Note to Self

 ‘It’s okay’ is a cosmic truth…Richard Bach

I haven’t had the time, or made the time truthfully, or motivation to really create lately ~ in writing, sewing or art journaling.  I did post an article @ All Things Healing about the basics of visual journaling, From Journaling to Visual Journey and  I also made some cards to send to a few people I had been thinking about.  I definitely haven’t been blogging as much and catch myself “should-ing” on myself – I should be or do this or I should be or do that.  And then I have to remind myself that where I am is where I need to be…and that’s more than okay.

Where are you at today?

Technorati Tags: All Things Healing,writing prompt,journaling

And Then I Blinked

They outgrow us much faster than we outgrow them…loosely paraphrased from a Jodi Picoult character

At a recent weekend getaway, my youngest daughter (10 going on 25) insisted we buy the above wedding dress but finally settled for a picture.  This is my dress she said. 

I’m torn between differing emotions but will leave the thoughts about why my little one is already thinking about weddings for another day.   What strikes me most is just how fast our children grow up.  Cliché or not it is so true.  I look at my daughters and can still feel their little baby bodies in my arms.  I’ve “launched” one daughter and although she is doing well I still feel a deep-seated ache that my family is no longer intact. I get that a healthy identity is separate from others but also recognize that parenting doesn’t end at an arbitrary age.  And that age isn’t ten like my youngest might like me to think.  Regardless, it seems incredulous to me that we are here, in this space, one daughter an adult, another on the verge of puberty.  Wasn’t I changing diapers yesterday?!  As Steve Martin says in “Cheaper by the Dozen”…no more blinking!

At least she has good taste - the dress is gorgeous:) 

Technorati Tags: growing up

Defining Family

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family.  Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.  ~Jane Howard

I had a moving, eye-opening experience yesterday.  I was privileged to see a young man I had worked with for years graduate high school.  My mind reeled back to when I first met him and the trials and tribulations that he had to experience to get to this place.  With those thoughts floating in my brain, I attended his graduation party that his foster family held for him and realized that we, “the system”, had it wrong.  By the federal and state government standards of “permanency”, we failed this youth.  His record will join the statistics of “ageing out of care.”  What those numbers don’t capture is a family and church community that loves this young man and supports him today and in his future.  The gathering held an intimate circle as they sat him in the middle and each person spoke about their care and commitment to this young man and their hopes for a joyful life.   What I witnessed is family in action and I was reminded again that family formation is diverse and not created by birth certificates or court papers.

Take some time to reflect on what family means to you, how it may have changed over the years and who is part of your “tribe.”

 

Technorati Tags: family,foster care,church,community,journal prompt,writing prompt

Random Thoughts

Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world.
-- Ada Louise Huxtable

A summer journal my daughter made.  The “how to” can be found at Girls Express. 

I have become involved with a great website All Things Healing.  Check out the many informative articles on the Writing and Poetry Page.

I haven’t been active on my blog lately, just enjoying shedding my skin (and tension!) for summer as well as working on some new offerings, hopefully ready by fall.  I hope to visit my blog friends soon!  Have a wonderful week!

Technorati Tags: Girls Express,All Things Healing,summer journal,how to