Where, oh where did the time go?

I sit alone these days with two empty rooms in my house. There are tell-tale signs that they were once used extensively- my son's and daughter's bedrooms. I remember with a smile on my face the many times the three of us spent together. Boy, do I miss those cherished moments.

I can also sit back with pride knowing that they've grown up and are living happy, productive lives.

Where did the time go - Infancy, childhood carefree days, daycare, elementary school, highschool, university, the vacations, holidays, parties. . . I could go on and on but that would make me feel old. :))

When I was a young mother, I could never imagine the day my children would leave home and start a life on their own. I remember them saying, "I'm never going to leave home, Mom. I'm going to live with you forever." I guess I heard it so many times that I started to believe it.

I'm beaming with pride today knowing my children are happy but a piece of my heart is sad because I no longer see them on a daily basis. I can only be here if they ever need me and support them along life's journey.

To all young mothers out there . . . Cherish every moment while your children are still young and take lots of pictures because it helps to remember the early years. Time stands sill for no one and your children grow up so fast.

Empty Nest Syndrome does make a visit when your children move away from home but the love you have for them remains forever and helps you get through the lonely times!

John and Jen as infants

 Childhood years

John and Jen today.

Where did the time go? How fast time flies by!

"Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. . .

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with

His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable."

by Kahlil Gibran



My son, John - A Success Story

As a child, my son John was a dreamer - something that he carried with him throughout his life. As early as I can remember he had a pen in his hand - always writing. He would sit for hours taking notes. It was always his dream to be a writer. It was his passion and I'm happy to report - his dream came true.

John is an editor, screenwriter, freelance journalist for several magazines/newspapers and co-founder of BDX Dance e-Magazine. Many doubted that he'd ever be a writer simply because he was big, muscular and an athlete - an All-Star football player. He was a "jock" and some thought he would go on to be a pro football player. What they forgot was that he was also a scholar and creative thinker who never gave up on his dream.

I'm so proud of John for sticking to his guns and striving for something that makes him happy!

When he's happy, I'm happy! :))

To My Daughter . . . I Believe in You

When my daughter was younger, she liked to play dress-up ~ funny hats, long beads, gloves and high-heels. Here she looks like the poor little rich girl. She had just finished watching the movie, "Little Princess" starring Shirley Temple. In hindsight, I wonder ~ What was going through Jen's little head – What was she thinking?
How fast the years pass. Today she’s a 27 year old woman and I’m playing dress-up ~ the poor little rich mom ~ (minus the rich) :))
Tonight, I was reminiscing of days gone by ~ back to the yester-years when Jen was a wee baby!
I remember the nights we sat together and talked for hours.
She would share her dreams. Everything seemed to be moving so slow for her back then.
Boy ~ does time fly!
Many a night she would reveal her fears ~ “Mom what if I fail?”
But deep down inside, I knew she would succeed! Hey, us moms know these things. :)
I heard a song tonight and my dear Jen came to mind.
She reached up high, grabbed a star and now she’s shining bright!
I’m so very proud of her but miss those precious moments together.
Jen has indeed succeeded beyond my wildest dreams! I knew she would!

I believed in her!

I Love You More!

Our children give us more than they will ever know. The scope of their hopes and dreams leave us humbled and awed. Every antic, every question, every conversation carries the power to make us recognize what is truly important in this life. Too often, we miss these moments of truth and beauty. We fail to recognize them for what they really are: glimpses of heaven before our time ~


It all began as we were standing in front of the bathroom mirror, me fixing Jen's fine, blonde hair. I was putting in the final elastic of a spunky pair of pony tails and finished with, "I love you, Jen."

"And I love you," she replied.

"Oh, yeah," I taunted, "well, I love you more."

Her eyes lit up as she recognized the cue for the start of another "I love you more" match. "Nuh-uh," she laughed, "I love you the most."

"I love you more than a volcano!" I countered--a favorite family phrase in these battles of love.

"But, Mom, I love you from here to China."

We volleyed back and forth a few favorite lines. "I love you more than peanut butter"...Well, I love you more than television"..."I even love you more than bubble gum."

It was my turn again, and I made the move that usually brings victory. "Too bad, chickadee. I love you more than the universe!"

On this day, however, Jen was not going to give up. I could see she was thinking.

"Mom," she said in a quiet voice, "I love you more than myself."

I stopped. Dumbfounded ~ Overwhelmed by her sincerity. Here I thought that I knew more than she did. I thought I knew at least everything that she knew. What a wonderful expression of love ~ she loved me more than herself.

Jen is now 27 years old and we still have these “I love you more” matches. I still maintan ~

“Jen, I love you more ~ More than forever and a day.”

I await her response. :)))

Hugsssss to all!