Not bad for mundane trips to Home Depot and Whole Foods!  When I was in college I remember my mother saying she wished I still went to the grocery store with her because she said she always got free things and help out with her bags.  Now I get it.  My little one winds up with some kind of sweet gift or gesture from strangers almost wherever we go.  I do not want her to be spoiled or take things for granted.  She always says thank you and I make sure she adds “ma’am” or “sir”.  I really love it when she thanks someone in Spanish because of the sheer look of slight shock and delight on their face.  I speak French so that will be her second language.  Since we live in Texas she’ll get enough Spanish on her own just as I have.  But I digress.  I had to go in Home Depot for light bulbs and we saw this older lady wearing a lot of pink and carrying a purse shaped like a car.  She had a huge plastic flashing ring, a light up necklace and even her hat lit up!  I snapped the pic before she’d turned everything on; I had no idea.  Anyway, I remarked to Maris the lady was wearing her favorite color and the next thing we know she is getting a brand new ring just like the one the woman was wearing — huge, round and flashing.  Maris was so thrilled and it was such a kind thing to do.  It really made our day.  I found myself wanting to be like that woman when I’m her age — full of joie de vivre and with a kind, generous, and youthful spirit.  Later on we went to Whole Foods.  As we were waiting in line to check out Maris asked if she could have one of the tiny pieces of chocolate they have as samples, but they were all out.  The sweet man behind the register heard our conversation and gave me an entire chocolate truffle to give to Maris for when we left.  He didn’t want any credit for it.  I made sure Maris knew it came from him and her eyes lit up as she told him, “Thank you, Sir” in both English and Spanish.  Another act of kindness from someone who didn’t have to notice or make the time to bother.  My Daddy said to always go the extra mile.  I want to instill that in our daughter.  My hope is that she will continue to grow in grace, strength and beauty.  Achukma hoke.

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” ~ Actress and Humanitarian Audrey Hepburn

When I first learned about Feast Days, I could not fathom why it marked the day of the person’s death.  I found myself wondering instead why it wasn’t on their birthday.  Now, as I struggle with the first anniversary of my beautiful Mama’s death, I finally understand.  She is at home with the Lord and at peace.  I want to honor her and celebrate her life.  She was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and also the kindest.  She instilled in me a love of the written word, classical music, and flowers.  She was so quiet and so gentle but had a wit and humor that was unmatched.  I learned this poem reading it to her almost every day last year.  It was her favorite flower, one of her favorite poems, and by one of her favorite poets.  How I love you Mama.  This is for you:

Daffodils

I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they Outdid the sparkling waves in glee:  A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company:  I gazed – and gazed – but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. ~ William Wordsworth

When I was a little girl I never could understand why my mother lit up every time I came home with something I’d made her.  I have never been able to draw but I do think I have at least always put colors together well.  As I got older I remember being particularly proud of a macaroni shelled jewelry box I’d made.  She lovingly kept my clay ash trays (it was the ’70’s) even though she never smoked a day in her life.  I always wished I could have bought her something “real” and “nice” in my eyes.  Now that I am a mother I cherish the surprise presents I am being presented with proudly.  I bought this cool frame that opens so displayed works of art can be rotated but kept safely under glass.  Today as I was at the farrier’s getting my hooves smoothed (AKA the nail salon) I was greeted triumphantly by one beaming little four year old after she ran in looking for me saying, “Mommy!  Mommy!”  Holding her piece of paper up as far as her little arms would reach, she grinned back at me as I saw a slightly blurred image of her, given I was overcome with joy.  Such a simple thing — crayon scribbles.  And yet they are priceless to me; one of a kind masterpieces each and every one.  Novelist Margaret Wolfe Hungerford is generally credited with the saying, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”  I am collecting a house full of beautiful originals and I could not be more blessed or more proud.  I hope she thinks I’m beautiful, too.

We were all set to go to an upscale bowling/restaurant for a fun family night out.  I made the mistake of not making reservations on a Saturday night and we could not get in.  As I watched our four year old struggling not to cry, one of the hostesses suggested the playground across the street.  And so in the cold and the dark we reluctantly trudged over to play.  This is something Burk and I never would have done before having a child obviously.  Instead we were out in the crisp night air all alone listening to our daughter’s giggles surround us as she ran around with delight.  She had her light up tennis shoes on which were not only a comfort to me as a mother; I confess I wish I had a pair of my own!  They’re super cool.  So Daddy climbed to the top and pretended to guard his castle as Maris stormed his defenses.  We didn’t want to eat back at the place since we could not bowl so we wound up walking to a German restaurant.  My maiden name is German and I know next to nothing about Germanic cuisine.  There I sat for the first time in my life having something called spatzle with mushrooms.  It was a little weird but very good.  John Lennon famously said life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.  A spunky little girl didn’t let a major disappointment slow her down and we were all the better off for it.  Every single day I thank God for her.  Now we have a night to cherish that we will all remember.  It was an ordinary night full of magic; totally unplanned.