Dream

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never loose infinite hope."                  - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

photo credit: kids.nationalgeographic.com

On a hot August day, 50 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr gave his famous I Have a Dream Speech...one of the most powerful speeches of our lifetime (in my opinion....)

He started with a dream and fought to make it a reality..since then our country has improved, has had some trials and some victories...

What dreams do you have? For yourself, for your children, for the world? How can you help make them a reality? Dream on friends! Wish upon those shooting stars and reach for your goals! You never know how far you can go, how high you can reach if you don't try! 

We all have the power to change the world one dream at a time...

Lessons from My Children...

               "Worry does not empty tomorrow of it's sorrow, it empties today of it's strength."                        

-Corrie ten Boom

I'd always been a worry wart - stressing over the little things in life. Yet surprisingly, and luckily, after my children came into my life my stress level decreased. Yes, there were different stresses, and a few more stresses in my life but I found myself handling them a lot differently. I found myself taking more time to stop and smell the flowers, and less time stressing about where the flowers are found.

My children had discovered a way to re-kindle in me a little bit of that zest for life that only a child has....and I'll be forever grateful.

How can you release your stresses, and enjoy the strength today can bring?

Nursery Rhymes

"What are little boys made of?

Snakes, snails, and puppy dog tails...

That's what little boys are made of. 

What are little girls made of?

Sugar, spice, and everything nice...

That's what little girls are made of."

According to the rhyme, that is what children are made of, that may be true (but I'm doubtful).  In my experience children are concocted with wonder, excitement, and unconditional love. They forgive us our mistakes, love strangers and family alike, and don't try to hide anything..they are honest and true..they know what life is all about. 

I'm proud of who my children are, and who they make me. These frames are a way for me to remember the wonder of childhood even as my babies grow older... 

Moments

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away." - Anonymous 

This quote has always spoken to me...and here is why...

Often times people are so concerned with "what's next" we forget to look at "what's NOW". I'm usually too concerned with what needs to be done, or with future events, I forget. I forget to enjoy the present moment. I get so caught up in what will be that when I finally do stop I'm quite often surprised at what has been!  I'm in a steady battle with myself to live in the present moment, and look to the future as opposed to living in the future. 

Taking time to stop and smell the roses while we journey through life may seem insignificant along the way, but in my experience as a hospice nurse, it's all those roses we gathered that create a beautiful bouquet, its those moments that make life worth living. 

Power to change...

"You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty" -Mahatma Gandhi

Following the terrible events that occurred at the Boston Marathon on Monday I began to feel disheartened with humanity. How many of these nonsensical acts of violence are going to occur, and why do they happen? My faith began to waiver in humanity...but then I found this quote by Mahatma Gandhi (he always seems to 'speak' to me at just the right moment) and my attitude was changed...my thoughts began to shift. 

Events such as Boston will continue to occur as long as humans breathe. Wars will wage and hate and ignorance will rear its ugly head. But , there will also be peace that flows and love and compassion in the world to battle the darkness of hate.

I may only be one, but I am one of many.

I am one tiny drop in the vast ocean of humanity, but sometimes one drop is all it takes to initiate a ripple of change.

So, I may only be one, but one can make a difference. 

I will make a difference...

Setting Sail and Weighing Anchor

"A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for."

 - Grace Hopper

My initial reaction to this quote was "Tell that to the USS Arizona"...but then that got me to thinking...

Not all oceans are safe all the time, just like they aren't dangerous all the time. The same goes for various ports...If life is like the ocean, what are the ports? To me...the ports are our friends, family, co-workers, and yes..strangers. And just as in the case of the USS Arizona, not all ports,though they are meant to be, are safe...

 We are all sailing through life. The ocean isn't always calm nor is life always easy. The waters get rough, hard to navigate...and sometimes ships loose their way. Sometimes we loose our way. In times like these we need our ports. We need the lighthouse on shore to guide us in to safety. Into the arms of love and support. 

Some 'ports' don't have a lighthouse, or their light is burnt out too. We have the power and the ability to surround ourselves with positive energy, to surround ourselves with those who give a shoulder to lean on, or cry on...a safe haven to rest during one of life's storms. Or a place to find courage to face the storms up ahead. We have the power to chose our lighthouse...

We also have the power to be a lighthouse to others...a guiding light when our loved ones are lost. Be a lighthouse, be peace for others...as others are peace for you in this great big ocean of life. 

Self Discovery

"You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be"       - David Viscott

This quote had gotten me thinking, especially lately following the birth of my second child. What kind of person am I? What kind of person do I want to become? What kind of mother do I want to be for my son and daughter? Answers kept swimming around in my head to questions like...Where am I? Where do I want to be? Who do I want to become? 

