Perspective

Ironically, absence shows us what we really have, 

Giving us the chance to put the value back in reevaluate.  

We ask for wishes to be granted-- but instead we take them for just that. 

When we should remember that 'presence' is more important than 'presents'. 

Reminiscing only when pieces are missing...

It's when we lose something we really find everything. 

Perspective. 

Tomorrow & Today

The shine of fresh skin on top of a knobby knee,

Her blue eyes look down, 

curious,

Her finger gets closer & closer,

not sure what will happen if she touches what's been rubbed raw,

She looks up, 

grinning as she proudly shows her dad her days work. 

She's tough; and she shows her scars to the world. 

Across the room,

the wrinkles on her brow tighten as she smiles at the little girl,

Jealous of her zest for life & the simple nature,

The woman's days have accumulated & dusted gray her whispy hair,

How she longs to have cuts as shallow,

But the years now show, 

Her head droops slightly as she turns away and looks out the window. 

And another sits, 

caught somewhere between the hope of the little feet swinging from the chair,

And the burden of someone who has seen this life;

She is youthful & somehow her soul is weathered.

She's had her heart broken and mended from laughter & tears,

She remembers when cheaters were just playground games,

She's seen ones fade away like the colors of fall,

And had some taken too soon,

She's traveled the world,

Made mistakes,

Giggled,

And loved another with her whole heart. 

As she sits between the child with the dimples in her cheeks,

and the woman of wisdom & grace, 

She can't help but feel like she has pieces of them both. 

Raw & exposed in some way or another,

And they are all connected, 

here & now,

in this place.

She didn't know what she was, 

or maybe she did.... 

She was content.

And she smiled to herself,

as she breathed in all that moment had to give. 

She Didn't Know

She faces towards the flawless moon,

Glancing at the boy by her side,

Breathless at the thought of something new,

Can't help but smile as she looks into his eyes.  

Her senses tingle as their fingers intertwine,

Summer breeze flushes her skin,

Beating heart, waiting for that sign,

To tell her it's safe to love again. 

Nervous as she wonders what's in store,

Could this be the one she's waited for? 

But she didn't know,

That in her hands she held the boy of her dreams. Protecting her was above all his other needs. Someday he wanted this girl to be his wife. Wanting her every day of his life. Just like every star in the sky, she can't count the ways...

She didn't know. 

What started as just friends,

Could lead to the fairy tale end. 

With romance & laughter,

They could find a happily ever after. 

But she didn't know.

That he was the one god had picked just for her, and being together made them both feel more whole.  

she loved him and that fact she was sure,

She had finally found the other half of her soul. 

And just like every star in the sky. She can't count the ways... 

That now she just knew. 

My Purpose

"To bring glory to God, through wholly giving of myself in service to others by using my talents and abilities with purpose,passion & love."

Sleeping Beauty

Head on the pillow, 

Heart in the clouds.

Remembering the comfort of your smile & the shadow of your embrace.

Curled up in bed, but wrapped up in you. 

Slowly I fall. 

Tossing & turning,

I change my position, 

while you change me.  

The horizon promises tomorrow, 

But I cling to the stars above tonight,

Wide awake I slumber...

You're my favorite dream. 

Remembering 2015

It's funny how when you look back discover things you never realized you had -- hidden treasures you had forgotten a long time ago. A plane ticket, a eulogy, the friendship bracelets & wrinkled photographs depict the days gone by. Keepsakes & knick-knacks, junk & prized possessions all part of the items that you gathered over the year. But I think what you truly find in those pieces are the memories you've made. The items pile up making up the journey you've taken so far. 

As you reflect over the past year, you have the ability to look back and discover moments; creating a highlight real for 2015. 

Take a moment to be still and let the goodness of this past year wash over you. Smile; remembering the time you saw an elderly couple walking hand in hand down the street. Or the overwhelming joy of seeing your husband waiting for you at the alter. Re-live the pride you had in accomplishing your goal after putting in all the hard work. Remember every little time you felt happiness & soak in the sunshine & warmth left there in your heart.

But also, let yourself remember the not-so-good times, because you have to go through the dark to appreciate the light. Slip back to the time you were rude to a stranger, even though they didn't deserve it. Taste the anger on your lips as you spoke unkindly to someone who cares for you. Tears may well up as you remember a life taken too soon. Or regret may take form as you think about the time you let someone down by breaking a promise. Those moments define your year, too.

When it comes down to it, the tangibles you collect through the year aren't the things remembered in life. It's the people, who mold us, and shape us (for better & worse). Every giggle, emotion, compliment, piece of advice, shoulder to cry on, laugh and lecture leaves an imprint on your soul. And I think every person, gives you a piece of themselves to add to your heart--- the real collection to cherish. 

Don't lose the pieces you have now and never miss the chance to give of yourself for others to complete their puzzle; to make them feel whole. Because that's really what life is all about, holding on to each other and going through the journey together. 

Whatever Happened to Romance?

Whatever happened to romance? I mean pure, selfless, head over heels, take-a-chance, show the world, beautiful, poetic romance.... I truly fear that our generation has completely missed out on the grandeur of love; hollowing it down and confining it to the limits of 140 characters.

In today's world, being "romantic" involves text messages and the words 'hang out'.  Facebook messages popping up 'hey' and tweeting, hoping your words are interpreted by your intended reader.  People being as indirect and vague as humanly possible to avoid being forward or getting hurt. I call it the sub-text of dating.

I'm not asking that everyday be like a fairytale. In fact, my wish for the world is to stop living in the fantasy and start being real and raw with one another. To get to know someone outside of the bubbles of a text message and the go-to LOL response. How about... Laugh out loud. With another person. In the same room.

You can tell the world the things you 'like' all over social media. So tell it to them. To their face. Not their Facebook...
 Stop thinking of everything in the terms of 'insta' and instead take your time.
Open doors. And close all the chats.
Send flowers, or balloons, or love letters, not friend requests.
Know their story. Don't watch it through Snapchat. Be apart of it.

Vow never to use the abbreviations, when language is limitless.

 Let's start to pursue the idea of pursuing...