Lessons Learned at the Park

It was an unusually warm February morning, so I decided to take my two littles to the park. As one was swinging and the other sliding, I took a moment to breathe in my environment. The sweetest bird song rang in my ear, and I followed the melody to the top of a nearby tree. He was a pretty nondescript little thing - grey with hints of blue and white around his neck...nothing that would have ordinarily caught my eye. As the breeze caressed my cheek and fluffy clouds rolled above me, I paused to study each melodious note uttered by the feathered creature. He sang loudly with his head tilted to the sky, each note crisp, sharp & beautiful. Then he stopped and turned his head as if to listen. Curious, I followed suit. It was then that I noticed that the song never stopped. The melody was carried on by another bird, not 50 feet away, at the top of a different tree. After a short while, my bird began to sing again. This time, though, it was different. Just as beautiful, but there was a change in the melody. And again, he stopped and listened. When he continued his song this time, my awareness had expanded - my mind had opened to this avian symphony. And the beautiful truth was laid bare. There never was a singular bird song. All along, it was a complex symphony of many different birds singing their very own songs. But they intertwined so beautifully, so seamlessly, it was as if they were all working together - each adding their own personal touch - to create something incredible that none of them could have accomplished on their own. Each song had it's own rhythm, it's own melody, it's own complex riffs and varying pauses. But each beautiful, melodious thread combined with the others to create a beautiful tapestry of sound that blanketed the air around me. Some birds were in trees with no leaves, others were in evergreens. Some were on lamp posts, others were on power lines. But one thing was sure...I never saw a bird singing from the ground. No matter their immediate location, they found the highest point that they could reach and sang their song proudly.

So, I challenge you, as I challenge myself. Find your song and sing it proudly. Go to the highest peak that you can manage and let the world hear your beautiful gift. Your surroundings may not be ideal, but do the very best you can with what you've got. And once you've begun to share your song, take a moment to pause and appreciate the songs of those around you. Listen intently, learn from them. Then sing again. And the big picture will show that you were indeed a vital part of this beautiful tapestry called life.

"Dawn has not yet broken,

Yet the sparrow gifts us with a song.

Light & sweet, whispering a melody of hope.

The sun will rise.

You may not believe it, but...

The sun will rise.

And,
Until your eyes can see

What my heart can feel,

I'll sing my sparrow's melody for you."

~Keda

Live in Love,
}:{

Supergirl

We were running late for school today, so we drove instead of walked. We said our morning prayers, exchanged "I love you's" and she hopped out of the van. The teacher hurried her on since it was already 8:04. But she hesitated. 

"What is she doing? Doesn't she know she's late?"

I could see the wheels turning in her mind. She shook her head and began to walk again. But then she stopped.

"What in the world?"

She took three steps back, bent over,  picked up a piece of garbage that someone else had carelessly tossed on the ground, threw it in the trash...then proceeded to enter the building.

It may seem like nothing to you, but that little thing...the fact that she cared enough to be responsible when she didn't have to...when reason told her not to...that makes her a Supergirl in my book. I LOVE my sweet, tender-hearted, loving, caring Baby Doll. And there's nothing anyone can do about it.


Live in Love,
}:{ Keda }:{

Wordless Wednesday

Unwavering Strength, Undeniable Beauty

I picked a lonely rose from in front of my house this morning. It was bent completely over, facing the ground...shaking in the wind, cold & rain...but its strength & beauty were undeniable. Not a petal was lost. It made it through the storm.

I am.
You are.
Strong.
Beautiful.

Worth 1000 Words

Live in Love,
}:{

There Will Be Brighter Tomorrows

"Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you...I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life." ~Psalm 42:5-8 (NLT)

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This speaks deeply to my emotional state at the moment. There are times when people do or fail to do things that result in us becoming discouraged and a bit down. It's the way life goes and there's not really much we can do to prevent it from happening. What we can control is our reaction to its occurrence. When circumstances get you down, do you wallow in the hurt? Do you allow the negative feelings that arise to affect your feelings and dealings with the other party? Or do you put a song in your heart, focus on the good in your life, learn from the situation and keep stepping?

I've learned that, no matter how difficult it is, it's better to keep stepping. If ever I decide to dwell on the negative, it always ends up that I'm the one adversely impacted by my refusal to move on. The people at the root of the situation are often oblivious to my feelings and are thereby unaffected by them. So why hold myself back? I choose to move on to brighter days and better opportunities.

If life knocked you down today, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and look ahead to a brighter tomorrow. You'll be doing yourself a favor.

Live in Love,
}:{

A Mother's Love for Her Daughter

"A little girl, asked where her home was, replied, "where mother is."
~Keith L. Brooks

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The relationship between a mother and her daughter is constantly evolving. The early years are full of hope & wonder, as Mama is the portrait of perfection and infinite possibilities are contained within the innocent gaze of sweet Baby Girl.

As the sands of time spill away, these two female forces, once so closely intertwined, begin to pull in opposing directions. Baby Girl becomes a woman in spite of Mama's desperate attempts to cling to her baby.

The latter years bring with them appreciation, understanding and a beautiful friendship, when motherhood offers Baby Girl a brand new perspective.





I am creating a promotional Photo Book that showcases the beautiful relationships that mothers and daughters share and am looking for a few willing models to participate. The Mothers & Daughters shoot will take place on Saturday, December 4, 2010, from 10am-12pm. Participants will hang out with me at my home, enjoy some light refreshments, sit for a few photos with their moms/daughters to be featured in the photo book and walk away with a special gift from Papillon.

If you or anyone you know would like to participate, contact me by November 15th and let me know. There are limited spaces available, so the sooner the better! I look forward to hearing from you!

Live in Love,
}:{ Keda }:{