A Custom Made Mom

She changes her name
when she doesn't feel like being Barbara

She listens with kind ears
and a gentle soul

She looks through accepting eyes
searching for the very best in people

She loves like she's never been hurt
but she most certainly has

She fights back her own tears
as she shares her experiences
in an effort to guide a frightened soul

She has a beautiful smile
and an infectious laugh

She's strength, bravery, kindness, generosity,
determination and wisdom personified

She emanates warmth, softness, and comfort
giving the greatest, most sincere hugs

She gets up, goes out and tries
whether she feels like it or not

She represents every quality that I would choose
if I could create a custom made mom

Clearing the Hurdles of Communication

Since I was just a little girl
I have avoided confrontation and altercation

Granted I am MUCH better than I used to be
but I recently realized I still have a long way to go

I used to believe that I was a good communicator
I am, as long as it doesn't involve my needs or feelings

I can express needs and feelings if they don't create tension
it's the stress of causing discord that paralyzes me

Stifling my needs and feelings is no longer an option for me
my soul simply will not allow it anymore

The discomfort that I feel, trying to quell them
is far worse than just dealing with the issues at hand

I have recently found that not only does communication ease the discomfort
it actually peels back layers, exposes the potential for future growth
and creates a closer bond between two people

A crucial element in creating successful relationships
that I have been missing, all this time

Today and yesterday were not easy for me, for us, very difficult actually
but we cleared a really high hurdle this morning

And from what I understand now, about the importance of communication
these hurdles should get farther apart and much easier to clear

A Fun Night with Friends

Life Is Like a Box of Chocolates

Sometimes the crap gets old, bitter, hard to chew
and leaves a bad taste in your mouth

The Hardest Thing

is missing someone when they are standing right next to you and being lonely in a house full of people.

I Am Me

I am me
that's all
simply me
the way God intended
made to his specifications
I am simply me

I tread water sometimes
instead of doing a beautiful stroke
but I keep my head above water

I walk some days
instead of skipping
but I keep moving forward

I have built walls
to keep away the pain
but I'm learning to trust

I may wear baggy clothes
and tie my hair back
but I'm always beautiful on the inside

I always

care
try
love
respect

I never

belittle
ignore
hate
purposely hurt

My intentions are never anything but good

I am me
that's all
simply me
the way God intended
made to his specifications
I am simply me

Perfect, whole and complete

I Heart Team Fusion

She Knows

Standing in lines, taking in sights
assessing showtime together
because we know about showtime

Asking, "how's your head?"
saying, "you need to drink!"
because we know about migraines and the heat strokes

Laughter re-assuring
but comfort in silence too
because we are learning about easy

Studying maps both indoors and out
finding all the right places
because we are learning about pleasure

The perfect birthday weekend
feeling like a princess
because she knows thoughtful and kind

Disney Birthday Magic

I Am Not Alone In This World

There's a gentle tapping on the inside of my wrist that helps me to remember.

50 Years in the Pharmacy

Blooming and growing
ebbing and flowing
along life's trodden path

Washing and shedding
demons and heading
toward a light shining brightly at last

Giving and taking
sleeping then waking
to drink in another day

of

Laughing and crying
loving and trying
to learn each others ways

Silence and talking
running then walking
on our journey to create

Lasting and certain
strong and enduring
life, love, work and play

Kimpossible

"I recognize that building, but it's usually on the other side of the street"

Confidence

I'm kind of curious
about what makes someone
feel confident one day
and not so confident the next

Could it be that last night I learned
yet again that my own mother bad mouths
me to anyone who will listen

I guess that's why I never aspired
to have a high powered career
where I had to dazzle em' every day

Be at the top of my game
no matter what was going on behind the scenes of my life

When your own mother doesn't have a kind word to say about you
it's hard to stand up in front of a crowd and feel like a million bucks

I simply don't feel confident today
and apparently I'm not a very good actress either

So if that means I won't be the CEO of a big hospital
or even the coordinator of anything, I'm OK with that

I just gotta be me
whatever and however that may be
on any given day

It's all I got

Team Fusion

Fusion: the process or result of joining two or more things together to form a single entity

My very first 5k run
a swim, bike, run
with some very amazing women

I stepped outside my comfort zone
way outside my comfort zone
and I'm proud of myself

I ran it in 39 minutes
my best time ever
my goal was simply to finish

I learned that my personal best
coupled with my team mate's personal bests
makes for a strong, solid finish

I'm wondering if this might hold true
for creating an enduring relationship

With each person working toward
their own personal best
to contribute to the relationship

No one person's identity gets lost
the relationship remains strong
making for a strong, solid foundation

Just some thoughts on Fusion

Fishing Follies

Yes shrimp need water, besides the water they're already in.

Shrimp will "whip" ya, and even make you bleed, remember that the next time you call somebody a shrimp.

If you can see em' they're probably not "no see em's."

Hopping the dog was every bit as effective as walking the dog.

Dog Fish have teeth and apparently hang out in the red light district. (Maybe looking to pick up a Lady Fish)

Never tie the bait bucket around your waist and dance around on the edge of the seawall.

Never grab a lantern by the flame (that would be your brain on drugs, any questions?)

An unproductive night of fishing full of laughter and friends is every bit as rewarding as a stringer full of fish.

The Weather and Forever

Heat

Plans

Unfiltered

Insight

Growth

Trust

Possibilities

Family

Cleanliness

Patience

Princess

Tolerance

Kindness

Fairy Tales

Messy

Structure

Fire Drill

More Heat

Mexico

Vegas

Amazing

Wanting

Finding

Waiting

Barriers

Comfort

Getting It

Future

Working

Sharing

Still More Heat

Communication

Learning

Understanding

Yearning

Merging

Authentic

Peaceful

Strong

So Very Hot

The Risk

I don't pretend to know everything

In fact, some days I feel like I know nothing

But I do know that I am learning to trust

and

I am learning to identify my "stuff"

I want to be loved
but just as important, I want to love

I want to be cared for
but just as important, I want to take care

No, my life hasn't been easy
but neither has yours

Yes, I have hurt and been hurt
but so have you

I'm scared
but is life worth living if you always play it safe

The sea breeze, the sweat, the salt
the heat, the curtains blowing in the wind

The glow of passing headlights on the wall
the clanging sounds of sail boats docked securely in the wind

Exhausted rest after a wonderful day of sun and smiles

Respect, honesty, tenderness, so much said with so few words

That's the stuff that makes life worth

the

risk

Possibility

Embarking on a journey
building trust over dinner and time

The newness glistens with possibility
as clouds of comfort begin to surround us

Time stands still, the world fades away
as we share intimacies reserved only for those most trusted

Fear begins to wane
giving rise to tiny buds of passion

Buds to be cherished and cultivated
in hopes of a blossom most spectacular

Stuff

I am continually learning
living this life God so graciously laid out for me

"Baggage" isn't just a word
that people use to describe the past

It's real, it's powerful stuff
and that powerful stuff has a voice

It's like a prerecorded message that plays in your head
when the person you are calling doesn't pick up the phone

"No one is home right now and even if they were,
why would they want to talk to your insignificant ass?"

Your feelings get hurt, and you even get aggravated with them
when the poor unsuspecting soul was simply vacuuming the carpet

So you get all emotional, listening to these voices
and it creates tension, unrest and maybe even an argument

Over what? Your stuff.

A scenario, in your head
that was created for you, by you,
as a result of your past experiences