What Inspires You?

I was blog hopping during my lunch break earlier this week, and I encountered a very honest blogger. Someone who was feeling tired and uninspired. Instead of wallowing in it she asked for help. Her question was, "What inspires you?" Oh, that was a fun post to comment on. What a great topic to ponder. Here's my answer. I'm wondering about yours. What inspires you?

* Blogging! I just love it. I love that I can share whatever I want and that there is a real, live, breathing, appreciating audience on the other end. *
* I love following the candy trail. You know, roaming link to link to link catching bits and pieces of other peoples' wonderfulness. *

* Discovering new artists. Making new friends. Visiting old ones. *
* Lists. Books. Rereading old journals. *
* Book shops. Cafe lunches. Girlfriend dates. *
* Beauty. *
* Holding hands. Coloring with my little one. Walking. Listening to glorious music. *

* And always, always: love. *

Good night, sweet friends.

The amazing image above was taken by my friend, Jaime. You can find more of her wonderfulness here and here.

On Wednesdays

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming. I am going to try to get back to my regular Something for You posts. Each Wednesday, I'll post something wonderful that I've discovered recently. A small piece of beauty, laughter, or inspiration that I hope will add joy to your day.

Today I offer an amazing blog. This is one of the most creative blogging concepts I've come across. Two women, mother and daughter, who each share a quick snapshot of their day. Every day. Meet Leslye and Taylor from Spread Your Wings. While you are at it, check out some of my favorite posts here, here, and here. And don't miss this. See what I mean?





The original artwork picture above is by Leslye of Spread Your Wings.

Just Imagine

"Mom, what if every time it thundered, fireworks fell out of the sky?"
~ Sloane, age 6

Oh! Just imagine.

Sloane said that and a mini-movie began in my head. I saw scared, tear-smeared faces and tense little bodies. Noses were pressed to the window as the children nervously waited for the next boom to rattle the panes and scare them witless. The wait wasn't long, but instead of tears, the room filled with delighted giggles as the sky bloomed in flowers.

One sentence from a child and my mind is a whirl. After I emerged from my daydreams, I rushed to write down her words. I couldn't bear the thought of losing them.

Sloane's delightful comment started me thinking about imagination. I've always been pretty good at playing along and daydreaming with her. I happily join her for a game of Barbie. I dress and redress Josephina. I spend hours telling stories of the "Girl Scout Cookie Sleuths". We provide paints, paper, an easel, and endless craft supplies. We have family read aloud every day. Sloane is not seven yet and she's planning to go to school on Friday as Bilbo. (The assignment is to come as your favorite book character.) If we can't swing a believable Bilbo costume, she's informed me that Peter Pan is her second choice. Most nights, before she drifts off to sleep, we pick a place to meet in our dreams. Last night we met at the tippy-tip-top of the Space Mountain ride. Afterward we went to that place with the terrific cheese fries. "What if...?" is one of our favorite games.

I thought I had the imagination/ creativity portion of my mommy-job-description pretty well covered. We play. We read. We tell stories. We pretend. We craft. I try hard not be in too much of a rush to clean up the messes. Sloane takes gymnastics for her body and piano for her mind. I take this play thing pretty seriously, you see. In fact, one of my friends describes me as a party waiting to happen. I described myself here once as having a real talent for fun. And then...

Isn't it funny how our children teach us lessons without even trying?

In the months since Sloane invented her own kind of fireworks, I've been paying close attention to her imagination. Since I let Sloane take charge, life has been pretty exciting around here.


We have...

traveled inside a rainbow.

met the off-Broadway cast of The Little Red Hen.

been on a picnic with a panda. We ate Chinese food, of course.

kept company with a fairy.

gained a new fashion sense.

been to an art show with a tambourine-playing Star Kitty.

enjoyed many gourmet meals.

been to the beach several times.

Oh yes. Life is much more fun when you live in the Imagi Nation. What have you been imagining?

I took all these pictures in the past few months, except the first one. Sloane took that.

I'll be back soon...

This week is parent teacher conferences in my school district. We use a student-led format, which makes the child the real star of the show. I really love conferences because they are a wonderful time to connect with families and make a real impact on individual students. It is also a week of at least 12 hour work days. I probably won't be around much, but I wanted to leave some beauty and inspiration behind.






May your week be full of color.





The images are scans of old greeting cards. Aren't they lovely?

Aren't We All Such a Wonder?

Do you ever stop to think of all the miracles around you? Everyone you meet, all the people your eyes can see... we're all such a wonder. We each carry inside of us entire worlds. We all hold a universe of feeling. Cargo ships full of memory. Unlimited potential.

I think of my students and their shining, happy faces. What amazing wonders are hidden behind those too-long bangs and gap-toothed grins? What marvelous things will they do with their precious lives? What fires can I ignite in them that will warm them their whole lives? I often ponder just how I might be able to pass along the life-giving fires of confidence, curiosity, and wonder.

