John's little mishap...

This morning I've very grateful that John's mishap at the range yesterday wasn't anything serious. Somehow, a stray shell casing flew at him and smacked him on the cheekbone just next to his eye. Yeeeouch! He probably has a second degree burn about an inch and a half long, but more than likely not bad enough to leave a scar. I'm just thankful that he's fine now other than a bit of pain.

Skye and I have a Prayer for Safety candle burning for him now from http://zenamoon.com/  and we're sending lots of protective energy his way. I'm the one who is supposed to attract weird accidents like tree branches stabbing me in the leg on hikes, falling UP the stairs and generally being the household clutz, not him! I'm really beginning to think they should give Army wives pay for extra stress and worry while their spouses are gone, just like the guys get hazard pay. I think we deserve it!

Going backwards to move forward...

Yesterday I realized that to go forward during the next few months of John being in Iraq, I have to go backwards to re-learn how I was able to live through his last deployment.

The first thing I found was gratitude. No matter how hard each day was, I forced myself to look for something that I was grateful for.

Profound, spiritual or just the mundane, it didn't matter. As long as I brought my consciousness towards the blessings I have all around me. The tiniest tweak of my mind is all it takes to turn the days where I don't even want to get out of bed, into a day I'm thrilled to be alive, or at least willing to actually get out of bed!

So here we go again, my Daily Attitude of Gratitude!

Today, I'm grateful for a wonderful walk Skye and I took last night out into the woods behind our neighborhood. I've taken to calling it the Faery Woods, because everytime I go back there I find something magical. Last night was no exception! We left the house just before sunset, and walked down an old abandoned road just to see how far it went ( a LONG way!). As we ambled along, we saw a deer, heard all the birds twittering their goodnights, inhaled the sweet scent of spring buds and blossoms and even found clusters of wild daffodils to pick. As we journeyed back towards home, the moon slowly rose up into the sky like a huge golden ball. I felt like we were experiencing something Divine and definitely touched by Spirit.

A song for my beautiful girl Skye on her nineteenth birthday.

Rising from a shell
Running to spring
It is her time, it is her time
Watch her run with ribbons undone

She's a rose in a lily's cloak
She can hide her charms
It is her right, there will be time
To chase the sun with ribbons undone


She runs like a fire does
Just picking up daises
Comes in for a landing
A pure flash of lightning


Past alice blue blossoms
You follow her laughter
And then she'll surprise you
Arms filled with lavender


Yes my little pony is growing up fast
She corrects me and says
"You mean a thoroughbred"


A look in her eyes says the battle's beginning
From school she comes home and cries
I don't want to grow up Mom at least not tonight


You're a girl
Rising from a shell
Running through spring
With summer's hand in reach now
It is your time
It is your time
So just run with ribbons undone
It is your time yes my angel
It is your time
So just run with ribbons undone

~Ribbons Undone ~Tori Amos~