A poem for my little boy...

Inspiration: This morning my husband took my car to get a much needed oil change. It was just me and my little boy at home. He had just eaten breakfast and was playing with his toys. As I was cleaning the kitchen up I turned and noticed he had climbed onto the kitchen chair all by himself so that he could reach his sippy cup. Usually he grabs my leg and says, "cup"...but today he did it on his own. This is for him:

The moment I laid eyes on you I knew it was love

A sweet little baby, a gift from above

Was placed in my arms all bundled with care

Our growing family, no longer just a pair

And now I see your sweet little face full innocent wonder

Believing in flying, even if it is in slumber

Chasing fireflies in the night with not a care in the world

Not sure what to make of those sparkling swirls

Through the past year you have learned how to walk

How to smile and giggle and even to talk

But there are some things in life I want you to know

To never forget as you continue to grow

Don’t ever lose your childhood dreams

Even though people may tell you they can’t be reached

Because ANYTHING is possible if you just believe

With hard work and determination it can all be achieved

But for now come to your parents, when things are too high

No need to rush to grow up when we are by your side

For as long as you can try to stay in the present

When your laughter and soul is nothing but innocent. 
                             ~Christina Zambrano 

Confessions of a Modern Day Busy Woman

     Rewind to the year 1950: A young fresh faced mother wakes up before her husband and children and quietly gets herself ready for the day. Her hair and makeup is flawless as she steps into her perfectly ironed and fitted green and white house dress. Topped with a pair of white heels. She heads to the kitchen where she makes a full course breakfast of pancakes, fresh cut fruit, and bacon. Coffee is poured and the family heads into the kitchen and sits at the table. When finished she walks them to the door kisses them all and hands them their lunch as they head off to work and school. And now it is time to scrub the floors (on her hands and knees), dust the entire house, makes all the beds, vacuum, clean the blinds..oh and have dinner ready by the time her husband comes home.

     Fast Forward to the present year: A young college student is stressed trying to juggle her studies and her full time job all the while trying to balance a relationship with her boyfriend, friends, and family. A young mom wakes up late rushes around the house trying to get everyone up all the while getting herself ready for her 9 to 5. She throws her family nutrigrain bars on their way out for breakfast. NO makeup and hair pulled up in a ponytail. After work she rushes home to prepare the quickest dinner possible (hot dogs and potatoes anyone?) By the time they are done it is 7 pm and those dishes are waiting in the sink until tomorrow. Now it is time to spend an hour of quality time with her husband and children.

     Whether you are single and holding two jobs, married with a hectic schedule, or have children to care for we are all busy in the year 2010……So ladies, I want your input. What are some of your modern day busy woman confessions?

 Here are mine:

• I confess that I would rather rerun the dryer to avoid folding laundry. I have let laundry sit in the dryer for a few days. I loathe folding laundry. 

• I confess that when Eddie throws food on the floor I don’t even bother picking it up because I know Lucy will get it for me! Ahh I love having a dog.

• I confess that I use a swifter wet jet to do the floors (This mama has no time for scrubbing them the old way anymore. I used to when it was just Ed and me) and I use Clorox wipes to clean the entire bathroom except for once a month when I get a chance to really clean it.

• I confess that I have never actually taken the blinds down to clean them…I just vacuum them…when I remember lol!

What are some of yours??

For every soul, there is a guardian watching it. Mine's name is Mary.

For every soul, there is a guardian watching it. ~

The Koran

   Three years ago yesterday one of the most important people in my life passed away, my grandmother. And for seven grandchildren she was not only our grandmother but our best friend and our rock.

   For months after her passing I felt robbed. While she was 78 years old she was so together and so young at heart. How could she have been taken from us so soon? But as the pain slowly disappeared I realized that I wasn’t robbed at all. I was, in fact, truly blessed and lucky to have had such an amazing woman in my life. Most people only dream about angels and we all had one in our lives, here on earth. Her name was Mary.

   Mary was truly an angel in the sense that she saw the good in almost everyone. Through the past 30 plus years each one of the grandchildren fell into hard times. At one point or another we were in pretty bad places. A group home, a teen pregnancy, the loss of a parent. And through it all she stayed strong and offered support and love that people could only dream about. She never compared and never passed judgment. Her love was unconditional.

   Fast forward to about 2 years after her passing, Ed and I had been married a year. Within that year we bought a home, a puppy, and were building out life together. We then decided we were ready to become parents. We were thrilled to find out shortly that we were expecting, but I had a feeling something was not right and we miscarried. We were devastated and heart broken. A few months later the doctor gave us the ok to start trying again and soon enough we were pregnant. But the first few months were not easy. I was bleeding a lot and had to be put on hormone pills to try to keep the pregnancy viable. One night in particular I broke down sobbing. So afraid that we were going to repeat history. Ed and I just held each other and prayed. I talked to my grandmother and told her how scared I was and how I wished so very much for her to be there so I could talk to her. Then Ed brought me a glass of water to calm me down. My hands were trembling so much that I spilled some on the bed…..this is what I saw when I looked down:

A baby footprint. She heard me! HE heard me! This was a sign that everything was going to be ok. From that moment on I wore my grandmother’s wedding ring. The same ring she was wearing when she took her last breath was the ring I was wearing when 8 months later my son took his first. And while at times I wish she was still here so could see Eddie an what a great job we are doing with him, Ed reminds me that she really is here with us.

 

• Special memories I have are of the sleepovers held at my grandmothers house for years (from childhood to adulthood) that consisted of my cousin Erica, my sister Alicia, and my self staying up all night giggling, eating entire bags of Peanut Chews, and pretty much annoying our poor grandmother. “Go To Bed!” She loved the company either way. Then the next morning she would put us to work…..pulling weeds in 100 degree weather or polishing her cabinets. And we loved to do it for her. She has done so much for us!
• At 78 years old she listened to Prince and Madonna. 

   To my grandmother, my best friend, my rock, and now my angel…….I love you so much and miss you everyday. Thank you for all of the life lessons and great memories you have given me.