Bottles, bibs, diapers and wipes. Just a few of the many, many items found in the over-sized monogrammed diaper bag that a mom totes with her everywhere from the mailbox, to the shopping mall, and of course on any road trip. Now if you know me well or know me at all, you'll be wondering why on earth I'm talking about baby items, especially since I'm not married (yet) and most certainly not in the stage of life to be expecting a child of my own.
Hosting a baby shower for not just one, not just two, but THREE mothers-to-be who are dear friends this past weekend has thrown me (and my group of girlfriends) into frequenting Target and every baby boutique buying up pink and blue gifts, planning Saturday trips to fabric stores to dive through reels and reels of fabric to decorate the nursery, and altering our weekly runs to simple walks to maintain some fun exercise and time together. Being able to share in teh joy of celebrating such a special time in teh lives of so many couples truly is humbling. Words really cannot describe the sheer joy that wells up in my heart and the tears of love that come to my eyes knowing some of my dearest girlfriends will soon bring another life into this world to shower with love and encouragement, teach this little one about the things she knows and values, and guide this child through the future stages of life.
Just to think about each girlfriend and her respective husband makes me grin from ear to ear at the realization that each set will be absolutely amazing parents in their own way and will love their son or daughter wiht a love that cannot be described. My mom always says, "You can never understand the love parents have for their children until you are a parent yourself." Each woman already gives amazingly in her friendships and in her marriage relationship. How much more she will give so her child will know unconditional love and acceptance through her soft voice and by seeing the twinkle in her eyes, while being cradled in her affectionate arms. Oh the delights of motherhood!
The dads-to-be already exchange chatter of how that little girl will have him "wrapped around her finger." You can tell these macho men are just as excited for the doctor appointments to hear the heart beat, to get up early on a Saturday morning to paint the nusery walls or shop for baby bedding, and even against their understanding, to tray and figure out the overwhelming number of necessary items needed for taking care of and raising a child.
Through all the anticipation, what is most remarkable is the physical change that takes place of each of my dear friends. Going from the early stages of finding out they are pregnant to actually seeing the baby bump and months later being able to feel for the little one kicking proves the miracle of life is just that...an amazingly beautiful miracle. Stop and think about it for a second...
To those remarkable women that are already mother and have little ones crawling, walking, even driving around, I say thank you for the wisdom, advice, support and encouragement you can give.
To the beautiful women who have yet to experience that stage of life, but have friends going through it (which happens to be the group I fall in), I say count yourself more blessed than ever to have amazing women in your life who allow you to share in this joyous time they are experiencing.
To those lovely women and dear friends currently encountering the marvels of pregnancy and trying to reach for a simple glass of sweet tea (decaf of course!) over the baby bump, I encourage each one to cherish the miraculous moments of pregnancy, while excitingly anticipating the arrival of your newest additional to the family.
Whether you're expecting a baby boy or girl, THANK YOU for letting your friends and family be part of such a remarkable milestone in your life!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Let the Good Times Roll
Road trip anyone? Ask me that and I can't pack my bags fast enough, even if I have no idea to what part of the state, country, or world the adventure will take me. I'm a sucker for any kind of new experience, especially if it's exploring places I've never been or getting to take part in a something I've only heard about and lived vicariously through other's stories and pictures.
That's how I ended up on the streets of Mobile, AL for the 2011 opening Mardi Gras parade. As the masked mystery men rode by on their elaborately decorated floats and horses, they tossed thousands of beads to the cheering crowds only a few feet away behind the barricades. Beads of all colors and sizes sailed through the air, along with stuffed animals, moon pies, streamers, and other coveted hand-outs. The hypde and excitement cannot be described, but as so many people told me before, "It's just something you HAVE to experience!"
