Hello Sunshine

He may have been intoxicated but our brief interaction seemed to sober him up...
(me walking past)

Him:  "Hello sunshine"

Me:  I'm not Sunshine.  That's my sister.

Him:  What?

Me:  My sister's name is Sunshine, not mine

Him:  Ohhh.... this is like a test. (pausing) Well, what is your name?

Me:  (walking away) something else

Him:  Huh?

Me:  (answering over shoulder) My name's not Sunshine... it's something else

Him:  Oh, alright then. (chuckling to himself) My name is Else Where. 
Nice talking to you Something Else!

Me:  See you, Else Where!

Him: (laughing loudly) Haaa! Girl, you really are something else!

Me: That's what they say (entering building)

Him: (still outside , but now SINGING very loudly) That girl is something else, ooh, ooh, ooh

The guard at the door shakes his head and smiles as I quickly pass through the metal detector...

"Hello, Sunshine"

"It's A Lovely Day... Hey, Hey"

I've been singing this song to the babies 

at our child care center for two years now

and although

the days

the kids

the location

keeps changing... 

the song remains the same

And this morning when I woke up singing it again

I decided to share it here today

So let it lift you

(because after all)

"It's a lovely day... hey, hey"

click here to view video

Five Minute Friday- My Happy Place

Ten days of...

renewal

relaxation

reflection

were much needed

and I feel

refreshed

refocused

ready

now able to see with fresh eyes while

still remembering the important stuff...

faith

family

friends

because this is the only thing that matters...

I am here

I am happy

and

Ten days on an island

have done me well

   

allowing the words to flow

so easily today

so effortlessly

because after all...

this is

Five-Minute-Friday 

and this is

My Happy Place!

A New Kind of Strange Fruit

We used to hang from trees

but are now shot down

in cold blood

in brood daylight

in front of our children

strange fruit

A few years ago...

we planted strawberries in our front yard

but for years now they have been left

unattended

uncared for

unsupported

and we don't

even want them now

we don't

even.

want. 

them.

but every year

(without fail)

they spring up again

And this morning... 

when I passed

I noticed them growing in

again

sad

worn

withered

(indicative of how we are feeling)

sad

worn

withered

unattended

uncared for and

unsupported

'cause even though this is

not the fruit we are used to

it is obviously

a new kind

of the same kind

of

"strange fruit"

that just won't seem to stop growing

WE MUST ADDRESS THE SOIL!

When The Inspector Comes

The holiday pulled them off

schedule and when we got home

we realized

the inspector

had come...

and left...

instructions

a note and

a reprimand

"Do not call me again...

until you are ready"

and I realized...

(that when the inspector comes)

he is not interested in your

experiences

excuses

explanations

(any of it)

no, all he cares to see is if...

your house is in order

Mud Love 2016

It makes no sense...

for me to wake 3 hours early

feeling

this excited

this anxious

this nervous

simply because it is

International Mud Day!

Hair wrapped and ready to go...

And we've planned for weeks in anticipation of the fun

we hope our kids will experience today...

Mud Painting, Mud Pools, Mud Pies

and last week as we

planned

purchased

prepared

for this day

I realized the reason we get excited about this

is because it gives us adults a chance

(if only for one day)

to return

back to our childhood

back to our origin

back to the dirt

from which we were formed...

How do you celebrate International Mud Day?

Five Minute Friday- How to Win... and Never Lose

I have a picture with

my son...

playing in a basketball game

my daughter...

cheering in the game

my hubby...

recording the game

and perhaps what I love most

is that I was able to capture

this moment with the three of them

showing how we each

operate

function

work together

(and separately)

showing how

that although we are

a unit

a team

a unified force

we function independently

each with varying roles

because...

sometimes we're in the game

sometimes we coach the game

and sometimes we stand along side and cheer

But life has a way of...

distracting us

pulling us aside

drawing us out of character

(and forcing Game 7)

so we must each remember

who we are

whose we are

and our purpose

in the game

because it is then and only then when we will win...

and never lose