Mother's Day for Peace

In the United States, Mother's Day was originally suggested by poet and social activist Julia Ward Howe. In 1870, after witnessing the carnage of the American Civil War and the start of the Franco-Prussian War, she wrote the original Mother's Day Proclamation calling upon the women of the world to unite for peace. This "Mother's Day Proclamation" would plant the seed for what would eventually become a national holiday.

After writing the proclamation, Howe had it translated into many languages and spent the next two years of her life distributing it and speaking to women leaders all over the world. In her book Reminiscences, Howe wrote, "Why do not the mothers of mankind interfere in these matters to prevent the waste of that human life of which they alone bear and know the cost?" She devoted much of the next two years to this cause, and began holding annual "Mother's Day" gatherings in Boston, Massachusetts and elsewhere.

In 1907, thirty-seven years after the proclamation was written, women's rights activist Anna Jarvis began campaigning for the establishment of a nationally observed Mother's Day holiday. And in 1914, four years after Howe's death, President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother's Day as a national holiday.

What does it mean to you?

Living Arrangement Quandry

Tomorrow I sign the lease. Tomorrow I will begin all the crazy steps in making this home a reality. I picked a place that works for me and The Boy... with Scotty in mind, of course. I'm looking forward to having a sunny bedroom, though, after having tiny, shaded, basement windows for two years... he may have to sleep in Hayden's much-darker bedroom during his day-shift nap :) Part of me is rushing ahead and just doing what needs to be done for Team Jenner (as it exists today)... part of me is holding back, wondering if we should just take the leap and move in with Scotty... a whole 'nother part is glad to take something slowly ;) Hayden's upset that it's a basement again, even after explanations of the amount of space (1000 sq ft) and the plans for set-up (tv/computer living room & art/games family room/utility room)... He doesn't want to live in an apartment at all, especially not one underground! Eventually, he came around to any means necessary to ensure I still get an allowance! A momentary waystation to our next stop... we're not getting a new, bigger bed together until we move (West!?) ~ that decision was easy. When to live together? not so easy.

Why I must move...

It was easy to choose to live here! Two amazing kids, two mostly-absent parents, one gargantuan house filled with toys -- what's not to love? We (the four of us, counting Patches) jumped at the chance to move in and bring some of our majik into their lives. I was the joyful playmate and the Team Coach for a couple of extra human beings. They gave me loads of inspiration and were happy cat-sitters during our frequent road trips. Scotty loves them like my own. They have become his practice kids, as well. My space has enveloped them and welcomes them into a place of True Unconditional Love.

I have found myself of late, buffering just too many uglies doled out by their father. I get chronic pain, I get narcotic dependence, I get living without a light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel... I refuse to get how that justifies being a jerk at every opportunity to the smallest and most fragile of our citizens!

I had just comforted Hayden after he was unceremoniously ordered "home" (possibly for making too much joyful noise at the children's return from school) when I found a very sad and worried Elizabeth needing comfort... I can already see the day when Alex flees the ickiness only to be laughed at in my absence, no longer having a Safe Haven in his own home.
I look forward to killing my own whipped cream (no longer suspicious that someone sucked all the propellant out of it and buried it in the trash!) and having my own raw sugar and my own last coca-cola. The thought of 9 days makes things really easy for me and The Boy... makes things really tough for another set of kids.

Make it Mine!

Home, aaahhh, it felt great! I'm throwin' down the cash, daggummit! Along with the application fee of $20, I'm attaching a check for 1/2 month's rent and the $300 deposit. The place is adorable. The folks upstairs travel all the time; they own a Winnebago & a construction company (can you hear him begging for scrap wood? I can see the projects already!); the pond is comforting; the hot tub huge; the patio ready; the flowers blooming; the fire pit calling! You gotta check out the pictures, in the "from the kitchen" shot, on the left wall there really is an electric fireplace thingamabobber from the 70's!! It's even burnt orangish! There's a perfect slab of cement for boarding and scooters, a park not far by bike (is anything really far by bike?), Hy-Vee down the street (Hey Mel, can I borrow the Burley for groceries?)... and we can live with it. We can live with $600 rent plus cell phone and allowance (games, etc) and still eat. Seriously time to give up cigarettes. Good thing I bought a $20 cappuccino machine as a housewarming gift for myself & I've got coffee connections~ I can trade one stimulant for another! I think I can find a way to keep myself in organic 1/2 & 1/2 :)
And I can jump into what kind of work do I want to do? I'm thinking funeral homes need me... there's a big one down the block, I may have to drop in and just sell myself. I really want to do the holiday memorial service this December. Baking? Worth checking out. Breadsmith needs me :) Karen recommended volunteering at the co-op to get the discount on food, 'specially now that I'm cooking! (Lasagna AND Potato Salad yesterday!)
What awaits me? I'm a-tingle with anticipation! Arms thrown wide open in welcome to the newest chapter...
Gemini: Nothing is quite as impossible as it seems, for you may feel a bit more pessimistic than usual. The emotions that are holding you back, however, can also contain the seeds for your forward movement. Don't accept defeat under any circumstances, even if your confidence is weak. Remember, today's actions set the stage for next week's transformations.
~~I attached a note to my rental application: (to soothe my pessimist ::g::)
My credit score and paper history do not give an accurate picture of the family applying for this apartment.
6 years ago, my young husband died of a brain tumor. I was widowed with two children, then ages 2 & 4 years old. I left the work force to focus on my family and our healing. I have been able to continue our commitment to homeschooling and creating a joyful family life for all of us. In February 2006, my daughter, Hannah, then 9.5, died of leukemia.
The past 400some days have been new and strange for me and my son, Hayden, now 8.5. We are seeking a new beginning for our new family situation. I feel this space can provide just that for us.
Thank you for your consideration!