Once the parade ended, we made our way to the Mobile Convention Center; ladies dressed to a "T" in our formal gowns and the fellas looking sharp in their tails, ready to "eat, drink and be meery" by dancing the night away. Decorations abounded in the different rooms, which complimented the bright costumes the masked members of the Mardi Gras organizations adorned. The whole night was amazing, from dancing to the upbeat music of different bands, to being part of call out when the masked men are recognized by the crowd and pay their respects to the Mardi Gras queen, to even seeing the houses decorated with gold, green, and purple wreaths and banners. It's a whole different world and culture from anything I had experienced.
But understanding the history and importance of such events has become more of a priority as I associate myself with different life and cultural experiences. Upon further reading and researching (here's where the self-proclaimed nerd in me comes out!), the history of this great celebration holds greater importance than I first realized.
From the well-known site Wikipedia: "Mardi Gras is French for 'Fat Tuesday' referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of Lent, which starts on Ash Wednesday. Lent lasts 46 days (40 days not counting Sundays) before Easter. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of repentance."
Little did I realize that this celebration season is yet another reminder of the greatest sacrifice that one single man made for the people He loves the most. An unselfish, everlasting, all-impacting walk upon a hill and shameful death opened the door for freedom to explore the joys of this world; the freedom to love and laugh, cry and question; the ability to overcome and conquer the fears and challenges life presents; the choice to have hope for eternity that cannot be stripped away.
The colors of the Mardi Gras ball and costumes, in all their grandeur, truly pale in comparison to the natural beauty of this world, but even more of the unseen mansions lining the streets of gold awaiting us. In the same way the ball attendees enjoyed the food, wind and dancing at the party and paid respects to the Mardi Gras queen, we will all relish in a never ending party that mere words cannot describe and our little minds cannot conceive as we pay our respects for the loving relationship with a man who gave us His all.
Until that final party, I'll continue to pack my bags for the adventures of life and as the French say in this seasonal celebration, "Laissez les bons temps rouler!" (Let the good times roll!)
That's how I ended up on the streets of Mobile, AL for the 2011 opening Mardi Gras parade. As the masked mystery men rode by on their elaborately decorated floats and horses, they tossed thousands of beads to the cheering crowds only a few feet away behind the barricades. Beads of all colors and sizes sailed through the air, along with stuffed animals, moon pies, streamers, and other coveted hand-outs. The hypde and excitement cannot be described, but as so many people told me before, "It's just something you HAVE to experience!"
Once the parade ended, we made our way to the Mobile Convention Center; ladies dressed to a "T" in our formal gowns and the fellas looking sharp in their tails, ready to "eat, drink and be meery" by dancing the night away. Decorations abounded in the different rooms, which complimented the bright costumes the masked members of the Mardi Gras organizations adorned. The whole night was amazing, from dancing to the upbeat music of different bands, to being part of call out when the masked men are recognized by the crowd and pay their respects to the Mardi Gras queen, to even seeing the houses decorated with gold, green, and purple wreaths and banners. It's a whole different world and culture from anything I had experienced.
But understanding the history and importance of such events has become more of a priority as I associate myself with different life and cultural experiences. Upon further reading and researching (here's where the self-proclaimed nerd in me comes out!), the history of this great celebration holds greater importance than I first realized.
From the well-known site Wikipedia: "Mardi Gras is French for 'Fat Tuesday' referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of Lent, which starts on Ash Wednesday. Lent lasts 46 days (40 days not counting Sundays) before Easter. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of repentance."
Little did I realize that this celebration season is yet another reminder of the greatest sacrifice that one single man made for the people He loves the most. An unselfish, everlasting, all-impacting walk upon a hill and shameful death opened the door for freedom to explore the joys of this world; the freedom to love and laugh, cry and question; the ability to overcome and conquer the fears and challenges life presents; the choice to have hope for eternity that cannot be stripped away.
The colors of the Mardi Gras ball and costumes, in all their grandeur, truly pale in comparison to the natural beauty of this world, but even more of the unseen mansions lining the streets of gold awaiting us. In the same way the ball attendees enjoyed the food, wind and dancing at the party and paid respects to the Mardi Gras queen, we will all relish in a never ending party that mere words cannot describe and our little minds cannot conceive as we pay our respects for the loving relationship with a man who gave us His all.
