Monday, May 23, 2011

Two Weeks Later...

Without notice, I took a 2 week blog break.  My loyal blog followers (that would be y'all reading these wordsare considered friends or family.  Nobody shouted "HEY! Where did you go?"  The world didn't end, although some felt it was destined to happen this past weekend.  Life went on.

Over this short break, I focused on my family and kept active with various happenings in our lives.  Thinking about the time spent away from blog land, the words "when I last left you..." and "two weeks later..." popped into my head.  It made me smile and chuckle to myself, as I conjured up comic book style visions.  

A single moment can change a life forever, so 2 weeks can surely bring on changes.  What changed for me during the past 2 weeks?  Let me put it this way...

Two weeks later...

Mother's Day 2011
Mother's Day arrived on May 8th, and on May 10th I became another year older.  My wonderful husband (and boys) picked out a priceless gift... floating paper lanterns!  If you haven't watched the movie Tangled, you'll need to see it to fully understand why this is such a beautiful & thoughtful gift.  Rain was expected, so my husband presented me with the lanterns and I get to choose the date and location to set them off.  I've been caught singing "I See The Light" with a smile on my face since we saw the movie, but the smile is a little bigger now.

My absolute favorite show, Smallville, went out with a super series finale.  I'll admit it, I'm a complete sappy nerd.  I cried.  As a fan from the very beginning (10 years ago), it was bittersweet to watch, but it was brilliantly done.  The creators, cast, and all those involved with Smallville have my admiration.  I hope the cast & crew find success in whatever they take on next.  Thank goodness I can watch them together on dvd, because I'll miss seeing their on screen talent & chemistry all in the same place.  I'd list my favorite actors/actresses from the show, but it would end up being a cast list.  They all brought their individual WOW factor to each character.  Did I mention I'm going to miss this show?

During my hiatus I once again realized that we are in warp speed.  At times I feel so rushed and it's difficult to give 100% to everything.  My hopes & dreams tend to sit on the back burner more often than I care to admit.  Ultimately though, being the best mom I can be right now means so much more.  Taking the time to just be near my husband, even if I'm reading and he's working on a project, is more important than accomplishing something the world finds amazing.  At the same time, remembering that I set goals for a reason and doing what I love is a part of who I am.  The pressure of perfection cannot overtake simple joys.

Nothing life changing occurred, but I enjoyed the chance to just breathe with one less "to do" item on my list.  

Do you love it when you get a glimpse at beloved characters "two weeks later," or years later, when a movie, tv show, or story ends?  Do you put your own spin on things and use your imagination when no "what happens next" turns up?  If a sequel comes out later, do you most often feel disappointed or excited by the portrayals?  

Check Out Sara Bareilles song, "Breathe Again," that was used in the Smallville finale!  
One of my favorites... the song and the artist!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Thoughts For Today


Today I remember those we have lost in this war... and why it all began.  I'm very proud of our military.  My heart & prayers are with them and their families.  Thank you for your many sacrifices.  Today we feel some justice has been served for those lost in the 9/11 attacks and since that horrible day.   Even with the heartbreak of losing a friend in this war, I'm not celebrating.  Am I glad this terrorist is no longer hurting innocent people?  Yes, I am relieved.  Yet I think about one thing.  When we lost our loved ones, they cheered & celebrated.  It makes me sick to think of them celebrating our loved ones deaths.

No matter how innocent or evil, is it okay to celebrate a death?

I'll leave you with a powerful quote that has been floating around Facebook this evening...
‎"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
-- Full Quote from Unknown Source, portions taken from MLK's "Where Do We Go From Here" speech.