All I want is....

Kindness

Chew On This

Wear It Proud!

Yes, that's him. William Griffis Morgan. Second born son from my first husband. HA!

I recently ordered some photo buttons from a site that offered pictures of Airmen/women at basic training. Apparently the company's sales are so good they don't even have to actually post the proofs. You just blindly enter your loved one's name and Flight number and 10 days later (or less) a package arrives and you pray the contents are photographs of that special one. 

Suckers, we Moms are. 

Well, my package came yesterday.

And what a sight for sore eyes!

I would recognize that face anywhere. My little boy.

OK...he's 21, but bear with me here.

You would have thought I'd won the Lottery. Seriously. I tore into that package and proudly pinned that button on and have worn it since.

I even wore the button to school today and bragged at every opportunity. 

One former Marine/teacher asked me if I was I going to wear it to his graduation, insinuating that I would embarrass him. 

I know. Can you believe it?

Would I wear it to his graduation?

I answered, "Is the Pope Catholic?" "Are cheetos fattening?"  "Does your skull have a brain?"

He may be a tough old Marine, but apparently he hasn't ever been a MOM!

After all, we are talking about the MOM that went into premature labor with that boy...labor that lasted  no less that10 hours...while battling a 103 degree temp! 

Who's tough now, Mr. Marine?

I kid. Sort of.

But really, I can't believe it's almost time to pack up and fly out to San Antonio for Griff's graduation from Air Force Basic Training. 

So very proud of my boy!

Gotta go. Trying to figure out how to pack this 8 x 4 banner with Griff's name on it.

Gratitude

Gratitude is simply being, breathing in and allowing the joys of the day to wash over you.

The Gratitude List continues...

691. Hungry guests
692. Loving Parents
693. Pudding in parfait glasses
694. Walking on a Winter day
695. A smile
696. Cheerios

My Own Little World

It's been a while. But, I am back. It's a new year. Whether 2010 was good or bad for you, a new beginning is here. A clean slate. 

Many are promising themselves to lose weight, stop smoking, exercise more, etc. Me? I really have no profound resolutions, just really long to find peace.

 I recently sat down to write a letter (not on the computer, but with a real piece of paper and pen) and found that it was almost impossible to leave out the word "I" and all those other personal pronouns.

Funny, that makes me think of a country song my kids used to irritate me with. 

I wanna talk about meeeiiiieeee! 

They knew my least favorite music was country and my least favorite musician EVER was Toby Keith. Sorry if that insults anyone. But those kids of mine, especially the boys received so much joy from breaking out in that song or any of his other hits(?) Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh! Makes my skin crawl right now thinking about his voice!

Back to what I was saying ...

I long for peace. One way to begin this search is to first get out of my world, my life, my problems. Connect with others. To do that, I will have to take my eyes off myself and my little world. Become more self-less.

Mother Teresa once said, "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." 

Where this admission, this simple resolution will lead me I'm not sure, but I am willing to take this path.

Happy New Year.

Build Me A Son

Our son, Griff left for Air Force Basic training this afternoon. Yes, our hearts are swollen with pride and my eyes are swollen with tears as we witness this boy of ours once again, make us proud. He is such a fine man!


He came into the world determined and strong, literally fighting for every breath the first month of his life. He has always seemed to make the most of every situation, rising to the occasion. His sensitivity, compassion, wit, intelligence, creativity, and humor are just some of his great qualities. Love that boy!


Definitely not the scrap-booking type, I surprised myself and pulled off a collection of personal words/notes from friends and family along with quotes and scriptures and compiled them into a handmade patriotic-themed scrapbook. OK, I admit daughter helped a  little lot! Thanks, SJ!


For the first page of the scrapbook, I printed out this favorite poem of mine by  General Douglas A. MacArthur. I remember the first time I discovered these words. I was only twenty-one years old, not even a mother yet...the same age Griff is as he leaves for service to his country today. Somehow I tucked the poem away in my collection of quotes and poems and remembered it this week. As you read it, remember all the dedicated men and women who are serving our great country today. May God bless them and God bless the U. S. A.

Build me a son, O Lord,
who will be strong enough to know when he is weak,
and brave enough to face him self when he is afraid;
one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat,
and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishbone will not be
where his backbone should be;
a son who will know Thee- and that
to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.

Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort,
but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge.
Here, let him learn to stand up in the storm;
here, let him team compassion for those who fall.

Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goals will be high;
a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men;
one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep;
one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his,
add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor,
so that he may always be serious,
yet never take himself too seriously.

Give him humility, so that he may always remember
the simplicity of true greatness,
the open mind of true wisdom,
the meekness of true strength.

Then I, his father, will dare to whisper,
"I have not lived in vain."