hello...friend

(the journal page I made tonight)

My friend Jane was over here this evening...the Jane who sends me gorgeous poems  and art cards in the mail, who brings over homemade jam and who has a huge spirit wide and deep and shining. We had samosas (from Trader Joes, of course!), pesto tortellini and tomato soup. Tara showed Miss Jane all of her recent artwork...we went outside in the cool evening air and said goodnight to Mother Moon. And after I put Tara to bed...we sat downstairs at the kitchen table and talked and created and shared.
We shared stories of our heart, of our truths. We shared our pains and struggles and heartsongs...all the while laughing and painting. We shared our tender pieces and our fierce ones too! Isn't it just amazing when we meet our kindreds? We don't have to explain who we are, why we do what we do. There is no jealousy or competition or negativity. Just an understanding and appreciation for the gift. An absolute acceptance of ourSELVES. Hello friend...

Feeling the support of community

                                                              (flowers for you!)
I have really appreciated the support of this blogging community over these  past many months...you all have offered kind words, advice that was gentle and full of deep wisdom, a listening ear and plenty of great recommendations! You all have made this time so much more bearable, workable and...livable! You have opened up your hearts and your lives with courage, truth and vulnerability and, by doing so, have lessened my burdens and loneliness. You have offered up your time and concern and been a witness to my daily joys and struggles.  Best of all...I have started to cultivate some really authentic connections and friendships that I hope will deepen and blossom with time. So...from the bottom of my heart...Thank you, thank you, thank you!!. My heart overflows with sincere gratitude.

On What's Really Important...

My Tara turned one a few days ago and it got me thinking on what's really important...and it's all these small moments that make up the totality of a life. It's the HUGE moments too-the births and deaths, falling in love, visiting Paris or having an exhibition but it's also the everyday, the mundane, the "trivial" that make up the majority of one's life. Taking a bath with baby, birthdays and walking outside in the sunshine (or the rain), taking in the beauty of a sunset, baby kisses (sweet), hubby kisses (hot!!), reading a good book, cooking, making a snowman...it's these small moments that are quilted together to form the fabric of our lives. It's people and relationships that are important, love and creativity...not things, not housework and "stuff" and... putting on airs and crazy non-sense. It's appreciating colors and good health, playing with your dog and running on the bare grass. It's old friendships(for their comfort) and new ones (for their...possibility). It's loving the two feet we have that take us where we want to go, the eyes we have to take in all of the beauty in this world and...clean drinking water.It's the journey and not the destination. The imperfect-ness of life  and not the ideal. Any thoughts out there on what is important to you?