My heart is breaking for the Haitian people as we are all sisters and brothers. I just wanted to take a moment and express my grief and send my love to the people of Haiti.

I found this song by Kirk Franklin on youtube:

Watch it and be inspired. Give what you can and pray for God’s comfort and mercy and blessing on those who have survived. May this tragedy teach us all that we are indeed all connected, and that whatever we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, this we do unto our Lord.

Here is CNN’s handy list of ways to help Haiti now:
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/impact/

It's a Virtual Mary Kay Party!

I am thrilled to be hosting an Internet Mary Kay Skin Care Party right here online with my friend Sydney Chase, and you are invited. She is a Mary Kay Skin Care Consultant.

My party is starting this weekend January 16th at 12am Eastern and will continue until January 18th, 12am Eastern, at:

http://www.marykay.com/sydney4139

No order is too big or small but any of my friends who place orders during this time online of $40.00 or more will receive a free gift. And guess what? All orders include free shipping! While you are there, why not take Sydney up on a “Free Virtual Makeover” and sign up for a “Free Sample” so you can try Mary Kay’s delicious make-up before you buy. This is too easy! : ) http://www.marykay.com/sydney4139 Just visit the website and start shopping.

My friend Sydney is offering me some free fabulous gifts for hosting an online Mary Kay Party with my friends. She still has dates open for this month, if you are interested you could host one too. Send her a message right on her website. And she will send you the details. Let her know that I sent you. : )

And if you place an order at Syd’s party this weekend, I’ll put your name in the hopper for an *additional* special gift from me.

Happy 2010

Happy New Year to all of me online peeps! On this second day of the new year and new decade I’m still feeling giddy with the excitement of the newness of it all. I know that it’s really just another day, but I’m loving the good energy that I’m feeling in the air. It’s a time when I talk to my friends and loved ones and wish them a happy and prosperous new year. We had a nice, quiet celebration at home and I actually dozed off before midnight and my girls had to wake me up as the ball was dropping. We toasted with sparkling cider and hugs and kisses all around.

I’ve been feeling quite prolific lately writing up a bunch of blog posts for my other blogs and social networking sites. I’ve also been using Facebook a lot lately. It’s funny, but when I started using Facebook, I had mainly business contacts as friends because no one that I knew in ‘real life’ was on Facebook. Well, something happened towards the end of this year and it seems like *everyone* I know is now on Facebook. I mean, even my mommy has Facebook profile. (Although she still has not posted a photo yet.) I’ve created a Fan Page for my Freelance writing business and I’m trying to think of a diplomatic way to ‘un-friend’ my business and random friends and encourage them to follow my Fan Page.

So, what are your exciting 2010 plans? I’ve got a bunch of exciting plans for my business that I’m cooking up. I feel so incredibly blessed to have been able to experience so much positive growth in my business over the past year that saw a lot of businesses fold due to the ‘down’ economy. By the grace of God I created my own economic stimulus package and bailed myself out after I experienced a lay-off at the end of 2008. God is good and He has blessed me with the energy and strength to persevere and to work every day on my business so that now I have something that I can be proud of and that will glorify Him.

I’ll end by encouraging you to pick a challenge and go for it in 2010. Do something that will stretch you and inspire you and those around you. But also do something that you will enjoy. Find a way to factor more fun into your life and it will feel more rewarding.

For me, the holidays mean spending time with loved ones, showing them how much they mean to us, and reflecting on the love of God shown to us through the gift of his beloved Son who came to us in a form that we could understand–one of us.

As an artist, I enjoy making most of the gifts that I give, so my fingers have been busy lately crafting the treasures that I will give on Christmas day to my loved ones. I’m working on a painting, which is almost finished but need just the right frame. Of course I’m knitting up a blue streak and I’ve made hats, cowls, gloves and scarves to keep everybody snuggly and warm.

Moving through this special season whenever I feel tempted to fall prey to the hurry and hustle and bustle of the season, I try to remind myself to keep it all in perspective. Everything that needs to get done will get done.

I feel blessed to be living right here and right now with the family that I have, all of the love that I have in my life and with all of my dreams coming true right before my eyes.

Veterans Day 2009

I wanted to take a moment to say “Thank You” to all of the members of our military. We are in war time and so many families are sacrificing their loved ones to go and fight in battles where they might be paying for our freedom with their lives. It is the ultimate sacrifice, and while I could not possibly find adequate words to express my gratitude to all of the mothers who sent their sons who have died, my abiding hope is that we as a people would one day evolve to the point where war is not necessary.

War to me is an abomination. I am not a pacifist. I believe that we should defen ourselves if we are attacked, but a war that seems to have no purpose and no end seems like such a waste.