But how do I get there? 

That answer to me is, ultimately, given by Mr. Viscott himself. As we begin to think of who we want to become we naturally start becoming the person we desire...The mind is a powerful tool. All we have to do is use it. 

How will you put your mind to use? 

Support

"The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem." - Theodore Rubin

Problems in life are inevitable. How we deal with them is up to us, and one big factor in how we deal with our perceived problems is what our support system looks like. Who can you call on during times of need or sadness?

Think of your 'web of support'; the people you surround yourself with starting with the inner most circle and branching outward. All of these individuals in your life could be available to support you through a rough patch life throws your way...all we need to do is ask. That always seems to be the hardest part. We don't want to appear weak or incapable...

I recently experienced this in my own life, and when I finally surrendered to the fear of "appearing weak" all I found were supportive strands of my web pulling together to provide exactly the kind of support and love I needed. And..well, any strand that may have found me weak or incapable broke away..but my web held strong to carry me through. Yours can too...

And remember you are not the only one with a web, we are all connected...so after you become strengthened once more go out into the world and strengthen the webs around you, you and they will be grateful.I know I was...

A Mommy's Love

" The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new." 

- Rajneesh

On April 16, 2011 I gave birth to my first child, my son. I didn't realize it then, but this quote really rang true over the months following. The last 22 months for me have been an amazing journey...I have learned so much and grown so much as a woman while learning as a mother. Now, as I prepare to become a mother again I realize the truth of this quote even more...I may already be a woman. I may already be a mother, but there is another mother waiting to be born with my second child, my daughter... a mother who has similar fears, hopes, and dreams...but this time for another life, another child. 

Although this pregnancy has taught me to honor the mother within, a greater lesson learned has been to also remember the woman who started it all...the woman who lies under it all. She is wise, compassionate, and strong. She may not always be perfect, but that's not how life is...and she deserves the same love, the same care as the mother in the foreground... 

I have made these earrings for expectant mothers, not only to honor the heart of a mother's love. The wisdom, strength, and love of a mother, new or old. However, they are also meant to remind the expecting mother not to forget her roots as a woman...that in the chaos of pregnancy, birth, and motherhood underneath it all beats the heart of a woman, a strong and compassionate woman...and that's something to be proud of too...

Coiled wire to symbolize the chaos that life can bring, but underneath it all beats the heart of a mother who tries hard to do best for her and her children...underneath it all beats the heart of a woman.

Goals

"When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps."           

   -Confucius

 I have found this to be true in my life, that when my goals seem out of reach and unattainable not only do I need to adjust the actions steps...but I first must adjust my attitude. Often times once the steps I've mapped out to a goal 'dysfunction' I become too overwhelmed by frustration, fear, and doubt. I cannot see the next steps to put me back on my path. Once I step back, take a deep calming breath (both figuratively and metaphorically) I find the sky opens and I see a clear picture of how to achieve what 'I felt I'd lost'. In the words of Winston Churchill, "Never, never, never...Never give up."

Girls just wanna have fun!

"A new baby is like the beginning of all things - wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities" - Edna J. Le Shan

To announce the gender of our second child to our families I created these frames as gifts, with a picture of the little one growing inside my belly. They had no idea we were finding out the gender of our baby, so it was a fun surprise for everyone! 

Lessons

"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward." 

-Vernon Law

Life gives us many lessons along the way, and we each experience them in ways unique to us. The tests and challenges life throws at us are only meant to make us stronger, help us grow. As we experience life, its not always easy...but it's not always hard either. As I wander through life I try to remind myself to enjoy the tests, because the lessons they teach are worth it in the end. 

Movtivation

"Let him who would move the world first move himself."

 -Socrates

Motivation is key in this world. It's a factor in what keeps us going, in both the real sense and figuratively. Some days I feel it's all I can do to motivate myself to climb out of bed in the morning...other times I'm working on building momentum to initiate or continue with a big project in spite of road blocks encountered or hoops that need jumping through, because I know it's something I believe in. 

What motivates you in life? 

Socrates said "Let him who would move the world first move himself." What does this mean for you, how does this apply to your life? For me it means I need to move, or motivate myself to not only take an active part in my life but to take an active part in the world around me. By surrounding myself with motivating factors; whether it be pictures of my goals, quotes, or sayings I provide encouragement to pursue my dreams. And by surrounding myself with motivating support I can provide a net to catch me when I feel the going is getting too rough and those dreams, so important to me, seem out of reach. 

Who/what are your motivating factors? Who weaves together your safety net of support?