One of Those Days

    Have you ever had one of those days where by 9:00 am you just want a do over?  For me that is usually Monday.  Mondays have always been a day that I want a do over.  In my world Murphy's Law rules on Monday.  When I worked in the Operating Room it was always a quirky day.  If I made it through a Monday unscathed I counted myself as lucky, because I knew someplace in that community there was somebody that wasn't feeling the love.  So what do  you do when your day is spinning out of control?  Today, believe it or not, I let it get the best of me.  As I'm writing this I'm trying to think how I can spin a bad day and find some nugget of wisdom, and I don't know that I can.  I guess the best thing to do is just acknowledge it, and move on.  I know one thing, if you dwell on it and wallow in all the "bad juju" it will eat you up.
     One way that I've learned to throw out a bad day is to exercise as soon as I get home from work.  I get the dog pottied, change my clothes and off I go.  Today was no exception, then when I'm done I recoup for a minute or two and fix myself a nice healthy dinner.  Tonight's fare was grilled fish tacos.  I made grilled white fish fillets that were marinated in my own concoction of lime juice, fresh herbs, a little chilli powder and some canola oil.  I topped them with purple cabbage slaw that was drizzled with some of the marinade and fresh cut salsa.  Delish!  After dinner I played a couple of games of Mario Kart with my daughter.  We laughed, we crashed, we fell of bridges and waterfalls and just had fun.
     One of Those Days actually turned out ok.  As we were leaving to get to Kaysie's martial arts class I looked up in the sky and there was the most beautiful rainbow!  It was so bright that it looked three dimensional.  A friend of ours lost her precious son back in March.  He was an amazing artist and when we see rainbows we say "Sammy is painting the sky."  He painted a good one this evening.  That was the final touch - my day gone wrong was completely right.  Tomorrow will be better because it will be a new day and after all, it's Tuesday!

Your Life Tribe

 "We cannot choose the original family we are born into, but we can choose the 'life tribe' we create."  ~ Terri Cole


    I found this quote on my facebook feed today and it really struck me as a very true statement.  We all are born into a family weather we like it or not.  If we are lucky our family is our "life tribe."  Sometimes our family turns out to be not quite what we need so we begin to bring in others who we deem worthy of membership in our "life tribe."  Before long we look around and find that our "life tribe" is made up with precious people who know us inside and out, who love us in spite of our faults, and with who we can truly be ourselves.  What a gift that is.  I live far away from my biological family.  I have many, many happy memories of my childhood.  Family dinners at my grandmother's house, Christmases spent together, birthdays celebrated, back yard bar-b-ques and even a vacation or two to places like Disney World. 
     Since I moved to the West Coast I have begun to build my "life tribe" right alongside of my little family.  I have friends from back home who are just as much a part of that tribe as if they were living right next door.  We keep up through facebook and our friendships are still very strong.  I have friends that I have known since my daughter came into my life through adoption.  We waited, we boiled water and we celebrated each little girl that came to the US from her home in China.  There are some members that I have worked with over the last 11 years in the operating room, and who still remain close to me, even though I have transitioned to a new position.  Then there are some new friends.  Our friendship is still young, but I feel like I have known these folks forever.  To me that is a good sign.  That tells me, that along with all the others, they are a precious gift from God.   My tribe, to me, looks like a beautiful tapestry.  There are old threads and new threads.  Threads that are bright and some that are a little frayed, but all together, they make up a wonderful work of art.  Of course, my immediate family forms the frame that holds the tapestry of my life all together. 
    I hope everyone reading has the chance to look around them and see who makes up their "life tribe."  I know mine is an amazing sight, and I feel very lucky every time I look at it.