Until that final party, I'll continue to pack my bags for the adventures of life and as the French say in this seasonal celebration, "Laissez les bons temps rouler!" (Let the good times roll!)
Monday, February 14, 2011
Making the Heart Smile
People either get excited over the thought of Valentine's Day or they turn their nose up at all the hype that surrounds this "day of love." Some have that special someone to share the day with, while for others it's a bitter reminder of singless, which some equate with loneliness. I've been on both sides of the fence.
As I think about the word "LOVE" and all the things in life I say I love, an interesting mixture of emotions rushes over me. I know what you're doing; you're thinkign about all the things in life that you say you love. Now that your wheels are turning, let's chat about this.
So many times, I catch myself saying I love chocoalate ice cream, delectable cupcakes, a steaming hot shower, a warm cup of coffee, wine with dinner, a challenging run while listening to my favorite tunes, seeing the sunrise over the water, long walks on the beach with the sound of the waves crashing along the shore. Ok, it's starting to sound like a singles want ad, but you get the idea. Yes, I do love each of these things and so many more that making a handwritten list of them all would probably circle the globe a time and a half. Each of these pleasures tickles the five basic senses: sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste. As I sit back and take a minute to embrace the mere thought of enjoying each one, my heart grins.
When I take this idea of love a step further and get past the tangible things I claim to love, a whole new level is awakened. This next level of love includes the emotions that are aroused from those tangible experiences, but steps into the realm past these simple things. This level encompasses all of the experiences that I love so dearly: a weekend trip with girlfriends full of laughs, shopping and good food; sunggling up with a blanket and getting lost in a good book for hours on end, escaping reality to live a created world momentarily; soaking in a bubble bath after a long day at the office as lavender scented candles offer a warm glow; chatting with a long distance friend for hours forgetting that time zones and hundreds of miles separate us only in the physical world, but our hearts still beat as one. These experiences make my heart go from just a grin, to a sweet smile.
Dive one more level into this thing called love and you find what is really at the heart of the matter, even if the things and experiences from the top two layers were stripped away. What might that be? None other than the relationships that entangle and enrich our lives. Shareing the beauty of life's relationships - and not just the romantic ones - is really what love is all about. These relationships, when I think upon them, are what really what make my heart go from a smile, to actually skipping a beat.
When you stop and think about the many relationships of life, it's almost an overwhelming idea as to the numerous roles we play in different people's lives, but simultaneously how exciting it is to be able to pour out that much love in the world. Then, reverse that and think about the wide variety of people we let into our lives and how they love on us to influence who we are, who we become, and who we desire to be in the future.
As a sister, a daughter and grand-daughter, a friend, a running companion, a co-worker, a college student-group advisor, a teacher to elementary school girls, an encourager, a travel enthusiast, a writer, a chocoholic, a wine connoissuer (one day), a self-proclaimed bookworm, a leader, a follower, a singer (shower only!), a conversationalist, an occasional cook and baker, I wish you a day filled with love, happiness, and all the things, experiences, but most of all, all the people that make your heart smile!
As I think about the word "LOVE" and all the things in life I say I love, an interesting mixture of emotions rushes over me. I know what you're doing; you're thinkign about all the things in life that you say you love. Now that your wheels are turning, let's chat about this.
So many times, I catch myself saying I love chocoalate ice cream, delectable cupcakes, a steaming hot shower, a warm cup of coffee, wine with dinner, a challenging run while listening to my favorite tunes, seeing the sunrise over the water, long walks on the beach with the sound of the waves crashing along the shore. Ok, it's starting to sound like a singles want ad, but you get the idea. Yes, I do love each of these things and so many more that making a handwritten list of them all would probably circle the globe a time and a half. Each of these pleasures tickles the five basic senses: sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste. As I sit back and take a minute to embrace the mere thought of enjoying each one, my heart grins.
