate... Quotes by Hafiz

"Love sometimes wants to do us a great favor: hold us upside down and shake all the nonsense out." ~ Hafiz

"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." ~ Hafiz

"Stay close to any sounds that make you glad you are alive." ~ Hafiz

"Ever since happiness heard your name, it has been running through the streets trying to find you.

I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in the darkness, the astonishing light of your own being." ~ Hafiz

"There are different wells within your heart.
Some fill with each good rain,
Others are far too deep for that" ~ Hafiz

Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living in better conditions.

Even after all this time the sun never says to the Earth, “You owe me”

There is no pleasure without a tincture of bitterness.

Paulo Coelho - if you've not read The Alchemist lately - it is a treasure....