So, as I go through this day of reflection, I hold all of the veterans in my heart and I bless them for their service. My ex-husband and my cousin Stephen served in the Navy, and I am grateful to them for their service to our country. My father’s heart condition and flat feet kept him out of the draft when he was young, but several of his friends were lost in Vietnam.

My step-son is contemplating joining the military, and I had a long talk with him about it the other day. In my heart of hearts I would not want him to sign up and get shipped off overseas, but it’s clearly something that he wants to do because he see it as a great opportunity. So, I am praying for him that he makes the decision that is best for him and for his future and his family’s future. I pray that God would be with him and guide him in whatever he decides to do.

As you enjoy this day, take a moment to think, pray or even thank a veteran for their sacrifice.

Where the Wild Things Are book

Where the Wild Things Are (movie)

We missed the red carpet arrivals, but when we arrived it was all still lit up and the press was still there with their cameras. When we got into the theatre I was given a, ‘Guide for Educators and Parents,’ which was a booklet filled with outdoor activities that parents and teachers can engage their children in. The kids got a special program and we all got free drinks with our passes.

Before the screening of the film there were a few speakers. Jeremy Symons, who is the Sr. VP of Conservation and Education for the National Wildlife Federation. They are partnering with the movie’s producers to launch a program called ‘Be Out There,’ which is a campaign to get kids away from their video games and into the great outdoors. Congressman John Sarbanes of Maryland and Congressman Jared Polis of Colorado, both are sponsors of the No Child Left Indoors legislation. The issue is, “The American childhood has moved indoors.” They spoke about the fact that the average American child spends about 44 hours per week staring at a variety of electronic screens indoors. Kids spend less than half the time outdoors that kids did twenty years ago. (back in the day when I was a kid)

Finally, after all of the talking the movie began and it was delightful. Where the Wild Things Are was one of my favorite books when I was a child, and this movie interprets it for the big screen in a really fun way. I will say that my six-year-old girl enjoyed it, but found parts of it a bit scary and she had trouble sleeping last night. Here’s what the passes said about the rating: “The film is rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure and brief language.” But if you loved this book as a child as I did, you will enjoy this movie.

Despite the pouring rain and the chill I’m glad that we went to see the movie. It was fun getting a chance to see it a day before the rest of the world. They did a fabulous job with this beloved book.

Gandhi

When the movie Gandhi came out in 1982, I was a young girl and I remember sitting absolutely transfixed as I watched the horrors of what the people of India endured in trying to win their freedom. Gandhi’s story had a huge impact on me. I took from it the idea that one person can indeed change the world. One of my favorite inspirational quotes, which is now almost a cliche, was his advice that we should seek to, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I took this to mean that I should focus on being the best person that I could be and in so doing change the world. I also took this to mean that if I wanted to see something done I would do what I could to accomplish it.

When I look at the state of our world today I wonder what will come of all of us. Everything is changing so quickly. The old paradigms are crumbling and the new way of doing things is being invented before our eyes. I am an eternal optimist. I believe in the inherent goodness in every human being because we are all instruments of the Divine. It is my prayer today that each of us would take a moment and reflect on the shining example of the potential of the human spirit that Gandhi embodied, and do whatever is in our power to create more freedom for those that we love.

September 11, 2001 raising the U.S. flag

Eight years ago I had only recently met my (now ex) husband. We had communicated for a few weeks online and then on the phone, but we had only just met in person in July. By September we were each hinting around about the possibilities of marriage. We were in love, but living in separate cities. He was in D.C. and I was in Boston. So, on September 11, when it seemed like the world might be crashing down, we frantically tried to get in touch with each other.

As we each watched the coverage of the days events from so far apart we both knew that our lives and the whole world would never be the same again. I cried and I prayed for all of those who had died in the attacks and for those who were left behind. The sadness and grief was overwhelming and it made me hold those that I loved even closer.

A few weeks later we were engaged having been swept up in the high drama of the world changing so quickly before our eyes. We didn’t know if he was going to be shipped off somewhere to serve his duty, so we felt a sense of urgency. There were a lot of quick weddings around that time with service men being shipped off to serve leaving their families and loved ones behind.

Now when I think back on those days my heart breaks for all that we lost. This bogus war sprung up out of the madness of 9/11 despite the fact that those we invaded were not the ones who attacked us. My heart breaks for the men and women who have sacrificed their lives for our country in this war that seems unending and without meaning.

One glimmer of hope that I see is that the memory of 9/11/01 is now being honored in a day of service. People are getting out and giving of their time and energy to serve the community to make this world better each in our own small way.

I love my country and we suffered a deep wound on that day. We have grieved and we are healing but we should never forget the terrible losses and sacrifices of that day for as long as we live.