     
   

Spring into Beauty

    What is your favorite part of Spring?  For me it's planning what will grow in the containers on my porches, and searching out new ideas for making my outdoor space beautiful.  Being a long time apartment dweller, my growing space is limited.  I have learned over the years to make the most of my small spaces and limited sunlight.  It almost always turns out beautifully.  Last year I took a break as it wasn't a very good growing year.  I bought my produce from the local Farmer's Market and called it good.  I didn't have much luck with growing anything, not even flowers.  I was so disappointed that I questioned even this year's container garden plans, but then as I was scrolling facebook I found a few fun ideas for making my little outside spaces look really nice, and on a trip to the Home Depot I found cool self-watering containers called "City Pickers" that pretty much sealed the garden in place.
     These containers are the coolest thing.  They come with everything except the plants and the dirt, and the best part is they are on wheels!  No more lugging heavy containers from place to place on the porch!  Yahoo!  This coming weekend I will be visiting my favorite garden center to gather the needed dirt fertilizer, and cages for the tomatoes.  I have my plants started, but they are still babies.  The herbs on the other hand, well, they are ready for the great outdoors.  If they spend much longer on my kitchen windowsill they might decide to take over!  My spaghetti squash and pumpkins will be ready for the new containers though.  They are just about on to their second leaves and have begun to vine.  These containers, as I said are self watering, you fill them up every couple of days and they plants are able to drink as needed.  For me that is huge.  There are many nights in the summer where I am busy, busy being active and standing around watering is the last thing on my mind.  So this is a wonderful option.
     My other beautiful thing has been my flower baskets.  I got this idea from facebook.  I have a friend who is an avid gardner and Goodwill shopper.  Where she finds the time I'll never know because she is BUSY.  Anyhow, she posted some pictures of her beautiful flower baskets.  She found the baskets at goodwill and planted flowers in them and they are beautiful!!  So of course I tried it and it was so easy.  I lined my baskets with a plastic grocery bag that I snipped drainage holes in and filled them with dirt and flowers - right now I have primroses and pansies in one and fuschias in the other out front.  I gave one as a birthday gift which was a big hit and I'm planning on a couple more for mother's day gifts for my mom friends and my nail gal wants one for her salon!  I've also found a copper tea kettle that I planted baby pansies in and an old speckle-ware coffee pot that I planted oregano in.  It all looks awesome and my outside spaces will be that much more beautiful.
     As far as ornamentation goes I'm in the process of building my second garden totem.  The first one I made is a mother's day present for my mom.  Shhh don't tell her!  The second one is for one of my neighbors and Kaysie and I are going to build ours together.  It's just a matter of finding some glassware that will sparkle in the sun and building it using a product called Gorilla Glue - that stuff is strong!  A rebar from Home Depot or Lowes and there you go, instant beauty sparkling in the sunshine!
    Those are my grand ideas that were borrowed from my facebook friends for making your outside spaces beautiful!  My porches will be places of peace to curl up with a tall cool iced tea and a good book or a little knitting.  I can't wait for that!

