Birthday News

This has been an incredible birthday and because I am having a birthday weekend - it is not over yet.

My life contracted after Tom's death. I was surrounded by my angel-friends - thank God. However, the entire fabric of my life was bound so tightly around me, it was dark and suffocating and lonely. Solitude is imperative; isolation is different. The isolation (and it was there even when I was in the company of others) was profound - it was to a greater degree that I was even aware.

This birthday was a living embodiment of how my life, my TRANSFORMED life, has expanded.

I worked at my interim executive director job all day on the actual birthdate and was overwhelmed at the amazing outpouring of good wishes and love. I got so many emails, voice mails, text messages, facebook postings and phone calls with Happy Birthday wishes. I got cards, notes, a cake from the staff at work, flowers from the board of directors. It was so lovely. At some point during that day I realized how expansive, how loving and how different my life is today than a few years ago. Transformed!!

I am so grateful - I am so blessed - I am humbled, honored and filled with joy. I saw Shellie, the soul reader, yesterday. It was incredible. I will blog more later - now I must go and enjoy some more of this birthday weekend. Namaste.

PS The photo was taken on my sixth birthday.

Garden

I took these photos just after dawn this morning as I wandered around the yard with my coffee and my IPhone. I will take better photos this weekend with my real camera. We are expecting a beautiful and much cooler day today. Enjoy yours!!

Still on the Planet

Such a busy time. I am preparing to take a break - V is arriving from Seattle the evening of July 1 and I will be off work for a week. I am so looking forward to time to myself and time with him. I got an email from QuitNet this morning reminding me about one of the best things I have done for myself in a long time. So here my friends are my quit stats for June 23, 2009:

Your Quit Date is: Sunday, April 23, 2006 at 9:35:00 PM
Test Time Smoke-Free: 1156 days, 6 hours, 41 minutes and 55 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 17344
Lifetime Saved: 4 months, 12 days, 11 hours

The garden is looking wonderful - I will have photos to post soon. My plan is to take Friday off for a long weekend - time for reflection on my birthday. It is really HOT here in Minnesota - heat index 105 degrees - if you are in the heat take care of yourself and stay cool. Blessings

Garden

It has been a weekend - I did not feel well Saturday and Sunday but am back to normal today. The client work continues to be incredibly stressful. Here is the progress on the garden so far this year. The pots lined up against the wooden wall are all vegetables and edible flowers. It is fun to watch them grow - cucumbers, zucchini, beans, hot peppers, eggplant, edible lavender, and parsley. The space in front of the house has four types of tomatoes, basil, chamomile, chives and lots of edible flowers.

We are in drought here in the Twin Cities - I am thankful for the hose - all my containers are mulched. I watered the lawn and trees in back very deeply during the spring and they are doing well in spite of so little rain. Soon I will post photos of the back gardens - very beautiful. I will keep the photos coming as things grow strong.

Integrity

Paul Wellstone was a man of values and honor. He had a huge vision of a world of equality and peace. He would not compromise his values and beliefs.

Grassroots leadership - a world based on mutual respect and one where children feel and know they are valued and loved. What a tragedy to lose this man - I am honored that I had opportunities to meet him and spend just a bit of time with him. He always remembered people - not just "hiya, hiya, hiya" but remembered you. He truly cared about this world. He will never be forgotten.

You CAN Do It!

I just got this from my friend William - such a good life lesson and fun to watch. Thanks Will. Namaste

@ Yahoo! Video

Summer Room

I am so happy with the new look of my room. I recently purchased these new things and it feels so good to slip into bed and draw up the soft cotton champagne-colored quilts. It is just perfect.

Now I have the burgundy/gold/purple/green of my heavy winter quilts and shams and these beautiful ivory and gold summer bed linens. It makes me feel like a princess. Very summery.

As you can tell, it remains a very, very busy time for me. I am still in the shelter doing the leadership transition. The project is going well - transitions are always stressful - this one is no different. Most important, we are making progress - they will walk in the sunshine one of these days, they will sing the song of their dreams. It is worth it.

As I went to do this post tonight I noticed that this is my 480th post since I began my blog - June 20 will be four years - oh my, four years. What a joy it is - what a joy each of you are - my friends, my dearest blog buddies - my companions on this journey of transformation. Thank you.