Forever Love

During the past year I have really taken an interest in gaining insight into the spiritual part of our being. I read, I listen and I talk. I take comfort knowing there are other people who believe that there is a much larger force that guides us, teaches us and prepares us. I read this poem today and it is truly profound. "Mother" would also apply to Grandmother, Father, Grandfather, Sister, Brother, Aunt, Uncle, Daughter, Son or Friend and for each of us there is a peace that comes from believing that our loved ones are in grand hands, while still close enough for us to know that they are always with us. 

I thought of you and closed my eyes
And prayed to God today.
I asked what makes a Mother
And I know I heard him say.

A Mother has a baby
This we know is true.
But God can you be a Mother
When your baby's not with you?

Yes, you can He replied
With confidence in His voice
I give many women babies
When they leave is not their choice.

Some I send for a lifetime
And others for a day.
And some I send to feel your womb
But there's no need to stay

I just don't understand this, God
I want my baby here
He took a breath and cleared His throat
And then I saw a tear.

I wish I could show you
What your child is doing today.
If you could see your child smile
With other children and say

"We go to earth to learn our lessons
Of love and life and fear.
My Mommy loved me oh so much
I got to come straight here.

I feel so lucky to have a Mom
Who had so much love for me
I learned my lesson very quickly
My mommy set me free.

I miss my Mommy oh so much
But I visit her each day.
When she goes to sleep
On her pillow's where I lay.

I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek
And whisper in her ear.
Mommy don't be sad today
I'm your baby and I'm here."

So you see my dear sweet one
Your children are ok
Your babies are here in My home
And this is where they'll stay.

They'll wait for you with Me
Until your lesson is through.
And on the day that you come home
They'll be at the gates for you.

So now you see what makes a Mother
It's the feeling in your heart.
It's the love you had so much of
Right from the very start.

Through some on earth may not realize you are a Mother,
Until their time is done.
They'll be up here with Me one day
And you know you're the best one!

~ Author Unknown

Arizona Inspiration

During a recent trip to Arizona my sister in law Michele and her sister Jacquie went to an outdoor market and came back with a neclace made from a wine cork....who would have thought of that idea? Cool!! They supplied me with some funky corks (not hard to gather those in my house!) so that I could give it a try.



I sat down with my supplies this afternoon and this is what I came up with......fun!

These would look great with your favorite swim suit at the beach, to the park with your kids or maybe even to a wine tasting!! (maybe you'll get to take the corks home!)

The Man and the Butterfly

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly

One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched

the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force

its body through the little hole. Then it seemed to stop

making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far

as it could and it could not go any farther.

The man decided to help the butterfly, he took a pair of

scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.

The butterfly them emerged easily,  but it had a swollen body

and small shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected

that any moment the wings would enlarge and expand to be

able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened!

in fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around

with a swollen body and shriveled wings.

It never was able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that

the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly

to get through the tiny opening were nature's way of forcing fluid

from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight 

once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. 

If we went through life without any obstacles, it would cripple us.

We would not be as strong as what we could have been

and we could never fly.  

~Author Unknown