First day I'm getting back to gratitude journaling. The idea is to find 5 things to be grateful for every day. So much magic is going on recently and it needs to be kept up with. Psychologists call it "magical thinking", but the rest of us call it coincidence or Universal Consciousness or... God.
Today, I am grateful for
1. The sweetest email from a friend who volunteered to "peacemake" in a group to help someone. Its so wonderful to know someone who would do such a thing. The email he sent me contained insight about an issue I've dealt with forever, people being afraid of me. Now, I know why and it is much sweeter than I had thought.


2. My son, after seeing the above picture and listening to the song I heard last at 16 or so, saying "There's Mama." My jaw dropped! (Sweetie, I wish. But maybe there is an ideal of how face proportions match up? Eyes to nose to chin ratio?) It sure was sweet.

3. Stephen surprising me with take-out Mexican. It was GOOD. How thoughtful is that :)

4. Dancing to old-school music and still being able to move like a liquid (ha)

5. Starting the finishing touches on a painting that means very much, which will be traded for a painting from a friend that means very much.

  
 

I've always loved that song :)

Wow, its been a long time since I've done a blog and Weebly has changed a bunch. I sit here, still getting over a ruthless head cold, watching Celebrity Ghost Stories and doing the website at 2 am because our gorgeous toddler rules the house and The Mommy throughout the day. Something tells me I'm not going to get up early tomorrow :)

Amazing how things have changed: weebly, blogging, me. Somethin' to be a Mom now, I'd never thought I'd have seen the day. Reflection gives you time to think of all the things that blow your mind, doesn't it? I just sat here and typed up "about me" in the right hand corner and its amazing to see my own Velveteen Story unfold. And I know it is real. Not many people understand this who have never lived through experiences in which they feel shame. Working through that is like digging your way out of flaming hell with your bare hands: It hurts, but you have to do it to get out. Its nice to start writing a blog after "real" rather than trudge through the painful pathways during.

Finally. To own one's skin, the scars on it and in it and feel beautiful anyway. And not feel the need to hide or censor. THAT is when you know healing has occurred.

I keep thinking about that tattoo I want for my 40th birthday and the design elements to include: a rabbit, almost totally real- somewhere between stuffed bunny and real rabbit (because I have to quote the story to tell the story), the nickname Bun, a crucifix, a palette... and perhaps a butterfly to represent Stephen?

I've got time, it seems, so there is no rush. Four months, truth told. But in getting ready to get ready to go to bed, I note that it also feels good to have this huge chunk taken out of making this website!

And with that, I say good night to any readers this gets. I leave you with Cheryl Lynn's lyrics singing in your head a funky lullaby. Love to all, Linda

"Got To Be Real"

What you think ah
What you feel now
What you know ah
To be real

What you think ah
(I think I love you, baby)
What you feel now
(I feel I need you, baby)
What you know ah
To be real

Ooh, your love's for real now
You know that your love is my love
My love is your love
Our love is here to stay

What you think ah
(I think I love you, baby)
What you feel now
(I feel I need you)
What you know ah
To be real

Ooh, your love's for real now
You know that your love is my love
And my love is your love
Our love is here to stay

What you think ah
(I think I love you, baby)
What you feel now
(I feel I need you)
What you know ah
To be real

What you think ah
(I think I love you)
What you feel now
(I feel I need you)
What you know ah
To be real

It's got to be real
To be real
It's got to be real
To be real

What you think ah
What you feel now
What you know ah
To be real

What you think ah
(Oh what you)
What you feel now
(Oh what you)
What you know ah
(Tell me what)
To be real

To be real
Got to be real
It's got to be real
To be real
It's got to be real
It's got to be real

To be real
It's got to be real
It's got to be real
To be real
It's got to be real
It's got to be real

To be real
Real, real, real, real
To be real
Real, real, real, real