Kindness

Yesterday, in a little green envelope, I received a note from someone who remembers the thrill of going to the mailbox and seeing the handwriting of someone you love. Christine Mason Miller seems to know the exact day or time of your life when you could use a little reminder of who you are and may have forgotten. I was standing next to this photo of my family taken at our daughter's wedding when I read Christine's simple yet powerful note. I looked up at them and thought, yes, they are!
Yes, we are. Yes, we all are precious.
And, sweet Christine is among the most precious and that is why I can't wait to join her for the book launch of Desire to Inspire on December 15th in Santa Monica.

It will be EPIC.

EnJoy,

Grace

The Sketchbook Challenge

One of the many things I really enjoy about Facebook is finding out about things like The Sketchbook Challenge.

I'm going to do it and I am very curious to see where it leads. Please join me. It's always more fun with company.


Happy 2011 !

EnJoy,
Grace

Pick & Choose

It has been a wild month since my last post. I could fill my space here with health complaints out the wazoo ( justified of course) OR I can prop up by booted right foot and tell you how blessed I feel. Up goes my foot, a sip of coffee and now a little reflection time.
The retreat led by Jen, Phyllis and Carin hit the mark completely. The title didn't really sink in or have much meaning for me until Sunday morning when I realized that Integrating in the Rockies was not just about meeting and bonding with women from all over the country and even one blessed soul from Canada it was to integrate ME! I wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed that weekend. LOL. I often think it is necessary to share all the details of a weekend workshop like that so everyone can get the full picture but this time I'm not going to do that. Suffice it to say there is something beautifully sacred that happens when women of all different backgrounds, ages and stages of life come together and simply be. As I write that sentence I realize there in is the discovery and the healing. It's challenging for us sometimes to just be. To relinquish our titles, our stories, our heartaches and our expectations but when we do, lo and behold,we are welcomed and received with loving arms and hearts. And that is precisely what it takes sometimes to meet yourself in a weekend retreat with 10 strangers who become your soul sisters.

I don't take this for granted for one single moment. Growing up with 4 brothers I didn't exactly know how to be a good friend to other girls. Being happy to play football, climb a tree, catch a snake to carry in my pocket or jump from a rooftop wasn't considered very girly 50 years ago. I had lots of boys to hang out with but not many invitations from the girls in the neighborhood. Since I was having so much fun I didn't really know what I was missing until puberty. All of a sudden, what had previously been cool to do wasn't acceptable any longer. The boys didn't want me ruining their fun and I didn't even know where all the girls were.
Fast forward to today. I can't begin to imagine my life without my girlfriends. Well, I guess that's not true. I can. It would be horrible and lonely. My girlfriends enrich my life every day in countless ways. Just yesterday, I was having a very big pity party(I'm surprised there weren't violins) and I called my dear friend, Mrs. B. Everyone should have a Mrs. B. I aspire to be the woman she thinks I am. Basking in her love and acceptance is nothing short of a miracle. When I can't find one single scrap of evidence to justify my taking up oxygen(it was a HUGE pity party) just hearing her voice reminds me of all that is good in the world, in one another and in myself. Mrs.B wasn't there when I called and her lovely daughter answered the phone. For a nanosecond I panicked when she told me Mrs. B was out of town. Gulp, I guess I'm going under. Nope, not true, not even close. If you are a loving being like Mrs.B then chances are some of that will be planted in your children and then they get to pass along the love just as well as their Mama does. After hearing her daughter's voice and laughter I realized love is love is love.
And love, woman to woman, in sisterhood, in motherhood, in second generation friendship soothes the soul in a way that makes me happy to be alive.
Being the oldest of my parents 5 children always made me long for a sister. Don't get me wrong having 4 younger brothers came with a million unexpected joys and adventures which have only gotten better as we have aged but there was still that missing connection.
Learning how to be a good friend to women was filled with trials and errors and quite a few memorable disasters. But once I got the hang of it life improved immeasurably. The reflection of life from a girlfriend is priceless. A good girlfriend is one of life's greatest gifts. When we were on the retreat it was mentioned more than once how important it is to gather with women. I don't think we were ever exactly able to pinpoint the why of that, but we all felt it and knew what it was in our heart and souls.
Today is the 15 year anniversary of the day our precious Sean died. My heart and soul sister Susan Fox who is currently running around New York like a chicken with her head cut off, since this is her busiest season of the year, made sure that not one but 2 cards arrived in the mail (yesterday) to remind me of all the love present in my life and especially in her heart just in case I would forget for a moment today. No way, when I was the dorky little tomboy, did I imagine a life blessed with more girl friends than I could count. And don't even get my started on the miracle of having grown up daughters x0x0x
There is a sadness in my heart today because my son is not with us. As his Dad says it's there every day not just on his birthday or the day he died and that's true. And, what is also true is the love we are surrounded by and filled with every day of our life.