Feet in the Street Celebration

On Saturday, Jordan, a friend and I attended the first annual “Feet in the Street” festival at Fort DuPont Park, which is a National Park located two blocks from our home. The morning was damp and cloudy and the dark skies threatened rain at any moment, but we went anyway. When I saw the signs for the event earlier in the month I figured that there would be a big crowd. Every Saturday night in the summer there are free concerts at the Fort DuPont ampitheatre, and those events are always crowded, but there was hardly anyone around when we reached the visitors center about an hour into the event. They blocked off all of the entrances to the park so that no cars could come through, which made it much easier to walk around.

Jordan got her face painted with purple butterflies by an Australian woman named Christalene who had a booth set up. Then she got a temporary tatoo with a logo from the day’s events on her shoulder. We walked around and looked at the different booths and met up with a guy named Lee from the Anacostia Watershed Society. He was leading nature tours through the trails in the park. We set off into the woods with Lee leading the way and clearing the path of spiderwebs for us. He pointed out some of the invasive species that were causing damage to the trees in the park, and he pointed out the poison ivy plants that were all over the place. I learned that one of my favorite plants, English Ivy, is one of those non-native, invasive species that is really taking over and hurting the trees in the Fort Circle Parks here in D.C. The AWS is working on legislation that would ban the sale of English Ivy in nurseries in Maryland just as they lobbied for the legislation that put a 5 cent fee on those plastic grocery bags in D.C. grocery stores starting January 1, 2010. We walked along the damp trail getting bitten by mosquitoes and learning about the trees and plants in these woods that are so close to our home. The trail ended across from the community garden area. Lee left us there and went on to lead another nature hike further into the park.

We stopped at the community garden to listen to the presentation and to learn about how to get a garden plot for next year’s gardening season. I spoke with the National Park Service ranger, who directed me to Rev. Hackney to find out more about getting signed up for a garden plot. I had downloaded an application from the NPS web site, but the whole process of actually getting a plot was kept a bit cloudy and mysterious. He took my name and contact information and said that I would be put on the list, but that I still had to submit an application. The plots are given out on a first come, first served basis, and you had to take the plot that you were given.

After a short presentation, we were given a tour of the gardens, which by now many of them were neglected by their custodians. The late summer heat had driven all but the hardiest of the gardeners away, and their plots were overrun with weeds and pests. But some people had kept up with their gardens and their plots were yielding beans, peppers, tomatoes, okra, squash, and corn. When the tour was over we were allowed to take home some peaches, sweet potatoes and green beans that were there in big bins. I made cobbler with the peaches we brought home, and I baked some of the yams and served them with supper.

I am looking forward to planning my 25X25 foot garden for next year. When I was growing up in southern Oregon we had an organic garden and a greenhouse, we raised rabbits, goats, sheep and chickens. At the time we thought that it was strange to be living on a farm after having come from living in the suburbs in Massachusetts. Now I am glad that we had those experiences because I get to put all of that knowledge of composting, gardening, canning and food preservation to good use.

Sunday was Daddy’s birthday, and to celebrate it, I baked his favorite spice cake with cream cheese frosting. I had to giggle when I spoke to my stepmom who said that Daddy had requested three different birthday cakes for himself from three different people. Daddy liked cake. So we celebrated him and all that he meant to us. It warmed my heart and I did not shed a single tear. He took up so much space in my heart and in my life and he will never be forgotten. As I am moving through the grieving process it is giving me a deep sense of fellowship with others who are suffering the grief of loss. Life is short, so don’t miss the opportunity to tell everyone around you how much they mean to you while you still can.

We went home at the beginning of August for my dad’s funeral and spent a week with the family in Massachusetts. I still can’t get used to the fact that my dad is gone. It’s interesting how we grieve differently for different people in our lives. For me, I think that his death being so unexpected that shocked me. When my grandpa passed away earlier in the year he was 93 years old. He was ready to go and we were ready to let him go in peace. Yes I mourned his passing because I love him dearly, but somehow with him I felt comforted by the fact that he was finally at home in heaven. With daddy, I feel like I am experiencing all of the stages of grief in a jumbled up fashion every single day. It’s hard. I know that I should be happy that he is in heaven and that he has no more pain and that he is with God, but slefishly, I still want him to be here with me. I know that in time my feelings in this will change, but for now everything is really close to the surface for me. I’m already a crier, but jeez, it seems like everything is making me cry these days. When I saw this picture taken of me and daddy at my wedding posted on my brother’s Facebook page sent me straight over the edge:

Daddy at my Wedding

For now I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who left comments of condolence for me, my friends who sent emails and Facebook messages. It’s hard to know what to say when someone has lost a loved one. I feel like in my grief I have learned to have a lot more empathy for others who are suffering.

I am looking forward to the fall when we will be back to a regular routine and I will have quiet, uninterrupted work time at home while the girls are in school. I have some exciting projects in the pipeline for the fall and I will share them in the coming weeks.