Sending Hugs and Kisses

Right now I'm trying to hang onto the positive and lasting things that I've learned or discovered in the last year.  I'm writing, here, these precious lessons so that I can remember them and maybe someone out there, someone I don't even know, will learn from them too... I've discovered that gardening is one of God's greatest forms of therapy... the calm that comes while planting the first seeds, the patience it takes to wait for them to grow, the inner pride you feel when the plant is strong enough to go from house to garden, true elation when it bears fruit.  Time is required, time is essential, it does not all happen in one day, it takes months of careful love and tending; patience and nurturing is required for all things to grow strong. A garden is not perfect, there are weeds that must be pulled, soil that must be fertilized, pruning that is essential for proper growth.  I am reminded that we are not perfect that relationships are not perfect; ever...

C and his Cousins,  bits and pieces from all over.... finally using stuff up! One of my favorite photos of C as a little one... mostly from the Studio Calico kit Yearbook, buttons made by April Foster ! I always plant red geraniums in honor of my Gram... they just make me happy! More wonderful stuff from Studio Calico and odds and ends from my desk. and finally my fabulous garage sale find... a whole flock of 10 Flamingos for $5... don't really know why but I have always wanted a whole bunch of these cheerful plastic birds and now I've got 'em!

Image found on the web So this post has been in process for a few weeks... but the truth is it is also long overdue. I'm blessed to have an amazing bunch of girlfriends. I didn't always have that.  I've had a hard time making solid connections with women, I think it's a whole trust-issue thing, but I have some of the most wonderful women in my life and they support me even when they don't understand what I'm thinking or doing... and that's HUGE! I came home bruised and broken-hearted two weeks ago.  I had just lost something in my life that I thought was forever, someone that I loved and trusted had turned their back on me hours before I was to walk through the courtroom doors and end my marriage.  I was kicked hard when I was already down.  I was a wreck.... but you know what... the women in my life surrounded me and picked me up, gently wiped away my tears, served me some sangrias and listened to me pour out the pain.  These women gave me ...

To Do: Go new places. Try new things. Give C more freedom = let him make his own mistakes. Call friends more often just to chat. Write. Write letters. Create. Play. Love freely. Enjoy life. Thanks everyone for all the birthday messages yesterday!

I'm halfway through this year of "Learning" (my OLW for 2010) and I'm still just at the beginning of my journey.  You see I have always thought of the world as black and white.  I truly believed that things were either good or bad, that they were true or false, right or wrong.  I'm the girl who colors within the lines.  I thought that my way of thinking was the "right" way.  I was so very blind. I've discovered in the last few months that the only way to really enjoy life, to truly live life , is to see and embrace the areas of grey . It's really hard for me to embrace the grey.  The areas where things are not so cut and dry, not so mapped out, not so black and white.  I have to constantly tell myself to relax.  I must keep remembering that control is only an illusion.  I must breathe and try to live in the moment because I will never have that exact moment again. I have to take off the blind...

I love french toast, it's one of those foods that feeds your body and the joy of preparing it feeds your soul.  I need to be fed, I'm in a place of newness that is uncomfortable and at times just heartbreaking, but the truth is I'll live to see another day and I'll be filled with this yummy recipe while I do it.  Soul Soothing French Toast with Strawberry Sauce I adapted this recipe from Nigella Lawson, one of my all time favorite foodies! 3 large slices of day old french bread (I used some of the giant loaf I bought at Panera) 5 eggs 2 tbs good vanilla 5 tbs half and half butter for the pan Strawberry Sauce - 1 package of fresh strawberries 3 heaping tbs of sugar 1 tbs lemon juice (fresh please) Blender Preheat the oven to 250 ( to keep the already cooked toast warm if working in batches) Get out all your aggressions by breaking the eggs into a shallow dish and then whisking them together with the half & half and vanilla.  Soak the bread for ...