Joy of Normal

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day, I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return." ~ Mary Jean Iron


I read this quote for the first time two day ago on one of my favorites blogs (Enjoying the Small Things by Kelle Hampton) and since then I have read it over and over and over and over. It may be my new favorite quote of all time because I think that may it contains the meaning of life.  I have also seen this summed up as  This too shall pass.  People often use this phrase during difficult times, but the truth of it is the same during the amazing times, and everything in between.

My mom (the greatest mom in the world) has tried to instill this concept in me my entire life.  Appreciate the moment for what it is. Be where you are.  I know it, I understand it, but it is easier said than done.  When my son was a newborn, the first weeks were so difficult, recovering from the physical trauma, the sleeplessness, the breastfeeding drudgery and I remember thinking, I can't wait until he is bit older and can hold his head up, stop spitting up, stop changing diapers. I can't wait to sleep more than 2 hours in a row...

Now he is nearing his second birthday and those first few groggy days seem like a lifetime ago and I wish I could remember exactly how he felt in my arms as rocked him to sleep. I know there were moments where I was aware of the treasure I had, but I know I did not acknowledge it enough. So this is something I am always working on, especially where my little man is concerned.  So right now, I am going to tuck him in (again), kiss each chubby little finger and thank God for all the amazing joys in a normal day.


Blessings on your eyes, blessing on your children. Blessing on the ground beneath you...

No time like the present

"Blessings on your eyes and on your children. Blessings on the ground beneath you. Where ever you walk, I go with you." The Red Tent~Anita Diamant

There is no time like the present, so they say.  I'm still not sure who 'they' are, but I'm pretty sure I agree with them.  Since the only moment we ever truly have is the one we are living right now, it makes sense. So here I am, fingers quaking...embarking on my first ever blog.  

I wanted to blog about something important, something interesting, even something - profound. Since I couldn't come up with a topic worthy of any of those descriptions during my hectic days as a mom,  wife,  daughter and public servant, I have decided to keep it simple and share some of my favorite quotes and passages form all different places that mean something to me, and maybe they mean something to you too.  (...and then maybe we can be connected in some special and amazing way, and we can share titles of our favorite books and photos of our kids, and then meet in Las Vegas for a book festival or something...but wait, I am getting ahead of myself...)

The quote above is from one of favorite books of all time.  I can't even really put into words why I love this quote so much, which explains why Anita is a best selling author and I'm not.  I just think it sums up all the goodness you want to for people, in all that they see, in where they are now, and in their future. And that people should know that love will follow them where ever they go (not in a creepy stalker way, but in a your-are-always-in-my-heart kind of way!). I think everyone should use this as a greeting and farewell, sort of a long-winded Aloha (which I thinks means welcome, good-bye and love).

So, Blessings on your eyes, and on your children. Blessings on the ground beneath you...