reaching out

She approached it hesitantly.

It didn't move and it didn't make a noise.

So she reached out. 

Just like that.

Totally trusting.

Time stands still.

For a child

about to discover.

If only we would do this more.

As adults.

Instead of analyzing.

And compromising.

Instead of worrying

and hurrying.

Reach out. 

Breathe.

Smile.

Be kind.

That's all it takes.

Trust.

&

Time.

                                                                   

                                                          

ANGEL'S FOR OLIVIA

Have you ever wondered..... 

why some people have to endure what seems like heartbreaking hardship

 while others glide through life seemingly untouched?

I asked myself this question this past week when I was made aware of a young single mom's challenge.

Raising children is an honor and a gift, albeit a challenge and mounds of stress at times.

It is rewarding but, can be the hardest job any of us ever signed on for.

Imagine doing that ... alone ... with a terminal illness looming in your near future.

The story about 'Olivia' and her mom hurt my heart for days and still does... I don't know why this particular story has touched me this deeply because, in this day and age we all have heard similar stories many times but....

It did and it does.  

Olivia, who is 8,  wants to go to Disneyland with her mommy and after feeling completely helpless, I realized that I could help, in a small way, and that's where the Tuckaways

came in.  Monies raised selling them could contribute to Olivia's trip.  I stayed up sewing them  in the hopes that the love and best of intentions that I  inserted into each one would somehow manifest and surround 'Olivia' on the hard days that her little heart will soon have to bear.

I have realized that the heartaches and the loss of loved ones truly does make us stronger and that it really is the circle of life ... does that make it easier to lose someone ... heck no.

Does it  make us question 'why' ... heck yes.

Are there any answers ... only those that satisfy each of us in our own way.

The old adage that it takes a village to raise a child rings true when we hear about stories like 'Olivia's'.

We have a responsibility to help ... in any way we can.

Love and strength to Olivia and her mommy.

International Women's Day

Four Generations

Can we say blessed?

Great Gramma Maria

My mom.  A woman who has worked hard all of her life but, never ever gave up being feminine.  Red nail polish, red lipstick and her hair done on a weekly basis.  In this modern world that's a given but, 50 years ago, living on farm in the middle of nowhere, it was a challenge.  She did it.  

I have often wondered what she would have chosen for a career if she had the opportunity.  She was a sought after softball shortstop.  She led many a team to trophy's in the curling community.  She was a left-handed pool shark :)  and she worked along side her husband to bring in the crop while caring for three little girls.

The oldest of those three little girls was me....

Peggy

I grew up with a charmed childhood.  I moved away and married at age 18 and made my career in the secretarial world.  When my three children were born I was fortunate enough to add being a 'full time mom' to my resume.  My life has had it's good times and it's bad times but, the strength I harbor comes from that of my mom.  It is that strength that I hope I have passed along to my daughter.

Avery 

A very special woman. 

My daughter chose teaching as a career and is one of the most capable, talented, compassionate and strong women I know.  She had opportunities I never had and she made wise choices.  Her life has been molded and formed in good ways and bad ways just like mine and her gramma's.  It has afforded her the ability to reach deep and become stronger.  The true gage of that strength came when she gave birth to my granddaughter...

Storey Maria

Storey Maria is the joy in our lives.  She is inquisitive, observant and innocent,  happy and content and growing every day.  Her life will be filled with choices that her great gramma, her gramma and her mommy may never have had...but she will be strong and she will make the right choices because she is 

the fourth generation of females in this family and we are survivors.

Our strength and our love will keep our family's close 

and in the end that's all that matters.

xo

LOVE OF ART

Art ... Heart ...Apart

The common denominator in these 3 little words is, of course, the word 'art'.

How many times have we been convinced we aren't good enough for something or good enough at something because of one small action or word.

I have a story that I didn't realize was even a part of my life until I had 2+ years to sit quietly in Virginia and explore the part of me that enjoys art.

I was learning all about blogland and one of the very first blogs I visited was Kelly Rae Roberts www.kellyraeroberts.com.Following Kelly and hearing about her journey made me dig deep and really think about what was holding me back from jumping into the world of art.  My art.

Normally I am a 'jumper'...always have been always will be. Except when it comes to art.

Then I would hedge and justify and dream and feel frustrated.

Everyone is artistic in different ways.  I would hear people say how great my altered art was or a canvas I had done or a craft I had created and yet...and yet...I never felt it was good enough.

