My Mother

...has truly become my inspiration.  Remember that time when you just thought parent figures were standing in your way and only shielding you from things you thought were rightfully yours? well, this time has passed, and i'm learning again (and again and again) how amazingly fabulous the mother i was blessed with has inspired me in, oh, so many ways.

tonight, i was reminded again.

on 9/17/10, she turned 60. to celebrate we went out to dinner. fond as i am of celebrating significant things, i suggested we play a birthday game. (memo: never invite me to your party if you're insecure in the spotlight).  As she, is where i must have learned to love this limelight, she shined.

In highlighting her highs of her 59th year, i think its fair to say, she, magnificently surprised us all when she revealed that before any of us could have possibly known, she made a little pact with herself to "say 'Yes' to whatever came her way so as to not 'grow old sitting at home in her jammies, as she would have preferred at times'.

and say "Yes" did she ever. This year, in traveling to Canada to preform, France to teach and learn, and Bulgaria to sing in a custom that was previously very foreign to her American trained ear, she entertained  us with stories that could only be marvelous and astounding. but what stuck out more was her commitment to "not just grow old" by staying comfortable. and i must say, that sitting across from such a beautiful lady, my very own mother, i hope to one day be as open and willful and loving of life as she has been in her 59th year, to meet 60 with such a positive, welcoming view.

however, seeing as how she was busy taking the globe by storm this past summer, i decided to take an afternoon to capture some of the beauty she's created at home by stealing away to her garden and home address to get a picture or two or three of the work she has put into her surroundings....and, drum roll, for your viewing pleasure....

It's not a wonder she finds God in her own backyard.

I hope someday, I grow to be as fabulous, life-giving and beautiful as my mother has surely proven to be... Happy Birthday Mama_Love, you are more wonderful than you know...

XOXO.