How must your Mother have felt as she first gazed down at you? I can only wonder at the awe she must have known. This tiny precious child that she called her own, would soon belong to the world. A world he was born to save. A brother for us all.
Did she fear for you as she touched your little head? Could she have any inkling of the life you were to lead? The life of a teacher and a savior. As she counted each tiny finger did she kiss the palms of your hands not knowing that one day to soon they would be nailed to a rough wooden cross.
As she watched you sleeping so peacefully in her lap could she have guessed at the pain you would endure?The agony you would overcome. Could she have stood it if she did? Or did she only know you were a gift to her given to her by God?
A gift to love and to cherish to raise from this small boy into a strong man. Did she know the gift she was giving to the world when she spoke the words "May it be done to me according to your words"? A gift of love unlike any love the world had ever seen before. The gift of redemption. The gift of forgiveness. The gift of life everlasting. The greatest gift of all. Mary your Mother. My Mother. The Mother of us all. A woman so young chosen by the Divine to be the Mother of God.

My thanks to all of you for the birthday wishes. Your all such sweet 's. There isn't to much new going on around this old cornfield. So I've decided to include one of my very favorite quotes by Emerson.

The definition of success--To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one's self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition.; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--this is to have succeeded." -
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

This truly defines being a success to me. We can all find at least one line in this writing that we have been able to accomplish. So while we may struggle with finances or family, jobs or home life. We can still be a successful person in life. Struggling is a part of life. Not the best part but certainly not the worst either.
We can learn from every problem that we overcome. We can take a life lesson from each battle and use that lesson as a stepping stone on the path to learning more about ourselves and who we are or who we want to become.
And although this may be one mans definfition of a successful life. It is a definition by which I choose to gage my own accomplishments and those of my friends. By this definition I have some very successful friends. It may very simplistic to some but simple to me isn't a bad thing. In fact at this time in my life simple is a very good thing. Hugs.

Oh my goodness I had to go back to work last night after having been off since Dec. 22nd. It was a loonngg night. And to top it off I turn 46 today. My good friend June called and sang Happy Birthday to me. The girl knows I love her but Lord she can't sing! Yet she calls me every year and serenades me. Usually she tries to get my voice mail so I can't cut her off but this year she made me listen to her sing the whole song. It's a joke between us. She sings terribly off key and I always tell her how wonderful she sounds. And you know it always makes me smile.

46 wow. Where do the years go? They seem to fly the older I get. The seasons seem to go by quicker too. Although as much as I dislike winter thats not all bad. Do you feel like the years go faster as you age too? There is still alot I want to do with my life and it is hard to find the time.
I want to travel. But I'm thinking that may have to wait until we retire. I'd love to take a course in photography and a writing class. I want to learn to cross stitch and how to sew. I would love to take a painting course too. I also want to learn how to refinish my wood floors and to put down tile in my bathroom.
I have lots of good plans but never seem to find the time or resources to do them. But you know what? Time is flying by me now and I need to quit procrastinating and actually do some of them. I think I'll start with tiling my shower. How hard can it be? Hugs.

Wishing you all a great New Year. May it be a healthy and happy one for all. Hugs.