Life to the Fullest

I saw her from afar
   enjoying life to the fullest
     moving confidently
       through her dreams
         weaving new dreams
             arms open
           as if expecting
         more blessings than she could hold
       and I wanted her ...
     I wanted to drink from her life
    to taste
  what she thought was so sweet
    I wanted to fall asleep
      hearing her laughter
        and wake up in her arms
          so strong
            so warm
          so able to love at the same time ...
       I wanted to wander through
     the maze of her mind
   and discover each fascinating thought
       each unspoken question
          I wanted to know
             who she was ...
                every facet
                  every flaw
                     every strength
                  every weakness ...
              I wanted her to 
            need me
         to not need me
      to want me
  to not want me 
      like an elusive butterfly
         drawn to the color
             of my love 
                 already drunk
                    from the honey of the Son
                  while she decides
               whether to alight
             and partake or not 
          I have already decided.
     I want her ...

                                  - Michelle McKinney Hammond

"I Cannot Imagine ... "

He sat down in my office and I didn't say a word to give him the opportunity to tell me what was on his mind. His eyes were looking down and I asked, "Want to tell me what is bothering you?"

"Can you tell?" he asked. "I am a mom" I said knowingly. He laughs that great laugh I adore about him.

We became friends months ago at the shelter and I will never forget the day he walked into my office. Very guarded, waiting to be judged and walked out friends.

He took a deep breath, looked up at me, placed a little box on my desk and opened it.

*BLING* a beautiful diamond ring sparkled.

I smiled at him and he quickly said, "I will buy her a better ring when I can."

Surprised and impressed, I know the ring cost him way more than he could afford, he worked hard and bought her the the best he had. "Well done, Michael. It is stunning and she will love it!" I genuinely mean that.

I am a safe place for him and he opens his heart and shares he is going to propose this Friday. That he would like to plan something really special for her, but he wants to ask her to marry him so much he doesn't want one more day to pass.

We have had many conversations about dating, healthy relationships, love and respect, and I know he is in love with his girl. I ask him the one question that is my go-to, "Is she the one you cannot imagine your life without?"

He looked me honestly in the eyes and said, "I cannot imagine a day without her."

I love his answer and I love his heart!

He shared that he is good with his words, but that he hasn't figured out how he wants to ask her. As his sounding board I told him how I loved exactly what he just said. Tell her you cannot imagine a day without her.

He was teetering on getting down on one knee, I encouraged him, absolutely yes! I shared what getting on one knee means and he seemed to find it honorable.

He is over the moon nervous, yet excited. I am over the moon proud of him.

How pure his love is for her that he worked so hard to buy the very best he could. How wonderful that he cannot wait beyond Friday because he simply cannot wait for one more day to pass to ask her. He cannot wait to marry her and he cannot wait to share his life with her.

It is refreshing for me to see. I cannot honestly remember the last time I saw a boy so desire to marry a girl.

I hope she knows his worth.

Pruning and Fine-Tuning

God always knows, but He let's me know He knows through blessings that fall on me like a spring showers in every direction I walk. 

Messages from heaven. Blessings that capture my attention. God in control.

I know who to thank. He makes His presence known stronger at times than in others.

I look back on my life and I see my direction and paths. I see God's roadblocks.

Reflecting back I clearly see why those roadblocks were my best interest. Whew, a lot of close calls! My life would be so different than it is now. 

My life continues to get better and better, but it only moves in the direction of my goals when I continue to do the work. Significance is a choice.  

My life feels like it is in a perfecting stage. 

My eyes are firm and steadfast on what I want and I am always pruning and fine-tuning to make me better in ways of improving excellent health and fitness, skincare to look my very best, adventures I want to take, the little things that are my everything I want in my life and my love language met. 

Important details, decisions that change through the years. Like a book with clean pages ready to be written that will become a best seller. 

I feel significance in the most important areas of my life deeply. Sometimes these feelings drive me to do things that others can not understand. 

God knows significance in my life is my quest. He continues to open opportunities that I do not even know about and sets my feet on a firm path. 

I find it easy to abandon myself to those I love, thrive in the relationships in my life and I give those areas of my life everything I am.

I wouldn't want it any other way.

An Unexpectedly Good Time

I meant it as a verbal affirmation how much I enjoyed our evening when we were driving home and I said, "I had an unexpectedly good time with you tonight!"

This is me reflecting a very fun evening and sharing my happiness with him.

I hurt his feelings.

He states he always has a good time with me.

It gets worse ...

I list the things that I enjoyed so much about our evening: A warm night, a patio, a bottle of wine, our new favorite pizza, live music and dancing.

NOTE: David pointed out he was not listed in this list of enjoyments.

I fall on the sword of perhaps, quite possibly my brain isn't functioning a 100% capacity due to him keeping my glass of wine replenished.

What I meant with the unexpectedly good time was that we had no plans. It was 6 o'clock on a Friday night when he mentioned driving to Geneva which is 1-1/2 hours away. I offer closer suggestions and realize that was what he wanted to do.