This December 11th, I pick love and I choose to see it wherever I look.
Gratefully yours,
Grace

Voice of Truth

In a few hours I will be on my way to Integrate in the Rockies with the little dynamo Jen Lee. My brain held a very long lists of reasons for me to not go. Tell me some, my husband asked. Well.........after a good 20 minutes of unleashing just the tip of the iceberg he said very calmly, " you need a retreat from you." Miraculously that landed in the swirly mess that was my mind and I said okay I'll go. And with that all the gremlins in the area descended. That was a week ago and as of this minute they haven't won the battle to keep me from going. Although when I peeked out my bedroom window this morning and the trees and ground were covered with snow I immediately thought the Eisenhower Tunnel would be closed, I couldn't make it into the mountains and oh well at least I had said yes but you can't fight Mother Nature. That all took place between 2 steps on my way to the bathroom. Sheez, I do need a retreat from me.

I have found amazing comfort and encouragement through many different blogs. This morning after I checked the weather, realized the Eisenhower Tunnel was indeed still open and that I would be packing my car soon I got really nervous. A few weeks ago I had the good fortune of wandering to Kindness Girl's blog and was instantly inspired. I'm not going to tell you much about her and her amazing projects and lovely way of being in the world because I would like you to experience her for yourself but suffice it to say when I'm scared I check out her latest blog and even when I'm not and I want to be reminded that good people are doing good things quietly and in their own special way. As I sipped my coffee and read her words I could feel my spirit lift. It turns out Kindness Girl is a wanderer too and she had a link to the very precious Jen Lemen. Jen is going through some big life changes and courageously shares her heart as well as her art in such a tender beautiful way that I had tears pouring down my face by the time I was done. I love brave women. I love how vulnerability births creativity. I love good friends that come to stand by your side to support you when your journey seems unbearable but they know somewhere deep inside you will find the strength to not only make it through but somehow manage to have a wee bit more of a shine to your smile when you do and they want to be there with you when that happens because some day you will gladly do it for them.
I'm terrified to go to Frisco today and spend the weekend with artists. I'm afraid that by the time I get there the gremlins may have eaten my brain. BUT, I know amazing new girlfriends will be greeting me at the door and will be rejoicing because each of us in our own way didn't let the gremlins win and we will celebrate together.
My life hasn't looked like my life for a long time now. I don't know my place in my family, in my world and sometimes even in my days. What hasn't changed is my faith in Divine Order. It wasn't an accident that I spent the day with Jen Lee in September at Squam Art Workshop or that she shared with me how she had once lived in the suburbs of Colorado with her husband and 2 small children and made a break for it and moved to Brooklyn and discovered her true calling, herself. She dropped an ember in my heart that day and it eventually fueled my curiosity about my own life. What am I doing? What is it I actually want to do? Where is my place? Do I have any gifts, any talents , any hidden anything?
This morning, I hope so. When I return on Sunday I hope I know so.

I'm weary of the old roles, perceptions and gremlins. I'm open to seeing what happens when I have a retreat from "me" and hopefully become acquainted with "ME."
For all the women who bless my life with your blogs, your wise words and your humor, thank you form the bottom of my heart.
And, to Mr. Moore who always supports me, I love you forever.
EnJoy,
Grace

Aug.16 : This makes me smile

When I look outside my kitchen window and see my daughter's car in the driveway next to mine, I smile. She has lived away from Boulder for the past 10 years so this isn't a common sight. It's a wonderful new development of unknown duration and I am loving every moment of it.
EnJoy,
Grace

Aug.13 : Buzzzz

Aug.12: Sweet hello