A Purpose Driven Path

     Back in the fall I began an incredible spiritual journey.  I wanted to know what my purpose in this life was.  When I started this journey I felt spiritually empty.  Don't get me wrong, I had a crazy good job.  One I had prayed for for years.  It was a divine gift to help me begin a better life for my little family and myself.  At the time I felt like I wanted to know more.  I wanted the rest of the story.  God has always been present in my life.  He has been willing to answer my prayers in His time, and He certainly has grabbed me from the brink of disaster on more than one occasion.  I thought it was time I quit being so selfish and start to return all the kindnesses that the Lord had sent my way.  I was living the life of a "taker" and I longed to be a "giver."  For about two months I took my time and worked my way through The Purpose Driven Life, by Rev. Rick Warren.  I also read One Simple Act by Debbie Macomber at the same time.  The two seemed to go together really well.  I began to see a clear path for my life.  My attitude and countenance changed and it made all the difference.
      Shortly after Christmas another wonderful opportunity was passed my way, and I took full advantage of it.  I knew I wanted to take a mission trip someplace, but I wasn't sure how it would all play out.  I stumbled upon an organization called Point Hope.  They are a voice for forgotten children both in this country and in Ghana West Africa.  It's founder is nationally syndicated radio personality Delilah - the Queen of Sappy Love Songs.  Turns out, their headquarters are local to me - sort of.  Bremerton, WA about an hour west of Seattle as the crow flies.  Anyhow, after a few emails I decided to take Kaysie and pay them a visit.  I wanted to volunteer and ask questions about Africa and working on a volunteer basis here.  They have a wonderful event called Teenista where they pamper teenage girls in foster care for a day.  They encourage them, love on them and hold them up.  They want the girls to know they are not defined by their circumstances.  I tried to volunteer for their event last Christmas, but I couldn't get off of work.  This year, some of my friends and I are hosting one here in Portland and the folks at Point Hope are so excited as am I.
      After several conversations and some pretty cool twists of fate I'm traveling to Ghana in October with these good folks for a medical mission trip.  There's an MD general practitioner going at the same time.  Looks like we'll be a team.  To me this is so exciting!  I know once I go I'll want to go back again and again.  It's been life changing all ready and I haven't even left the west coast yet.  I've been a nurse for 17 years this June.  16 of those years I spent in the operating room, preparing for this very time of my life.  Most people say that they never get to do the things they've dreamed of their whole life.  I decided to be a do-er and a giver at the same time.    My grand plan (and I'm pretty sure it's God's too) for the rest of my years working and probably into retirement is to use my skills as a nurse however I can.  I want the forgotten children of this world to know that they are loved by somebody, and their circumstances do NOT define who they are.
     I would encourage any one who reads my blog to pick up the book The Purpose Driven Life and read it.  When you are done think about it, pray about what you've read and figure out what path your life should take.  Our time here on this earth is short, and as my dad says, "you only go around once in this life so you better make the most of it."   I received an incredible gift a few weeks ago.  I got a glimpse of the puzzle pieces of my life and how they all fit perfectly together.  It was like watching a movie.  I had a hard time for a couple of days wrapping my brain around it all, but what came out of it all  was that I was on the right path and that I needed to continue moving forward.  I know changes are on the horizon for my life, and I couldn't be happier.  I hope all of you someday know that same feeling of terrifying excitement as you step out into the perfect plan of your life and living your dreams.  Don't wait or put it off any longer! Step out in faith THIS week.  What are you waiting for?  The world is waiting.

I Know Sammy Lived

     I know Sammy lived!   Please go to PointHope.org and read Sammy's amazing story, and then you too can profess "I Know Sammy Lived."  They are offering wonderful t-shirts right now until after Easter with a beautiful logo on the front and the back for a small donation.  The money you donate will be used to build "Sammy's Place" a home for children like Sammy in Ghana West Africa, his home country.  It will be a place that these kids  can be cared for and know they are loved.  That's all this young man ever asked for, to be loved and for people to know that he lived.  Such a simple request.
This organization is close to my heart.  I am traveling to Ghana with them in the fall on a medical mission trip and I cannot wait.  Won't you please join me in supporting their cause?  In the mean time  go to your facebook page or your twitter account and just profess "I KNOW SAMMY LIVED!!"

