Hello All,

Spring is my very most favorite time of the year.  Life abounds in every nook and cranny.  I am addicted to life.  Did I tell you all that I am a Doula?  A Doula is a support person for labor and delivery.  I have been a Doula for 20 some years now (I know, I don't look that old, do I!?).  There is absolutely no greater high on this earth than to witness a tiny baby take its first breath.  I liken doula-ing to the first breaths the earth takes in the spring, all the firsts, animal life, plant life, new and clean air after the rains,  and don't you think there is different air just by shrugging off ole man winter and feeling the warm wisps of spring?  And doesn't new earth life have such a different smell?  Well, these bones respond to each and every bird song, and the symphony of the season.

I always wanted to be a twin.  My parents didn't help much in that department so I had to make one up myself.  I was born on my grandma's birthday, I was her birthday present that year.  My grandma and I are a lot alike, kinda fun lovin and kooky.  We seize the day.  Grandma became a beautician back in the 50's.  My mom followed suit in the 60's.  My Bethany went to beauty school two years ago and now my niece, Morgan is in school.  My Mom is the best cheerleader for these girls, she is faithful to go once a week to get her hair and nails done which goes toward Morgan's total (she has to have a certain amount of shampoo and sets, perms, colors, etc. to graduate).  Mom takes grandma with her every Tuesday.  A couple Tuesdays ago I decided to tag along with the girls to the beauty college and have Morgan do my hair, I took the first turn.  All three of us girls were sitting in the dryer chairs all in a line with our hair in rollers waiting for Morgan to do our nails.  Grandma's nails were wet so she was blowing on them and chatting when the Star Spangled Banner came on over the radio.  She said to no one in particular, "Must be noon."  And she puts her wet nailed right hand over her heart and starts belting out, ".....by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hail at the twilight's last dreaming!"  I said to her, "Did you say 'dreaming?'"  She looks right at me and says,"Well, yeah, what is it? 'screaming?'" I let out a huge bellowing laugh.  Right then, I was wishing Norman Rockwell would have been there to paint my grandma's sweet, innocent, down to earth American portrait!  He would have had a hit for sure!

Tis the season friends, to honor and bless our mothers.  I love this season as I think back on the grandma's I had when I was a kid.  I had at 2 grandma's and 2 great grandma's who spoke into my every day life.  And my mama, whom I still glean wisdom from to this day.  I remember how these brave, strong women made up the very fabric of who I am today.  And I am so thankful.  Isn't it crazy the cycle of our lives, we have all these wise people older than we are leading us on and teaching us and as time passes - slowly our time comes to be the leaders in our family?  Incredibly profound for me. Well, I don't know about you but I'm going to try and make the most of it..to seize the day, if you will.  I'm going to celebrate my Mama, my twin, and Tom's mom, the best mother-in-law ever.  And when it's time for Shalom to go to beauty school I'm going to be her best cheerleader, I'm going to be there every Tuesday singing at the top of my lungs at the noontime Star Spangled Banner......."at the twilight's last dreaming, I mean screaming!"  :)

Until next time,

Blessings on finding your rich, homespun heritage!

janele ;)