HaPpY 90th BiRtHdAy, MoM 🎂❤🎁

June 2, 2017

Happy 90th Birthday, Mom!

I thought long and hard about what to give you for such a momentous Birthday; but I could not think of anything that would be adequate to express my love and gratitude for you except that which comes from my own heart and hands.  So I went back to my journal and pulled out 2 entries:

1.     The first is a picture of you and me that I drew with my non-dominant hand on Oct. 7, 2009. It is the porch of the house on Center Road.  You are wearing one of your monogramed blouses and have a glass of iced tea within reach.  We are sitting on the flowered lounge chair that made its home there, waiting for the big kids to get home from school. It is the earliest memory that I have of you!

2.     The second is a poem and reflection from June 4, 2008.  I wrote it after spending the day of your 81^st Birthday with you. 

Mom

Daughter, First-Born
Sister, Wife
Mother, Friend
Grandmother, Great
Irish, Lady
Proud, Proper
Unashamed
Unabashed
Independent
Determined
Creative
Giving
Self-Sacrificing
Loving
Nurturing
My Mother
My Hero
My Friend

On Monday I spent the afternoon with my Mom in celebration of her 81st birthday. Later that evening as I reflected on the wondrous events of the day and the profoundly-felt presence of a Heavenly Mother, I was reminiscent of Her spirit recognizable in a number of Earthly Women whose paths I have crossed. And I said a prayer of deep gratitude for my earthly Mother, an inspiring illustration of the Divine Feminine.

I love you, Mom.

recycling old books

I had 8 of these MacMillan Pocket Classics that belonged to my Grandmother and Great Aunt. They were filled with penciled notes and comments from their high school days. I decided to recycle them in order to make them useable and gift them to each of my siblings. I removed the pages from each of the books to use for other ideas. Then I followed Cathi's tutorial to put a pocket on the inside of each cover. I then visited Dollar Tree and found some decorative pads of paper ... some with pockets and others with calendars ... and some cute little mini pens to finish each set.

Weekend delights for young and "not so young" too!

I spent a wonderful weekend with Mijo and Mom.

We took a little ride on Sunday and stopped to greet some of Mijo's favorite animals along the way.

Mom shows us how to say hello in horse language. Mijo tries to clear the fence.

Anticipating his hello ...

Time to go ...

Mijo's response,

"I wanna stay here, Weewa."

So did I!

Tuesday's Eventide ...

Evening Blessings from the lake ...

Here's lookin' at you!

Here's lookin' at you!

Let's hear it for the Boy!

Last Sunday I attended a dance recital in which my nephew ~ pictured above, I mean ABOVE ~ rocked the house! I mean HE CAN DANCE! If you'd like to see him in action go here ... He's the TALL one with no hair. :) Here he's dancing with his teacher!

Dad's first Heavenly Birthday!!

We're celebrating you today, Dad ... Grandpa, Uncle, Cousin, E.H., Harold ... on your first Heavenly Birthday! There are Facebook posts, Mass intentions, cemetery visits, vases of flowers, hot toddy sippers, pizza eaters, and so many fans loving you A WHOLE, GREAT, BIG BUNCH today and everyday since you left us one year ago. Feel free to join us at any time and make your warm presence known. We miss you!

One Week Ago Today

A journal entry from June 26, 2009

My father was buried one week ago today. Before the coffin was closed, people were invited to say their last goodbyes. I waited until everyone else had passed before I went up. He looked asleep, that's all. I removed my mobius ring from my right hand and put it on the little finger of his left hand. I wore it as a reminder that what is inside of us flows constantly outwards and vice-versa. My dad lived that way ~ what you saw is what you got and who he was. It was my way of being with him in the next life to give him the ring. I made a sign of the cross with my thumb on his forehead and sealed it with a kiss. I whispered to him that I loved him and then the casket was closed.

Waking My Dad

A journal entry from June 18, 2009

What did you think of the day, Dad? There were so many people who came to see you ... So much love and respect was spoken of you, so rightly so. I know you were proud of your family today ~ were you surpised by the witness of your life spoken by your grandchildren? They adored you, Dad. I miss you. It felt almost like watching a dream ... Seeing you in that box. I kept waiting for you to open your eyes and smile with your wink, but you did not move. I found myself saying over and over again "I cannot believe my dad has died." I truly am in great disbelief. My tears speak of my great love for you, Dad. I wish you hadn't left us so soon, so quickly. I love you.