The old saying we are our own worst critic is so true but, when you use that criticism to stifle something that is as important to you as breath itself it becomes a problem.

When I was about 14 years old a teacher of mine (unbeknownst to me) had entered an art piece of mine in a contest of some sort.  One day a man in a suit carrying a briefcase and driving a new car came barrelling into our farmyard.  I remember it so clearly because it wasn't everyday we had 'visitors'.

He sat with my parents and from the bits and bobs I gathered (from the other room) it was about an art school.  The conversation wasn't long nor was I ever asked to be a part of it so when he left I was curious.  All I was told was that he was from an art school and thought my art was good enough for me to attend said school.  They refused.  No other explanation. 

From that day forward I thought my art wasn't good enough.  Over the many years since then I have always enjoyed but, knowingly have always put up road blocks when it came to lessons or exploring new mediums ... as much as I would crave it sometimes I never allowed myself to 'jump' in.

That day in Virginia when I had my 'aha' moment I realized that it wasn't my art that wasn't good enough, it was the fact that my parents didn't have the money and they certainly weren't prepared to let their little girl galavant across the country for 'art'.

What a revelation...so simple but, so profound.

Since that day, I have been re-living all of the art feelings I haven't allowed myself to feel.  The art in my heart will no longer be apart from the essence of who I am.

It is never too late for a self discovery and I feel liberated every time I think about creating something now.  I feel like I have an entire world to explore again and this time I will do it knowing that no matter what I create or attempt to create, it will be OK.  It is MY art and it is as good as I perceive it to be.

Always remember that if it comes from your heart it is art ... in any form or medium. Never keep the art in your heart apart from the essence of who you are.  Create art.  You deserve to. 

won·der  (wndr)

1. One that arouses awe, astonishment, surprise, or admiration; a marvel:

If we could all see ourselves just like this ... with the wonder and awe that you discover the first time you realize that you are 'YOU"...hey that's me!!

If we could always remember that the person staring back at us is special ... absolutely gorgeous and unique.

If we could remember this ... everytime we pass a mirror ... wouldn't life be so much better.

Just wondering ....

                             Love ... Love ...and more Love

I thought that when the Holiday Season was over things would settle down in my life but, we are 11 days into the New Year and my head is still spinning.

It's all about balance and when I take a minute to sit back and reflect there is absolutely no reason for  me to even squeak out one teeny tiny little complaint about my life.

My family has grown this past year with the addition of two absolute blessings.

The first one was my sweet  "Storey".

I will admit that it took me a few months to get used to having another 'title' added to: mom, daughter, sister, friend, aunt and hey you:)

but

Gramma is the sweetest sound to my ears right now and when Storey starts saying it I'm sure I will be only to willing to give her whatever her little heart desires :)

That love has no boundaries.

And on New Years Eve my son married the love of his life.

Kendra.

I had the honor of welcoming her into our family.

In our hearts and minds she was already one of us ... the ceremony made it official.

I doubt there is anything more that a parent could ask for then to see their child married to the person they love and respect.  

In this world with all of the turmoil and upset of so many values it is a blessing to know that love still reigns true.

And so here we are ... 2012.

My family has grown ... 

My love has grown ...

I am blessed and have no reason to utter even a teeny tiny squeaky complaint.

Add caption

LONGEVITY and LOVE

This photo was taken 60 years ago.

In 1951 this happy couple married in a prairie wedding and my dad, on the far left was a best man for his cousin.

These two men, whose grandfathers homesteaded the land and whose fathers worked it until they inherited it, were neighbors for 65+ years.

I grew up on that farm and had the best childhood anyone could ask for ... we rode our bikes back and forth on dirt roads and we all went to school together and played ball together and learned to drive at the same time and graduated and moved on.

Last Saturday the wedding party gathered to celebrate that day ... 60 years ago.

(My dad is on the far right in this photo). 

Two of the bridesmaids weren't able to attend because they were 'travelling' but, everyone else made the effort to be together for this momentous occasion. 

Most are in their 80's and are as young at heart as they were 60 years ago... as I sat and observed their families and friends I realized that I was witnessing history.

Now I am the age that these people were 30 years ago when I was in my 20's and thought of them as "old" :)  I marvel at how healthy (physically and mentally) they all are.  A true testament to the fact that hard work, wholesome food and an honest living does offer longevity.

It is our responsibility to carry on this tradition to the best of our ability in this world of 

preservatives and technology.  Sometimes the 'old ways' are still the 'best ways'.

I am proud to be a part of this lineage of ancestors.