I think of how precious each of us is. And I realize how easy it is to extinguish someone's spark. I picture crest-fallen faces after a casually spoken insult. I remember my own still-tender spots from unkind words. I think of delighted expressions after just a few words of praise. I feel arms hug me tight in relief that someone other than family loves them.

What a sacred task it is for us to protect each other. To cherish each other. To speak tenderly to another's dreams. We are all such miracles walking around a rough-edged world protected only by this fragile flesh. Let's be gentle with each other. We are all such a wonder.






My friend Jaime has a beautiful, poet's heart. Her words are always perfect: simple and profound. This post of hers inspired these ponderings of mine. Firefly's photostream is amazing. The photo pictured here was just a taste.

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time there lived a girl who had a brother, but no sister. This girl had wished for a sister all her adult life. About a year ago, her brother gave her what she had longed for: a sister of her very own.

Once upon a time there lived a little girl who dreamed of magical white dresses, a walk down a long aisle, and baskets of flowers. About a year ago, a pretty lady kindly made a little girl's dream come true.

Once upon a time there lived a man who was single for quite a while, waiting for the woman that made his heart whole. About a year ago, this man married that woman and they made a new life together in a magical city.
My brother and his wife, Lynn just had their first anniversary. I've been thinking about them and their wonderful wedding. It was a simple celebration, held in their backyard. Only their best friends and family attended, and it was absolutely perfect. The wedding was more about people and relationships than dresses and cake. We actually spent more time enjoying each other than we did smiling for pictures. We laughed and celebrated and even shared a few sentimental tears. The bride and groom cooked dinner for us while we laughed, slapped at sand fleas, and laughed some more.
It felt like this:

Every couple has three circles. His family. Her family. Their heart's family, made up mostly of friends. Instead of struggling to merge those circles, or being content to keep them separate, Brett and Lynn flung their arms wide and invited all of us in.

By the time we left Savannah, the most magical of cities, we all felt like old friends. Brett and Lynn's love, for each other, for their family, for their friends, for their adopted city, gave us all a magical weekend we'll never forget. About a year ago their vast love made more than one dream come true.
Happy, happy anniversary to my brother and the sister he gave to me.





All the photographs were taken by me in Savannah, Georgia in October, 2007.

Feels Like There's a Chill in the Air

Happy October!

May you find time to enjoy all the peaceful, colorful, delicious, vibrant, joyful blessings of this marvelous month. What part of October brings you the most joy?





Click on the mosaic to view it larger. Click here to find out more about each picture and the wonderful photographers who lent their images. I love this autumn song and this one. I am inspired by this autumn post. These lovely autumn images make me swoon. And, this is a delicious recipe.

Daydreaming...

I wandered into a book blog earlier this week. She asked the most intriguing question. If you were to suddenly find yourself inside a book, what book would you want that to be? Isn't that a most wonderful question? It led me into the most delightful of daydreams. I could think of so many books I would like to fall into. Enchanted April, The Great Gatsby, All-of-a-Kind Family, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Range of Motion, Winter Solstice... Whatever book it is, I want to get to look like this. Isn't she completely lovely?


What about you? What book would you like to wake up in the middle of?





The Secret by in touch. Fashion Hat photographed by Heather Buckley.

J is for...

Jeffrey * joy * jazz * jumping: for joy, on the bed, jacks * jungles * journals * jitterbug * joie de vivre * Jiminy Cricket * Joshua Kadison, singer/songwriter * Joshua Tree by U2 * Jello * juicy peaches * justice * jewels * jelly * Jitney by August Wilson * jaunty bowties * jetty * Juicy Fruit gum * jelly beans * July 4th * jury duty * jesters * jack-in-the-box * jute * jamborees * jeans * Japanese tea ceremony * jump rope rhymes * Jujubes * jerry-rigged solutions * Jonah and the whale * Jack in the Beanstalk * Jerry Lee Lewis * joust * jellyfish * jerky * jacquard tablecloth * jukebox * jewelry * joyful singing *Jesus, my savior * just-in-time blessings * Jeeps * juniper country * Jabberwocky by Lewis Carol * jack-0f-all-trades * jam on toast * junkyard dogs * jonquil yellow * jacuzzi * jade green * Jadeite * jugglers * jam sessions * Jeopardy * jet planes * jett beading * jigsaw puzzles * jockeys in jodhpurs * job security * jelly roll * jalopy * journalism * Jolly Roger * joviality * jubilee * Jupiter * jackpot winners * Jack Frost * jolly old St. Nicholas * journeys *

Don't you just love the alphabet?

