Kindness of the Soul April 28, 2010

It’s the kindness that does it. It could be in a split second. It could be in a lifelong friendship. It could be through a smile. Or a look. Or a hug. Or an emotion that radiates even through an e.mail. But it’s a kindness that just shines through, straight from the very core of a person’s soul.

I believe we all possess that kindness – we just don’t all display at all times. Maybe we keep it in reserve for those special people that we feel deserve it the most. Maybe we only let it loose on special occasions.  Or maybe it’s just a sporadic release that lets it hang out. Who knows how each of us operates.

What I do know is that I love the warmth I feel when I’m touched by it. Sometimes you feel it for a split second. A quick smile from a stranger on the street. Or a few minutes. A kind exchange with the nurse at the doctor’s office. Or you realize it’s there to stay. A new friendship with an amazingly kind soul. Whatever it is, that warmth has changed you and added to the kindness of your own soul. You now have more kindness to you. Thanks to that other warm, warm soul.

I’ve been blessed with many wonderful friends. Some I’ve kept for long periods of time, some for short periods, some I can tell will be here for life… some have been around forever, some have come to a point where the friendship has run its course, some have just joined the party and plan to be here till the end… either way, they’ve come for a purpose and I’m grateful for the kindness their souls have all brought. I love them all and have such appreciation and gratitude for the good times and lessons learned.

Like I said in the beginning, what makes that friendship special at that moment in time is what radiates from within: the kindness of the soul.

My Photography: Playing in the Rain April 27, 2010

I couldn’t help but capture the fun of my kids splashing in a huge puddle in their rain boots. I almost ran in myself… 🙂

Playing in the Rain

Good News: There’s Always Plenty April 22, 2010

I was trying to find articles with GOOD NEWS to share. Man, that is hard sometimes. The media loves to focus on negativity. It’s a real downer.  Yes, there are tragedies that stand out. Tragedies that break your heart, rip it to pieces, anger you to shreds… but there is so much more love and happiness out there that for some reason we as humans just don’t seem to focus on.

So I decided “You know what, dude?” I can think of plenty of good news, all on my own, to share with the world.”

All over the world today, there were tons and tons of healthy, beautiful bouncing babies born. New little souls to give more life to this wonderful planet. Parents and families were joyous and celebratory at this momentous addition to the clan.

All over the world, sick or terminal patients lived another day. They were given one more day with their loved ones, one more day to right their wrongs, tie up their loose ends, spend time with those they choose to, and enjoy each moment that they have. They are using each breath wisely and judiciously, appreciating it for the valuable treasure it truly is.

All over the globe, children laughed and played. That sound, that glorious sound of a child laughter, like the peal of bell, beautiful joyous contagious music, the most sincere of laughs and the most happy of giggles. The universal sound of happiness and freedom that requires not a common language  to be understood.

All over the earth, people hugged one another. Whether it was in triumph, in greeting, in love, in sympathy, in friendship, whatever the motivator, there were hugs. Gentle ones, tender ones, tiny ones, big bear ones… HUGS. Glorious, affectionate, loving hugs.

Everywhere, someone avoided a car accident. Better yet, someone survived some kind of accident. Or a fire. Or a tragedy.

Everywhere, people made up. A fight ended. A friendship rekindled. A relationship reunited. Peace was made.

Everywhere, someone’s life was saved. By EMS workers. By a stranger. By a doctor. By a mother or father. By a teacher. By a waiter or waitress. By an enemy. By the person least expected.

All over the planet today, someone smiled and it made someone smile back. It spread like wildfire. From him to her to her to him. Some because they enjoyed it, some because they were confused, some because they just felt like it. But a smile is a smile and it’s contagious nonetheless. So smiles were bountiful all over the world.

What other wonderful news can you share?

Did I Swallow It? April 8, 2010

My kindergartener recently got his first pair of loose teeth.  Last night as I was helping him make sure he brushed his teeth properly, I apparently brushed a little too enthusiastically and knocked a tooth out. 😦 OOPS!!!!! He insisted I did not but cried and said I hurt him and had a bloody mouth. 😦 BAD MOMMY!!!!! I immediately saw the visible space in his gums and knew it was gone so I made him spit out into the sink – but saw no tooth. We did it repeatedly and STILL found NO TOOTH. In all the commotion, it appears little man swallowed his own tiny little baby tooth, poor monkey. Oh my goodness, I felt like a toad.