When I take this idea of love a step further and get past the tangible things I claim to love, a whole new level is awakened. This next level of love includes the emotions that are aroused from those tangible experiences, but steps into the realm past these simple things. This level encompasses all of the experiences that I love so dearly: a weekend trip with girlfriends full of laughs, shopping and good food; sunggling up with a blanket and getting lost in a good book for hours on end, escaping reality to live a created world momentarily; soaking in a bubble bath after a long day at the office as lavender scented candles offer a warm glow; chatting with a long distance friend for hours forgetting that time zones and hundreds of miles separate us only in the physical world, but our hearts still beat as one. These experiences make my heart go from just a grin, to a sweet smile.
Dive one more level into this thing called love and you find what is really at the heart of the matter, even if the things and experiences from the top two layers were stripped away. What might that be? None other than the relationships that entangle and enrich our lives. Shareing the beauty of life's relationships - and not just the romantic ones - is really what love is all about. These relationships, when I think upon them, are what really what make my heart go from a smile, to actually skipping a beat.
When you stop and think about the many relationships of life, it's almost an overwhelming idea as to the numerous roles we play in different people's lives, but simultaneously how exciting it is to be able to pour out that much love in the world. Then, reverse that and think about the wide variety of people we let into our lives and how they love on us to influence who we are, who we become, and who we desire to be in the future.
As a sister, a daughter and grand-daughter, a friend, a running companion, a co-worker, a college student-group advisor, a teacher to elementary school girls, an encourager, a travel enthusiast, a writer, a chocoholic, a wine connoissuer (one day), a self-proclaimed bookworm, a leader, a follower, a singer (shower only!), a conversationalist, an occasional cook and baker, I wish you a day filled with love, happiness, and all the things, experiences, but most of all, all the people that make your heart smile!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Let It Rain
As rain cleanses the earth, tears cleanse the heart and soul.
Today, when I woke up to a gray sky and the rhythmic pit-pat of rain knocking on my window, I struggled to get out of bed for what would prove to be another productive day at work. How I desired to simply stay in my comfy pajamas and over-sized sweat shirt snuggled beneath the layers of covers on my queen-sized bed. As I fought the mental battle with myself of just how many times I could hit snooze before getting up and still making it to the office on time, my mind and attention wandered to the reality of what was just outside my window. Yes, it was rain. Another cold January day, but instead of the sunshine to smile back at me, the gloomy day taunted me.
So many times I find people, myself included, lamenting the rainy days and always wishing for brighter times. Of course the latter automatically give us a reason to smile, be encouraged, and go through the day in a more chipper mood than usual. These blue skied days, whether requiring a coat because of the chill in the air or a summer dress to beat the heat, offer more opportunities to enjoy the beauty of the earth and outdoors. We appreciate these beautiful days, but have only learned to do so because of the dreary days that show up at their leisure.
Through the years I've learned the weather parallels my emotions. There are times in life when everything seems right and all is well. I smile because it's easy; I laugh at the simple moments and embrace everything positive in every aspect of life. That mountain that looked so treacherous is now beneath my feet as I view teh world from the highest point. I have a pep in my step and a song in my heart that cannot be explained by mere words. I smile and the world smiles back at me. These are the sun shiny days.
But then I realize that there are times when life seems overwhelming, that nothing feels like it's going in the right direction, and nothing really makes sense. I question not just one, but every aspect of life and why its performance is playing out in ways I didn't imagine. It's like watching a movie and questioning all along how it will end. The days that bring about pain and heartache test my character and strength, but most of all test my heart's courage to take a leap of faith again in the future. In the face of adversity and heart wrenching circumstances, at times there is only one thing to do: release those emotions through personal rain.
Just as the rain that falls from the sky cleanses the muck that so entangles the beauty of the earth, so the tears that stream down cheeks are necessary at times to cleanse the heart and soul of hurtful emotions and memories of the past in order to walk foward and again, climb that mountin that seems impossible.