To see more work from these excellent photographers, click the individual links. J by andrewflavin. Joy by javi indy. Journal by horselatitudes. Jazz by Rod Monkey. To find out more about the Alphabetica project, see the sidebar. To see the entire project so far, click the Alphabetica link at the end of this post.

This Is Just To Say

This is Just to Say

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

~ William Carlos Williams

May your weekend be full of beautiful autumn treats.
Perhaps even a perfect plum for breakfast.
Happy October!

The photo was taken by Borealnz. You might enjoy a visit to the wonderful foodie blog, La Tartine Gourmande. It is full of inspiring recipes and images.

Breakfast

Somehow, I missed posting this back in August when I wrote it.

I've been thinking of breakfasts quite a bit lately. Probably because it is summer and our family has time each morning to linger. Our summer mornings almost always begin when Sloane joins me in bed and we snuggle and play. Jeffrey has usually been up for quite some time, so this is often just girl time. We whisper our dreams of the night before and share our wishes for the coming day. We laugh and tickle and giggle. Sometimes one of us goes to fetch a book and we stay in bed for an hour, snuggled up and reading about Kit or Charlotte or Mary Lennox.

Eventually we make our way to the kitchen. We usually find a yummy breakfast waiting, courtesy of an endlessly wonderful Daddy. We've been inspired lately by delicious meals here and here. One of my favorite breakfasts this summer was a plate of strawberries with a spoonful of powdered sugar for dipping. What a sweet way to start the day!

The other morning when we were snuggling, Sloane asked me her favorite question, "Momma, will you please tell me a story?" It is my privilege to pass along my stories and the stories of my family. Jeffrey has a treasure trove of tales from his own parents, and he's turned out to be an amazing Scheherazade. And so, with him as inspiration, I make the effort to paint stories of my own young life. Things that seem like little snippets of memory to me are always treasured by Sloane. I remind myself of the miracle it is for a child to be able to see their parents as children. I think of telling Sloane another Heidi story and how she will say, "Yes, Heidi. Your best friend from church. Are Joe and Brian in this story, too?" How accessible storytelling makes us to our children.

One breakfast, not too long ago, Sloane asked me her favorite question, "Momma, will you please tell me a story?" This is the one I told her.

When I was 15 I was able to go on a missions trip to Curacao, an island in the Caribbean. Several people from a local church acted as our hosts. Lucky me. I got to stay with a pretty lady named Miriam. She had eyes the color of chocolate and long, black, wavy hair. Her smile was big and her laugh was kind of a silly honk. So funny. Miriam was young and pretty and she opened her tiny apartment to four crazy teenage girls from America. I remember laughing a lot. On our first night in her house, we had known her for only a few hours, but I remember laughing and laughing and laughing. We were blasting music and dancing around, singing along with hairbrush microphones. That night, I got to be the Doo-wop singer I always wanted to be. I remember sleeping so well that night, even though it was a strange bed. Laughing with friends will do that for you.

Miriam woke us up with a smile and a song in her voice. Remember that Miriam had been up very late with us and still had to go to work that day. She wished us a good morning and a happy day as she gestured us out to the balcony. The tiny balcony looked very much like a picture I have from an old magazine. I'll dig it out later and show you. This memory is why I kept the picture all these years.

That morning in June, I ate one of the best breakfasts of my life. I remember gasping when I saw the little balcony set with such a pretty table. I remember sitting in a tiny chair at a small table on a balcony, surrounded by new friends. I remember how good it felt to be taken care of by someone with such a loving, generous heart. I remember the tiny section of far-off ocean you could see when you leaned over the balcony. I remember the feel of the breeze and the sounds of the island. I remember that the table was set beautifully and had fresh, tropical flowers in a jug in the center. We ate fresh bread, jam, and delicious fruit from pottery plates. I watched Miriam squeeze our juice and I remember thinking that I wanted to take care of people like this some day. I remember how quiet we all became as we sat and soaked up this incredible moment.

And now, I am thinking of the friends who fill our lives. I am thinking about how real friendship is possible, even as it exists among virtual strangers or people who share only hours together. I am thinking of the way that people can leave lasting impressions in our lives. I am thinking that while some of life's greatest lessons come from grandparents, teachers, moms and dads, old friends... many more of them come from people who are in our lives for brief moments.

I wouldn't know how to find Miriam now. If I ever knew her last name or had her address, the 15 year old me forgot it long ago. Years have gone by, but Miriam is still a friend who touched my life. She taught me about generosity and hospitality. She taught me to be open to new people and experiences. She taught me that laughter and silliness are a great bridge. She taught me that simple things, done with great love, will be remembered long after the meal is eaten or the party finished.

Thank you, Miriam.

This picture comes from a long forgotten magazine. I have notebooks full of tear sheets. This one was perfect for my memory. I'm wondering about the Miriams in your life.