A Parent's Saddest Day

     While usually I dedicate my blog to uplifting thoughts and stories tonight I'm afraid my glass feels a little empty.  As parents we are gifted with our children from God.  They are only with us a very short while and every now and then that time is shorter than we ever could imagine.  When we hear of a beloved child that God has called home, as a parent, it knocks the wind out of you even if they are not yours.  You feel empathy for the parents whose child has gone to be with God in heaven.  The sadness of the parents whose child has passed must be just about overwhelming.
      This weekend a dear child was called home to God.  I did not know this child.  His mother and I have friends in common but have not yet met face to face.  She is a remarkable woman who has adopted several children both from the foster care system here and orphaned children internationally.  When I learned of his passing it made me very sad.  I felt sad for his mother and his brothers and sisters, but it also made me sad as an adoptive mother.  When you are an adoptive parent you  really feel God's hand in your life.  He placed your precious child with you because He knew you were the perfect person to love and guide that child and teach them the lessons He wanted them to learn. When God places a child in your arms and in your heart through adoption you have such high hopes for their lives. You feel an immense sense of responsibility, and  feel relieved in a sense, because you are their parent and have been given this rare and incredible gift.  When God takes back that gift, for whatever reason, it hurts you deeply.
      To lose a child is every parent's worst nightmare.  When they are ill it is even harder.  You do your best as a mother to care for your children and keep them healthy, but when they are critically ill, it's out of your hands and your control.  This is where faith steps in. Faith, as we know, is knowing without seeing.  It's knowing that God is there with His incredible plan already in place.   We hold our breath hope and pray for the best outcome possible, but often times God's plan is different than what we had in mind as a parent.   That plan can be very hard to accept.  It makes you sad, and angry because it doesn't seem fair at the time.  It's later on we realize that His plan was perfect.  I read something recently from a mother who lost her precious son.  She said, " They say that our lives here on earth are like the blink of God's eye.  I have to imagine my precious son running ahead of me through a beautiful field of flowers chasing the butterflies in the sunshine.  It's when he finally turns around that he sees me standing there."  I hope that's the way it turns out to be if our children leave us before they should.  I hope they are running ahead of us if only to make sure we know the way, and when they finally turn around we are standing there for them to run back to,  just as we remembered them, and then they take our hand as we walk to God together.
To my friend that I have not yet met face to face; May the Peace that passes all understanding give you comfort in the coming days and know that you do not walk alone in your grief.
 

It is Time

    Yesterday I decided it is time.  I've had about enough of winter.  While it hasn't been particularly cold, it has been rather gray and bleak.  Rain is a fact of life in the wintertime in the Pacific Northwest.  It's really what we do best - generate weather for the rest of the country.  At about this point in the winter season, I've   had it.  The days are growing longer, and mostly it means we get to prolong the grayness and the rain.  However, yesterday and today have been beautiful days.  Crisp, chilly and sunny! Perfect weather for starting our summer garden...from seeds of course.  Kaysie and I went off to the Home Depot.  It was the perfect day for seeding.
     I spent a small fortune at the farmer's market last summer on lettuce and tomatoes.  While I did so gladly, in support of our local farmers, I thought maybe I could expand our little garden a bit.  Last summer I rearranged our porches and this year, my front porch is bare.  What furniture I had, I moved to the back, so I decided this would be the perfect place for my container garden.  Kaysie and I thought that perhaps a "box garden" would be fun.  I got online last night and looked at box planters, and decided maybe it might be more economical to build our own.  So while our little seeds are tucked into their jiffy pots just waiting to sprout, Kaysie and I will be building and painting their summer homes.  A very fun mother daughter project.
      As I sit here in my "writers nook" my jiffy greenhouse planters are basking in the winter sun on our living room windowsill.  This is where our tomato plants, peppers, jalapenos, lettuce, scallions and pumpkins are planted.  There is a smaller version on my kitchen windowsill which contains our kitchen herbs; sweet basil, chives, cilantro, oregano, and rosemary.  Kaysie has two plants as well, birdhouse gords and watermelons.  I'm not sure where all those are going to go, but we'll figure that out later.  To that we're going to add a container of two blueberry bushes.
     The promise of spring is right there in front of me, and I'm so glad.  Tomorrow the weather forecast is for snow and bitter cold temperatures.  But I know that when I look at those little jiffy pots with the plastic covers, spring is coming.  We will go back to Home Depot this weekend with our plans for our box planters.  We will let them cut the lumber, and we will pick out stain and nails and then we will get busy.  Before too long, we will be setting up the pop-up greenhouse and putting our little seedlings out side to get used to the weather, and then it will be time to fill up those planter boxes and get growing.
     Yes, it is time.  What are you planting this spring?  What fun things will you be placing in the dirt, for the sun and fresh air to grow?  Let me know!  Peace.