Well, quick thinking mama that I can be at times, I immediately said “Man, that tooth fairy was FAST! She came and grabbed your tooth just like that – fast as lightning – and we didn’t even see her!” And he stopped sobbing and very pensively stared at the hole in his gums. He asked if she would come back to leave him his gift that night and I said “Of course, when you’re sleeping.” I gave him construction paper and markers to leave a note for her when she visited.

He wrote: “Tooth Fairy: Did you tak my tooth out or did I swolow it?” He also drew a boy holding a tooth and a mouth with a gap in the lower front teeth. He lovingly placed it under his pillow and fell asleep faster than ever to enable her visit.

❤ ❤ ❤

Of course the Tooth Fairy responded she grabbed it fast as lightning and left him the appropriate amount of compensation for such a precious first baby tooth.

On a side note, on warm nights, like last night, our son usually sleeps in a t-shirt and his boxer briefs. Last night, he insisted on his pajama pants. His reasoning: It was not proper for a girl like the Tooth Fairy to see him in his underwear. ❤  😀

My Photography: Let Freedom Ring April 6, 2010

Let Freedom Ring

Realization April 5, 2010

I think I was a fairly typical kid.  I adored my parents, I knew they adored me. As a teenager, I had my obnoxious times in life. I was always (and still might be a little) known to be forward and opinionated… but generally I was very well-behaved.  Just outspoken.  I always loved my parents, though. I knew they loved us.

When I was pregnant with my first son, I was so excited, like most pregnant moms. I couldn’t wait to get the little bugger out and hold him tight.  I was ecstatic to be a mama and couldn’t wait to carry the baby around in my arms all day. I would rub my belly and hug it all the time. I was in love… or so I thought.

And then, he was born. OH MY GOODNESS. I had never understood the term “head over heels in love” until that first cry.  Nothing could have prepared me for that feeling of intense, utter, absolute, complete and total LOVE LOVE LOVE that I felt for that tiny little being. For how my heart pitter-pattered like a wild bat in my chest at his teeny tiny finger wrapped around mine.  For how glimpses of his eyes made me catch my breath. For how the nurse wanting to do anything to him made me want to fly out of my bed like a raging mama bear, despite the c-section. I was knocked out of the ballpark by this little soul. This smallest of people who commanded every ounce of my heart with every delicate breath…

And then it hit me like a giant truckload of bricks dumped on my head.

My parents loved us this much. No matter how much obnoxious we were, how disobedient, how rebellious, how non-communicative, how combative, how bratty, how quiet we were… my mother and father loved my brothers and I the way I now adored my son. The way he was EVERYTHING in the universe to me, we were to them. And suddenly, I realized I owed my parents a lot more gratitude than I had ever given them. And in that one fell swoop, I was not only madly in love with my son, but with my parents as well.  Like I always was but never understood to admit to myself.  I’ve always kind of sucked at admitting my feelings.

Now as a grown woman, with my children well past the newborn stage, I still catch my breath at every little thing they do. My heart still skips beats every time they spontaneously hug and kiss me.  And subsequently, mama bear still resides within me and my heart breaks with every tear. I never want to see them sad or angry or hurt. I want to protect them from everything. I want to make everything better. When I see them make mistakes or I think they’re not doing their best, I want to scold them and teach them the right way and spare them the heartache of learning the hard way.

The way my parents wanted to for us.

Realistically, neither I nor my parents could make everything better, nor will we ever be able to. But we are able to be there for our kids. Whether it’s in person for hugs and kisses, for a trip to the mall or the zoo, or just knowing we love each other dearly. Sometimes we have to let our kids grow on their own and let go when they need us to. We can’t make everything right for them. I’m still a pig-headed opinionated strong-willed pain in the neck that talks too much sometimes. It’s true. And for that I apologize to my Mom and Dad. But you have no idea how much I love you and love everything you do for me and my brothers and my family.  I could never ask for better parents than mine. That’s more than true. I have the best parents in the universe and I only hope I can be one tenth as good to my children as they are to me.

Mom and Dad, I love you… thank you for loving me… and for being my biggest support system.  ❤

Many hugs and kisses to you.

May you all remember to call your parents today. 😀