Aaahhh a Gemini I am!

Gemini-Stick to the tried-and-true. No, wait -- now it's time for something completely different! Hey, there's no need to rush into a decision. Enjoy ping-ponging between these two stances and a solution will reveal itself. astrology.com

sums it up!

There I am! Bright and shiny and just as bursting with joy as I seem!! I think, I'm fatter, hairier, and happier than ever before in my life! and I wonder if that's appropriate self-talk... Goes to show, at least me, that physical condition is just that, another condition we must meet in our minds before we allow the heart free happiness. Unconditionality is huge in the forefront of my mind. Thanks to Scott Noelle, for giving me the vocabulary to describe the joyful perspective my life holds~ I remain ME in all situations. Conditions do not dictate who I am; who I am dictates how I behave, in all conditions. It is truly at the heart of to thine own self be true. I am happy. I am a glass half full kinda girl. I've allowed my conditions to excuse behavior that may not line up with the Big Picture diana-possible. What I can do now, is to shift that focus to the Life-Possible and what it really looks like. I shall see that my life, my home, my team and my city reflect the part of me I invest there. Investment of my true, whole self will only reap glorious benefits.
Practical terms? Purge, baby, purge. Cast off that which no longer serves my life. Gratitude and Growth. Treasure that which is serving purpose to my now and near future. Our new home awaits. I shall fill it with the things that bring love and light into our lives. I shall say goodbye (for a price!) to those who shall do that for others. Every day shall be this heart-full!

Seven Degrees of Robert G

My cousin Robert. He's one of the coolest guys I know. He's a workin' stiff, doin' what he loves and what he knows. When he knows better, he does better. He's evolving like that.
When Mitch arrived in Sioux Falls, his first bestest friend was a guy named Al. One day, we took Al to Gramma's house for dinner. Al remarks, "this is the way to Robert's Gramma's house." I don't even connect my cousin to this sentence, until we pull up to the exact same house... Robert had moved to ID, leaving his best friend, Al, best-friend-less, just as Mitch arrived from CA, accepting the open position of new best friend. After Mitch left, I reconnected with a cousin I'd not ever been close to before. Thanks Al! Thanks Mitchard! Thanks Fates!

I miss my SuperCoolNewBoyfriend

I'm missing Scooty like crazy. I'm jealous he's bonding with my kitty and hanging out with my other kids, and yet, that's not entirely true... I'm so Grateful he's there among my things and my peeps, it makes him seem so much closer to us and easier to conjure. He's sent pictures of all sorts, including chic-o-sticks, blooms and precious moments with my loved ones. I've reciprocated with glimpses of our fun and our views. Ya gotta just love cellular technology!

And Yeah, I got a haiku :)
Far, yet internal
I miss my new family
...swim in the missing.
And the bestest message ever:
Good night, my love. I remain, your impossibly co-dependent, stranded-in-your affection, dive-bombed by new-and-improved awareness, totally lost in Love boyfriend. Long live us!
C&C met Scotty... the text messages to me went like this:
Chas: Your man rocks. you rock. love you
Colette: Can i have your man after you?
Scotty: Chas advised me to forego fear in our relationship :) ...In her words, 'it's all good !'
He wins.
I'll be home Sunday ;)

diana becoming

Ah, the extra oxygen of deep breathing. Ah, the moments of quiet solitude. Ah, the groove of life.
That's how it's feeling. We're having an amazing time on the road. I don't wanna go home to the drudgery of that life. How freaking sad is that. Sad enough to kick my ass into inertia. This extra time of practice, of moving and doing and being active, is intended to do just that. One twin can't wait to get home and sit without a steering wheel and suck up the DVR; One twin wants to drag the other all over the apartment, boxing and sorting and collecting and honoring all of our belongings, as we move to this next phase of the adventure. As both twins are monkeys, this could lead to some crazy chattering in this mind of mine. 'cept I'm breathing. Oxygen tends to quiet the mangy little beasts. some of them anyway :)
There's my visual folks. I'll have none of that nonsense. No time to see, hear or speak judgment. I'm rollin' with it and it feels good. It shall continue to feel good and continue to roll. It's what I do and it's who I am. Amen.

You must be my lucky star!

Goodbye April!
Gemini:Surrender the wheel to the universe and you might find that your destination is a lot more fun. Funnily enough, the ride there becomes a lot smoother too. Trust in the process and you'll soon see results.
Welcome to May!!
Gemini: You could be lured into discussions about your idea of perfect love, with romantic Venus activating your sign. Luckily, you can sail through every conversation, even if your ideas are not very sensible now. Make good use of your eloquence to win others over to your perspective, even if what you say isn't very practical. Slowing down will help your dreams come to life.