ON THIS MY 75TH BIRTHDAY

I awoke to a cool and foggy morning, though I pray the sun today, this my 75th birthday.  

I pray the sun today not merely to shine upon me, but the world as well.  How we need the sun, its warmth and its glory and its pervasive reach.  I love the sun.

Today I reflect on these many years that are mine, totally unable to relate the number 75 to myself...age and time are such tricksters.  

Blindsided

Right from the start

old age,

patient and knowing,

waited.

Lost in years

of youth and

vigor

I am startled

by this collision

and the truth

of myself.

Yet how blessed am I to have these years, my health, my family and the good earth, itself.  My life overflows with blessings, abounds with blessings, shouts to me each day the thrill of being.

Looking back over my life I cannot tally the blessings that I have nor the joys that have been mine...and those that grace my life today. 

My parents, my siblings, my daughter, my son (in-law) and my granddaughters, my husband adorn my life in ways I cannot describe.  They fill me with so much love and pleasure I sometimes feel that I will burst with it all.

My mother and my siblings...granted several (to put it mildly) years ago.

My mother Sarah

My father, Bart.

My siblings and me a mere three years ago.

My daughter Jonel and husband Andy.

Jonel, Elsa and Iris

My husband Freddie

There is so much that each of these folks have given me...

*my parents: my life and love unbounded

*my siblings: constant love, unending support, and joy and         happiness

*my daughter: so much pride in who she is, how she lives her life, how she parents, and all that she is

*my son (in-law) who, too, has given me so much pride in knowing him, one of the finest men I have ever met

*Iris and Elsa...for these two girls I cannot find the words nor would I have the space to enumerate all that they have added to my life...they are the true light of my later years

*my husband who is my prince charming in so many ways

*and I cannot forget the Earth beneath my feel and all that I have gained, over my years from its power and its spirit

Being of Things

My face, nestled softly in the dense

     moss, deep in the forest,

I could not help myself,

     child of the woods was I,

no different than the trees,

     the moss, the sweet air all around.

Only six, yet I was entered

     by the Being of Things

and ever after knew something

     I could not say.

Whatever God might be,

     I knew in some profound way,

yet all this life of mine,

     I have struggled,

sometimes darkly,

     to make Him more real.

6/22/14

And so I enter this day of my birth with such thankfulness and gratitude, love for all of you, love for this earth, and hopes that we, as a nation, as a world, will unite and grow towards goodness, truth and beauty.

TIME HAS FLOWN

It seems like a long time since I have entered a new post, and this one will be somewhat brief.

I spent several weeks preparing for a dinner for 82 people, for which I made the entire spread.  The dinner was a big success and although I did bring my camera, I failed (being quite busy) to take any photos.  

Here, however is a copy of the menu.

The girls and I continue to volunteer each week at the Humane Society, and they continue to love it devotedly. 

Here the girls are sorting the laundry, organizing the laundry shelves, and emptying out the dryer.

One of their favorite kittens.  There are many, many cats at the Humane Society, and we try to take each one out of their enclosure and play with it and let it run around a bit.  It is not always possible to get to every one of them, however.

A new, very sweet and loving puppy arrived last week, and the girls were so happy that Ruby was still there, despite they would love for her to go to a good home.  (They keep trying to get me to take her home.)  We walked Ruby out doors and then brought her into the playroom where she would venture after a toy but immediately bring it back to one of the girls lap.  This puppy is really beautiful, and we decided that she....

looked very much like Elsa...beautiful dark eyes and dark, dark brows.  Elsa loved that she had a 'twin'.

These girls are truly dedicated to helping out here, and will do any job that needs doing or that is asked of them.  Last week we cleaned, organized and straightened out the very messy garage.  I am so proud of them and their selflessness.