To Be Stirred

"... And before I knew what I desired, the desire itself was gone,

the whole glimpse withdrawn, the world turned commonplace again,

only stirred by a longing for a longing that had just ceased."

CS Lewis

Rings of Strength

 She is so beautiful there, cloaked in her colors of fall, with her feet planted firmly and her arms reaching joyfully in all directions. Only the layers of her belt reveal the life she has lived, the years of growth, when nutrition and nurture were abundant, and the years of famine, when growth was difficult. 

 They provide her her strength now, these years past, and for that she is thankful. She does not look upon them any longer; it is past and it is inside her. She depends upon it only in times of need, when strength does not feel so present, and the winds blow hard. It is there, her bands of life, rings of strength. 

The wind blows, and she stands strong. Her confidence emerges from her core so that she is free to reach, the energy extending from each fingertip, bursting in color and life.

 And she smiles, in all the colors of fall.

Everything's Right Tonight

Windows down as the night blows in
Tap the beat on the wheel as the tires spin
Until we're there crank the radio
We'll join in with the songs we know

Hey, everything's right, said everything's right tonight
Hey, everything's right, said everything's right tonight

Smiles light up as we walk in
Old conversations begin again

Nostalgia's thick as the August air
It takes us back to a time when we didn't care, we didn't care

Hey, everything's right, said everything's right tonight
Hey, everything's right, said everything's right tonight

Oh, everything's right, said everything's right tonight
Hey, everything's right, said everything's right tonight
Hey, everything's right, said everything's right tonight
Hey, everything's right, said everything's right tonight
Hey, everything's right, said everything's right tonight

Everything's right... 

Like a Surgeon

 I know this doctor, a surgeon, actually.

He values his patients' trust. He considers it personal, that they would trust him with their lives. He is diligent in his work, not like an artist, but like a surgeon, with the responsibility of a human beating heart in his hands. He knows that he can make a difference in the quality of that person's life... that they will be able to walk or run or jump or cheer or pick up or put on or lift or hug or comb or brush or work or play or live better  because of how he does his job. He manages his work space and the people in it meticulously; he maintains his body of knowledge independently; he watches what he eats and exercises and sleeps to optimize HIS health, so that he can do his job to the best of his ability; he is careful and cautious and conscientious so that mistakes are not made. I've always thought that if I, or someone I loved, needed surgery, I'd want him to do it.

My son had an emergency appendectomy Thursday night. He did very well during surgery and is home now, walking around. I did not 'pick' who did his surgery. As they rolled him back, it occurred to me that I am trusting this man, a stranger, really, with my son's life. I am trusting that he will be as diligent as the surgeon I know personally... that he understands what is at stake. I was completely out of control of what happened in the next room, and I trusted him with what I value most. 

It was the most helpless feeling I've ever had.

And today, our son is in my arms and walking around my house complaining that "there's nothing to eat!" and  asking to have his friends over....

God bless that surgeon and the people he works with, and God bless those who are responsible in their jobs.

Life's a Cinch

Inch by inch, life's a cinch.

Be real!

So, {crunch, crunch} three weeks ago, my oldest started high school and went from being one of six to being one of over 300 and he {gulp} leaves at 7am with his dad and I don't see him {twwwwwist} again until almost 7pm, {CRUNCH, crunch, crunch} as in NIGHT, and he barely says two words to me anymore so I am {gulp} now the stupid mother I thought I would never be {scrrrrrrrape} {suckle, suckle}, and meanwhile, {yummmm!} my second son's {swallow} soccer team is ... well... {CRUNCH} I {crunch, crunch}-as manager of his team- {crunch} am dealing with an {crunch} unpleasant situation {gulp} and am hoping/praying/{pop}/working so that good {CRUNCH} prevails in spite of it {CRUNCH} and my youngest, {crunch, crunch} my daughter, is back in dance {swallow} {oh-so-good} so she is there {but here comes the best part} every night of the week, {scrrrrrrape} and sometimes {suckle} for {suckle} hours {spread around roof of mouth} on certain nights {O.M.G.}, so I am running back {swallow} and forth {suck off roof of mouth} and back {swallow} and forth {CRUNCH, crunch, crunch} and so my house {gulp} is a royal mess {pick out of teeth with tongue} AGAIN {swallow} and I can't sleep {suck teeth} or blog {loudly} because I'm so stressed out {swallow}.

But it's okay. {swallow again} I still have half a bag of double-stuffed Oreos left!

{twwwwwwist!}