For My Daughter's First Mother's Day

BEFORE I WAS A MOM

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt!
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

Garden of Daily Living

How To Plant Your Garden

First, you come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses...

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING,
PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:

1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:

1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:

1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:

1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE.

Happy 35th to Us!!

Yesterday was our 35th wedding anniversary. What a wonderful milestone!
Tom & Jean came to visit. Tom & Jim played golf, and Jean had to tolerate me on the phone making 3 cruise bookings. We finally got away & met the guys for lunch at CHSausage. Later she and I went to WalMart & Palais Royal for a little shopping!

Jim and I attended my 40th high school reunion over the weekend.

It was a fantastic two days. Everyone's changed (of course)...makes me feel good to know I'm "normal" with my looks (if that makes any sense). People came from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Italy for this. I was amazed that quite a few classmates live in our county and general area. It was so nice to get reacquainted with classmates I haven't seen in more than 15 years...some I haven't seen since 1969 when we graduated. I truly don't know why I haven't attended a reunion since 1994. I don't remember receiving any news of those reunions. Or it might have been that I have never kept in touch with classmates and felt I wouldn't know anyone there. Sad & not a very good excuse. I've already had a classmate contact me about a reunion cruise in the future. That would be an awesome reunion!


We leave this Saturday morning for Venice, Italy. Then on to Florence and Rome (via train!). On the 15th, we'll embark on the Celebrity Solstice for a 10-day cruise of the Eastern Mediterranean (more of Italy, Sicily, Greece, & Turkey). I've sarted packing...but Jim hasn't. He's going fishing in the morning with John, J-Me's father-in-law. I guess he'll wait until Friday. Gotta' keep those priorities straight, you know: golfing today, fishing tomorrow, packing the following day, and departing the U.S. for 2.5 weeks the next.

Please keep us in your prayers for a safe & uneventful trip. (We return late night of Memorial Day.)
Love & hugs to all!