Soon, once again...

Just the other day, I placed my daffodil order as I do each year at this time. Its more than just giving to a wonderful cause though. It was what begin my mother's memory garden. The day of my mother's passing, and I returned home from the hospital, there on the table were these beautifully opened daffodils in a vase. I had ordered them weeks before and now, their brightness and hint of spring was before me in my darkest time. And placed into the vase with them was the single branch of pussywillows taken from her room before I left it. And so, her garden began.

Each year, I order daffodils and memories return as though it were just yesterday. Still, I'm not sure how but at the same time it seems forever in the past. As though a hundred years have gone by and time moves so slowly. I still have the pussy willow branch, and I have added another one each year since, in the spring time when they come to bloom in her garden, early spring. In March, at the anniversary time of our loss, there upon my table will sit in a vase, a bunch of daffodils and it will remind me that spring nears us. It's bulbs I will plant into her garden. And I'll watch memories come alive once again, as the last of the snows melt and the flowers beneath break ground.

Thoughts...

Every now and again,
take a good look at
something not made
with hands; a mountain,
a star, the turn of a stream.
There will come to you wisdom
and patience and solace and,
above all, the assurance that
you are not alone in the world.

Please click on and listen.....

End of Volume One.

I have written on this site for over three years. It started with one simple memory about 6 months after my mother had passed away and I grieved. I didn't know anything about these blogs; I had never heard of them. I don't really know why nor do I remember what brought me here to create one, but I did. And, that one simple memory of "Days Gone By", came out before me, word after word. That was my very first post. Since then, I haven't stopped writing here. One simple post became many. Grieving moved into the gift of remembering and the joys of sharing. It changed from only my presence here alone, to my sister's, and then outward to my family and friends beyond our town, beyond our state. And, it unfolded from sadness in grief and loss to the joys and celebrations of life. This site has truly been its own gift to myself; magically aiding in healing and moving forward.

I have printed every single page of this entire site and carefully placed each of those pages into plastic sleeves. These pages have filled a large three ring binder book, which is called, of course, The Beauty Of Life. To this point now, has been placed into it's covers and the binder is full now. This blog does not end. It begins now, Volume Two. I will start the next "book" to fill and what was once a gift to myself has truly resulted in a gift for many; hopefully lasting beyond a life time.

I need this place, this site, as much as I ever did. Its become a part of me over the past three years. I read back at times and I can't help but feel grateful that I had captured even a moment that I felt a need to put it here and would always have it to look back on moreso than memory alone. Sometimes, I have read back at certains writings and all the emotions of that time return to me and flood me once again and for that time, I need it to.

So at this point, I now begin volume two and move forward still. The beauty of life and the celebrations of it all. Please click on "comments" at the end of any post and add yours.