My Dad Left Us Today

A journal entry from June 15, 2009:

My dad left us today. He always said he was counting on there being a purgatory so he'd have a chance at heaven. But he needn't have worried, not even for a second. My dad was one of the kindest, most giving people to walk this earth. He asked nothing of anyone except for them to be themselves. And he had a WONDERFUL sense of humor. He loved to laugh and he used to thank Trish and me for coming by and making him laugh. All of his children received his sense of humor and love of laughter. My dad was greatly respected by all of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom are shedding tears this night. I miss you, Dad, and "I love you a whole great big bunch."

A Visit With Dad

A journal entry from June 4, 2009:

I saw my dad today. I could not believe my eyes. I took his hand and he held on tight. He looked so sick, so weak. I struggled to keep my tears inside - I did not want to scare him. He just kept smiling at me and mouthing the words "I love you" over and over again. I gave him my card and Trish read to him the message I'd written inside ...

Dad,

If I could choose to be anyone I wanted to be

I would choose to be you.

You are goodness and light,

peace and mercy,

generosity and grace,

kindness and love.

You are a helper to those in need

and a consoler to those in sorrow.

You are strength, patience, and welcomer

to everyone and everything that crosses your path.

From you I have learned that every gift needs to be shared

and every person be given a seat;

that animals should be respected

and children taken care of;

that truth allows freedom

and money deserves responsibility;

that patriotism involves love

and family is everything.

That a smile is indeed a funny thing and does wrinkle one's face ~

though I never have been able to locate its secret hiding place! :)

I love you, Dad, with every single bit of my heart and soul,

and I thank you for finding me worthy to be your daughter.

I love you,

Sarah

Trish put it on the wall where he could see it before we left.

Home Again

A journal entry from June 4, 2009:

You have grown so much, Mijo, but you're still my little peanut. I love your waddly walk and fascination of all things new; your nose-scrunching smile and courageous abandon to push the limit - even if it is your own. And your love of song and musical instruments makes my soul soar. To end the day rocking you to sleep in my arms ~ or was it me in your arms? Either way was pure Sacrament; a Sacred moment for which I am deeply grateful. Tomorrow, Mijo, when I venture to visit your Grandpa, I will remember this night, these moments, and take virtual refuge in your arms. I will invite Grandpa to join us this time.

Remembering Dad

Last year at this time my father was quite ill and preparing to undergo a necessary surgery to restore his health. Because I was some 500 miles away and the surgery was deemed risky for his age and current health, I prepared to travel to visit him a week before he was to go into surgery. I knew I had only a couple of days to spend with him and that this could possibly be my goodbye. I wanted to leave him SOMEthing, but what? I decided to make him a card. I put a crayon in my nondominant hand and drew a picture of him with his eight children. He would be delighted with something made by hand, no matter what it looked like. I would take it with me and add a message to the inside before I saw him ...

How'd you spend YOUR weekend?

I spent the weekend hanging out with Mijo. He LOVED seeing himself on his Aunt's computer screen - so much so that he even waved! :)

We visited with my newest grandnephew, JJ. He is the tiniest, cutest little peanut! Mijo couldn't wait to get his hands on his little primo ... and when he did, JJ went fast asleep ...

When he wasn't holding JJ, he helped JJ's Grandma feed him. I guess he thought he was better equipped seeing as how he had more recently been at that stage!?

Oh yeah, when he wasn't holding or helping with JJ ... he was attached to JJ's Mama ... she said it was a cultural thing! ;]

Easter Cuties!

I spent Easter with these two cuties and several more!

Mijo, flowers and Life!

Yesterday Mijo turned 2 years old!!!

And I received these from a special group of friends!!

Today I am feeling alive with Life!

I hope you are also!

the good ... the bad ... and the ugly!

The GOOD:

Taking my little nephew,

Mijo,

to play in McDonald's Playland ...

watching him concentrate

on the computer screen in front of him

as he tries to figure out

why the bike he sits on

isn't actually moving.

The BAD:

Being told that my

grandson

is darling.

My GRANDSON?

The UGLY:

Doing the math

in my head

and realizing I really

COULD

BE

HIS GRANDMOTHER!!!

Yeah,

well ...

we're never going back

to THAT McDonalds

again.

Presenting this year's Baby Jesus ...

In my elementary teaching days, this time of year would be spent putting the final touches on the Christmas Play. Students from kindergarten through grade 8 would sing and tell and act out the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. When the time came for the baby to be born, Mary ~ played by an eighth grade girl ~ would be handed a real baby from behind. The role of Baby Jesus was sometimes played by a boy and sometimes played by a girl; it all depended on which student had the youngest brother or sister at the time!

I think Mijo would make a marvelous Baby Jesus this year:

Mijo

Here's what's decorating the screen

of my computer lately!

Can Mijo come out to play?

"Mijo, guess who's coming to get you tomorrow?"

"Your Aunt!"

"No, not that one ~ your FAVORITE one."

"Yeah, that one, Aunt Sarah!"