The dress...

 

 I wore this dress (stock photo, that's not me!) to my son's wedding in May of 2020, just after COVID started.  I bought the dress in January, not knowing what was coming!  As luck would have it, this beautiful dress appeared in my "ads," no doubt thanks to the cookies that follow us all over the Internet!  WAY to go, COOKIES!  My dream dress was purple less and VOILA!  ASK, and the Cookies delivered!

I almost didn't get to wear it because the kids were going to postpone the wedding and then decided to have a smaller casual wedding, no fancy clothes.  BUT at the last minute, they decided she would wear her beautiful wedding dress, and we would wear our gowns.  I was thrilled!  I loved this dress and was so happy to wear it.  I felt like a princess too that day!  It was an amazing COVID wedding and an amazing day watching my son marry his High School sweetheart!

Of course, I washed it after the wedding and hung it up in my closet, unsure what to do with it.  It's not like I have tons of occasions that call for a long flowy dress!  I was thinking lately that it would be great to donate it to a girl who needed a dress for her PROM.  LOW and BEHOLD, I came across a Facebook post of an organization that matches girls who can't afford a dress to a donated gown, and she was the right size for this dress!  I immediately messaged them, and the dress is being picked up today!  It makes me so happy to know that my pretty dress will serve another good purpose!

I will miss you, pretty dress, but thank you for making me feel like a Princess, and please make your next recipient feel that way too! 💜

 I took this picture on the night of the full moon on April 26.  It was an amazing moon, and I was even more amazed that my camera caught such a beautiful photo!  Of course, I immediately thought about this poem.  I LOVE this poem so much!

Desiderata

GO PLACIDLY amid the noise and the haste and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

By Max Ehrmann © 1927

My son

 

I had a lovely weekend with my son and his wife at their new house.  They've been married just 2 months and I'm so proud of them for being able to buy their first house at age 25.  At that age, I didn't have a clue!

Today I was talking to a friend about all the things my son has learned already about owning a house and fixing things and how good he is with HVAC.  That was my dad's specialty and he died when my son was just a year old.

He would have been so proud. 💜

Mani/Pedi

 I went to get a manicure and a pedicure after work today.  I know people say that's supposed to be relaxing, but I never felt that way?  Am I the only one?  

I've tried so many different methods/places and it's always the same.  They get a little too close to the cuticles, they cut you, you bleed a little.  What part of that is fun?

Don't get me started on the pedicures.  That's pure torture and I avoid it as much as possible until those toes get so ugly you either must hide them or suffer through the process (usually in summer). 

I'm not a fan of having my feet touched and not a fan of having them poked and prodded!  I wish I could find someone who makes it a relaxing experience, but I don't think it exists.

Sitting on the beach, drinking margaritas, watching the sunset... THAT is relaxing!

Sunflowers

I'm loving sunflowers so much lately. I need to figure out how to grow them in my woods. The trees tend to block the sun for part of the day, which makes it much cooler in the summer, but harder to grow sun-loving plants. But I enjoy buying them too. 🌻

Power

We went a little over 24 hours without power during 90-degree weather, and it occurred to me how amazing it is when you lose something and get it back.  You appreciate it SO much more.  Why can't we be like that every day?

How cool would it be to get up every morning and want to dance because you flipped a switch and it shone this amazing light on you, or you turned on the AC and suddenly that cool air made the world feel good again?

I want to find a way to hold onto that amazing feeling.  Like a kid discovering the magic of electricity.  SO many treasures that it holds, the internet, TV, AC, a fridge full of food, clean running water.  So many things we take for granted.  Things that some people don't even have!  How is it possible we take that for granted every day?

I don't want to take a minute of my life for granted anymore.  I want to wake up every day and acknowledge the miracle of the life we have, COVID-19 and all, the world is still a miraculous place to live in and I'm happy that I get to wake up every morning and take advantage of these treasures we've been given!

I've learned

I've learned that your soul mate doesn't need to be someone who acts and thinks like you do.  Spent a lot of time needlessly suffering thinking that we weren't a match?!  We have different values, different thoughts, and unique needs!  WHO was my soul mate? DID I even have a soul mate?  WOULD I ever?

Suddenly it hit me... we have many soul mates, friends, family members, and people who cross our paths.  They can be our soul mates for several reasons.  They all have something to teach us.  They all touch us in separate ways.

Is he my soul mate?  He's the mate my soul needs... That's why he's here, that's why we clicked.  He doesn't have to think like I do or agree with everything I want.  But he's on this path with me and he's a reflection of many things. Some good, some bad, but all serve a purpose.  I'm good with that.