Our evening went from no plans to sitting outdoors, trying a new bottle of wine after sampling a new ice wine (which became a quick favorite for him), and a musician playing a host of music from Johnny Cash, Bee Gee's, Beatles, etc. Even though the musician wasn't that good, his music selection was really good.

David and I danced our 1st slow dance! Two years together and we danced our 1st slow dance to Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight.

Our new favorite pizza they make is the seafood pizza with shrimp, scallops, mozzarella, and alfredo sauce is bursting in flavor and I rejoiced at each bite.

It was an unplanned, unexpected evening of new firsts with my senses heightened enjoying being outdoors, with live music, awesome food, laughing, and ambiance, but it is my perfect that made the evening perfect.

Wonderful Tonight

It's late in the evening; she's wondering what clothes to wear.

She puts on her make-up and brushes her long brown hair.

And then she asks me, "Do I look all right?"

And I say, "Yes, you look wonderful tonight."

We go to a party and everyone turns to see

This beautiful lady that's walking around with me.

And then she asks me, "Do you feel all right?"

And I say, "Yes, I feel wonderful tonight."

I feel wonderful because I see

The love light in your eyes.

And the wonder of it all

Is that you just don't realize how much I love you.

New Snuggles

I forgot how much work a kitten is.

Even in the happiness of bringing him home, it was like pulling a band-aid off and I found myself teary and missing my Sammy Blue.

Solomon is a sweet boy. Playful, snugly, inquisitive, and full of energy. When his energy depletes, he is quite the baby crying and needing snuggle time.

Our home suddenly feels busy again with a little furry family member underfoot.

It is so hard not to compare this new little boy with my beloved Sammy Blue. Their markings different, their personalities slightly different, as we are getting into a new routine with Solomon, his new acclimation and snuggles are warming my heart.

I love the feel of his warm little body and fur snuggled at my neck purring. As sweet as he can be and his baby moments are filling the hole that Sammy left when he passed away far too young.

Solomon is a perfect addition to our home and our family.

Finneaus King Solomon

Two royal babies were named yesterday ...

... and Finneaus King Solomon!

Named after King Solomon who stole my heart many months ago, my Solomon will be the wisest kitty that ever lived and will write the books: Purrverbs, Ecclesikitties, and Song of Finneaus Solomon [funny!]. 

A pretty big name for a little guy.

At 9-1/2 weeks old, he weighs 1 lb. 12 oz. 

Solomon. Finn. Finneaus. Finneaus Solomon. King Solomon. Finneaus King Solomon. I like name combination options. 

Brooke and I took a 10 hour road trip to Virginia yesterday to bring him home. Leaving Ohio we went through Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and back. Sunny and mid 80's, the ride was pretty with pink "spring" colored trees which helped because it was a long day.

Welcome home sweet boy!

A New Season in Life

Last night, Mariah's Jeremy joined our family dinner at my mom & dad's for the 1st time. Invited as her significant and included in a meal with laughter and fun was a special dynamic for me, as her mom.

I know she is crazy in love with him.

I am so happy for her as she holds on and cherishes exactly what she wants in life.

An invitation came for Brooke's Alex high school graduation party. While he is her 1st significant puppy love, both of my girls lives have transitioned from little girls into young ladies who love love and embrace their relationship as great importance in their lives.

They are mine.

To see my Mariah put her head on Jeremy's shoulder happy and at peace and him slip his arm around her, I know his presence with family is everything to her and I am happy for her happiness.

She has waited a long time, not-so-patiently and patiently for her life with Jeremy.

She holds steadfast to her dreams and to buck that will be met with absolute resistance. Good for you, baby girl.

Stand stalwart and strong in the face of adversity towards anything that tries to shake your dreams.

I am more than ready for my family to extend.

I Want the WOW Effect!

I literally just ended day #7 of Arbonne's 7-Day Cleanse.

Going into day #7 of the cleanse I was thrilled to realize I lost 3 lbs! Broke my weight plateau and at a new all-time low in OMGosh ... quite possibly 7 years!

Realization hit me that I've officially lost 25 lbs. in 14 months! 

One of my girlfriends once said it is like putting 5 - 5 lb. bags of sugar in a paper bag and lifting it. Gross! That is a lot of unwanted fat in weight perspective!

I feel healthy and strong and my momentum for summer is just beginning. Today is May 1st and I still have one more month until summer is officially here, which means ...

• I will take advantage of each beautiful day.
• Being conscious of what works is becoming incredibly healthy new habits in my life.
• My body changing is a powerful driving factor.
• I will push myself simply because I can.
• I want the WOW effect!
• I want to set the bar high as I turn 45 and remove excuses for others.
• I want to slip into a bikini and look as if I take really good care of myself.
• Hearing others say I am a goddess, beautiful, sexy and all-woman is better than a life of eating carbs tastes. 
• Staying healthy is important because an active lifestyle is important to me.

I have a lot of personal goals and I don't want mediocre or status quo. 

I love all things significant. 

Good health is an absolute blessing. It offers a quality of life that should be embraced and well-lived.

[Pssst ... the scales report that I have lost my 26th pound today!]

The end of May will be my next cleanse and I cannot wait.

My goals are set.