So, when the tears well up, I've learned not to fight them back, but let them freely flow and enjoy the freedom that comes when my heart is clean.
Today, when I woke up to a gray sky and the rhythmic pit-pat of rain knocking on my window, I struggled to get out of bed for what would prove to be another productive day at work. How I desired to simply stay in my comfy pajamas and over-sized sweat shirt snuggled beneath the layers of covers on my queen-sized bed. As I fought the mental battle with myself of just how many times I could hit snooze before getting up and still making it to the office on time, my mind and attention wandered to the reality of what was just outside my window. Yes, it was rain. Another cold January day, but instead of the sunshine to smile back at me, the gloomy day taunted me.
So many times I find people, myself included, lamenting the rainy days and always wishing for brighter times. Of course the latter automatically give us a reason to smile, be encouraged, and go through the day in a more chipper mood than usual. These blue skied days, whether requiring a coat because of the chill in the air or a summer dress to beat the heat, offer more opportunities to enjoy the beauty of the earth and outdoors. We appreciate these beautiful days, but have only learned to do so because of the dreary days that show up at their leisure.
Through the years I've learned the weather parallels my emotions. There are times in life when everything seems right and all is well. I smile because it's easy; I laugh at the simple moments and embrace everything positive in every aspect of life. That mountain that looked so treacherous is now beneath my feet as I view teh world from the highest point. I have a pep in my step and a song in my heart that cannot be explained by mere words. I smile and the world smiles back at me. These are the sun shiny days.
But then I realize that there are times when life seems overwhelming, that nothing feels like it's going in the right direction, and nothing really makes sense. I question not just one, but every aspect of life and why its performance is playing out in ways I didn't imagine. It's like watching a movie and questioning all along how it will end. The days that bring about pain and heartache test my character and strength, but most of all test my heart's courage to take a leap of faith again in the future. In the face of adversity and heart wrenching circumstances, at times there is only one thing to do: release those emotions through personal rain.
Just as the rain that falls from the sky cleanses the muck that so entangles the beauty of the earth, so the tears that stream down cheeks are necessary at times to cleanse the heart and soul of hurtful emotions and memories of the past in order to walk foward and again, climb that mountin that seems impossible.
So, when the tears well up, I've learned not to fight them back, but let them freely flow and enjoy the freedom that comes when my heart is clean.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Girl's Night Out...Or In
Whether I'm six or 26, slumber parties never get old.
When I was six years old a girl's slumber party was a night of playing Barbies, eating popcorn, Domino's pizza and lots of store bought cookies or candy, and watching our favorite Disney princess movies. At this point boys has coodies and we sat as far away from them as we could at school, but secretly talked during these slumber party nights about the cute ones. We stressed about a basic addition/subtraction math quiz and whether we would have white or chocolate milk with our lunch. As young girls we lived for the fun nights at our best friend's house to celebrate a birthday by fighting back droopy eyes to stay up all night and just have fun being girls. Maybe we painted fingernails; maybe we got into mom's make-up (shh! don't tell)' maybe we re-read those secret letters passed around in class. Whatever the night held, as young six year old girls we made memories that bring an innocent smile to our face now when we think back on such sweet times.
Times changes some things, but many things stay the same through the years. At 26 years old, I'm still enjoying girl's nights out (and every now and then those nights we opt to stay in), slumber parties included. Some nights this could mean getting dolled up by throwing on a fun dress, wearing a new outfit we found during an afternoon of shopping with the girls, or pulling out the flattering jeans and boots for teh night's adventure. Whatever the attire, we have dressed the part for a night out on the town and good conversations filled with laughter are a certainty for the evening. Maybe we're all pulled up around the patio table at our favorite restaurant for dinner sharing a bottle of wine; maybe we have continued the celebration of a friend's wedding even after the reception at another favorite hot spot in town; maybe we are tailgating in the parking lot otu of the back of one of the vehicle's before a concert. These nights out create memories that we can only laugh about the next morning as we recount the events on the phone the next day with each other. We know we will still smile with that same joy five, 10, even 20 years from now when we think back on these moments.
