My dear bloggie friends

I have just returned from

THE PERFECT WEDDING
Insider info: Ryan has a fabulous tattoo of Where The Wild Things are on his upper arm - so these special crowns are perfect. Do click on photo to really take it in.
~~~~~~
There are many benchmarks along the way
of this journey I have known as motherhood

The birth of each of my three children was over the top

The first clutching of my finger by tiny newborn hands

The first smile

The first time they said mommy

The jumping up and down in the crib with a huge smile when you walk into the bedroom...a love fest to the moon and back!!

The first step, which turns into a full out run....

...which tugs at your heart because you know

it's the start...

of the natural process of leaving you

and becoming who they are meant to be.

The moments are captured forever in your heart.
~

This weekend Mr. J and I drove, flew, and drove some 2500 miles

to share in overwhelming joy and love.

The most amazing of benchmarks.

The wedding of my firstborn.

On a most beautiful beach just below Provincetown

called Head of The Meadow

before sunset on a glorious, sunny day

My son gave his promise to his beloved..

surrounded by his and her family,

their closest friends,

and a handful of wonderful beach goers.

I have never, ever, witnessed a more magical wedding.

So with my little Olympus fe-310
I was able to make a tiny video
and slide show

to share with you just a small portion of the
joy and love of this celebration


GO HERE
IT MIGHT TAKE A MOMENT OR TEN TO LOAD

Blissed out barefoot mother of the groom

xox
Rella

FATHERS DAY 1986

We learn so many things from our Fathers.

They are the co-builders of our foundations.

I remember what I learned from my own Father.

Respect.
The value of money
Responsibility
How to stand on my own two feet

This photo is one of my own children learning from their Father.

We were young parents with a very limited amount of money to raise three children, own a home and a car on one basic income...his.

I took various jobs here and there to help fill in some of the gaps,

but our intent was that we would not leave the children's care to anyone
else.
This meant HE would have the job during regular hours
and I would take whatever I could during the hours he was home
to be with them.

This often meant we would meet at the driveway
and kiss hello and good-bye
as I quickly brought him up to speed on the goings on of the day.

He took his suit off, put his briefcase away and began his second job. Dinner, baths, etc.

I would call from whatever job and check in on everyone.

It worked very well.

But the little birds would need things or want some things that all children do.

So THIS dad signed up for a daily paper route.

We will call this job number three.

Every morning, way before the sun even thought of coming up
the daily newspaper would arrive at the corner.

I would hear them, but it was HE that got up and went out to start
the process of counting and rolling and putting in the car.

He would come back in and get the 'not so happy' children up to come along as he drove them to the designated spots
and they would run the papers to the doors.
So did he.

All this took place usually in the dark, cold, rain, snow, whatever.
More dependable than the postman
was this crew in the Chevy Cavalier Wagon

This was not the end of it, however.
They had to go back later that day or after dinner to collect the money from all of the folks who did not leave the money out each week.

That was not fun, either, but the bill had to be paid.

The small profit then would be portioned out to each child and they had to put some in savings and some they were able to use for the items that we could not really afford on our income.

Special sneakers, certain additions to collections, etc.

This Father showed these little birds that there is always a way if you want something.
They didn't understand then the hardship and sacrifice it was for their Father to teach them this lesson....

......but they know now for certain, as adults.
They had/have a wonderful Father who still, to this day, would do whatever he could to help them, help themselves.


I know they will wish him a Happy Father's Day from their hearts.

And far, far away,
with vivid memories such as these,
I send similar Father's Day wishes to the father of my little birds......
our little birds.

GRATEFUL

That is the post.

That is my word for 2009.

I know there are blogs out there that have put the question out to us or the challenge to use ONE word.

...and I have thought on it for these past 15 days.

REALLY, truly, contemplated.

I will state it here quite simply,

Grateful

the second most powerful word to my spirit....

the sister word to love.

When I hang up the phone
(gosh that is an OLD term now, isn't it?)

I am grateful
that such an instrument gives me the connection to my children

or my Dad or siblings..

or my dear friend across the country..

when I can text a simple

"love you" or "goodnight"

just before going to sleep

it feels like
these precious ones are not so far away..

I am grateful.

that I have a job,

a roof over my head,

a car to get me where I need to go.......

three amazing children...

beautiful sunrises and sunsets...

The list is huge,

isn't it?

When I 'visit' grateful in the midst of any storm,

it is like a healing balm.

It's magic.