However, the nights out on the town, regardless of the city in which we make these memories, are still paralleled by irreplaceable memories created on the slumber party nights held by a group of girls in their mid/late 20s. It holds true that girlfriends never grow too old to have friends sleep over and enjoy a girl's night in. Domino's pizza has been upgraded to homemade pizza; popcorn is now an assortment of chip and dip trays; ans store bought cookies have advanced to more sophisticated sweet treats that we read the recipe for in our favorite cooking magazine. Yes, we still watch heart-throbbing movies that cause tears to stream down our faces; yes, we still admire the color of each others fingernail polish; yes, we even still talk about boys. And at the end of the night, instead of being piled in the living room floor on our colorful sleeping bags, we pile in the beds to chat just a bit more before falling asleep mid-sentence.
These girl's nights - at six through 26 - leave me amazed at the beautiful friendships in life. And to think, these fun nights will still contine (we hope) even as the phases of life continue to change and we grow older. What else is there to say? Other than, "Girls just wanna have FUN!"
Whether I'm six or 26, slumber parties never get old.
When I was six years old a girl's slumber party was a night of playing Barbies, eating popcorn, Domino's pizza and lots of store bought cookies or candy, and watching our favorite Disney princess movies. At this point boys has coodies and we sat as far away from them as we could at school, but secretly talked during these slumber party nights about the cute ones. We stressed about a basic addition/subtraction math quiz and whether we would have white or chocolate milk with our lunch. As young girls we lived for the fun nights at our best friend's house to celebrate a birthday by fighting back droopy eyes to stay up all night and just have fun being girls. Maybe we painted fingernails; maybe we got into mom's make-up (shh! don't tell)' maybe we re-read those secret letters passed around in class. Whatever the night held, as young six year old girls we made memories that bring an innocent smile to our face now when we think back on such sweet times.
Times changes some things, but many things stay the same through the years. At 26 years old, I'm still enjoying girl's nights out (and every now and then those nights we opt to stay in), slumber parties included. Some nights this could mean getting dolled up by throwing on a fun dress, wearing a new outfit we found during an afternoon of shopping with the girls, or pulling out the flattering jeans and boots for teh night's adventure. Whatever the attire, we have dressed the part for a night out on the town and good conversations filled with laughter are a certainty for the evening. Maybe we're all pulled up around the patio table at our favorite restaurant for dinner sharing a bottle of wine; maybe we have continued the celebration of a friend's wedding even after the reception at another favorite hot spot in town; maybe we are tailgating in the parking lot otu of the back of one of the vehicle's before a concert. These nights out create memories that we can only laugh about the next morning as we recount the events on the phone the next day with each other. We know we will still smile with that same joy five, 10, even 20 years from now when we think back on these moments.
However, the nights out on the town, regardless of the city in which we make these memories, are still paralleled by irreplaceable memories created on the slumber party nights held by a group of girls in their mid/late 20s. It holds true that girlfriends never grow too old to have friends sleep over and enjoy a girl's night in. Domino's pizza has been upgraded to homemade pizza; popcorn is now an assortment of chip and dip trays; ans store bought cookies have advanced to more sophisticated sweet treats that we read the recipe for in our favorite cooking magazine. Yes, we still watch heart-throbbing movies that cause tears to stream down our faces; yes, we still admire the color of each others fingernail polish; yes, we even still talk about boys. And at the end of the night, instead of being piled in the living room floor on our colorful sleeping bags, we pile in the beds to chat just a bit more before falling asleep mid-sentence.
These girl's nights - at six through 26 - leave me amazed at the beautiful friendships in life. And to think, these fun nights will still contine (we hope) even as the phases of life continue to change and we grow older. What else is there to say? Other than, "Girls just wanna have FUN!"
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