"Wind Down"- Day 7

One of my favorite things about him is that we can do nothing at all & be so content. I adore him & when I'm mentally and physically worn down time winding down to nothing more than extreme sleep is heaven. I sometimes wonder how people do it when they've been with someone for so long & they pass away, I got him so late in life and want 40-50 years together. He is my serenity who has made sure I have no reason to doubt that I'm his too. xo

"Illusion"- Day 13

Love this picture I took at the beach, gives the illusion he is magical and floating the ball! Love him.

Another less original thought...I thought of two things actually...one is that I will try to breathe this week knowing my daughter and her friends are alone in Ocean City for Senior Week...I just know how I was at that age and the kids live so much faster these days.  It will be mentally a long week for me, while I simultaneously prepare for the party for 100 or so people upon her safe return next weekend.

My other thought was the Faith Hill song, "Breathe."  Yesterday marked the 5 year anniversary of when "we" met.  We have had some rough times, earlier than a couple should have, and could have given up, but instead chose to work harder and focus on what mattered in our hearts.  He is worth the fight and I hope he sees me always as worth the effort.   There have been times of anxiety when I couldn't sleep, couldn't think, couldn't breathe, but I believe all of that is over now, as most of our time is spent laughing, loving and living.  Living is a challenge when he has a very sick child, but he gets up every day and does it, and I know it is hard for him- that never leaves his mind.  Sometimes I wonder if he has ever been a part of a friendship and commitment this strong, as every kind of love is different. I am more excited than ever now to wake up with him and come home with him- he is my heart, my peace, and my love.  With all of my heart I love him like this...

I can feel the magic floating in the air
Being with you gets me that way
I watch the sunlight dance across your face
And I've never been this swept away

All my thoughts just seem to settle on the breeze
When I'm lying wrapped up in your arms
The whole world just fades away
The only thing I hear is the beating of your heart

And I can feel you breathe, it's watching over me
And suddenly I'm melting into you
There's nothing left to prove
And baby, all we need is just to be

Caught up in the touch, slow and steady rush
Baby, isn't that the way
That love's supposed to be
I can feel you breathe, just breathe

In a way I know my heart is waking up
As all the walls come tumbling down
Closer than I've ever felt before and I know
And you know there's no need for words right now

As I can feel you breathe, it's watching over me
And suddenly I'm melting into you
There's nothing left to prove
Baby, all we need is just to be

Caught up in the touch, slow and steady rush
And baby, isn't that the way
That love's supposed to be
I can feel you breathe, just breathe

Caught up in the touch, the slow and steady rush
And baby, isn't that the way
That love's supposed to be
I can feel you breathe, just breathe

I can feel the magic floating in the air
Being with you gets me that way

Songwriters
BENTLEY, STEPHANIE KAY / LAMAR, MARY HOLLADAY

Faith Hill "Breathe" video

"Birdsong"- Day 26

Not at all original here, because I am not going out to find a bird to photograph and have no great tale of hearing birds...but as soon as I saw the prompt I thought of the song "Songbird," originally written and performed by Christine McVie in Fleetwood Mac, and beautifully covered by Eva Cassidy.

For you, there'll be no more crying.

For you, the sun will be shining.

And I feel that when I'm with you,

It's alright, I know it's right.

To you, I'll give the world.

To you, I'll never be cold.

'Cause I feel that when I'm with you,

It's alright, I know it's right.

And the songbirds are singing, like they know the score.

And I love you, I love you, I love you, like never before.

And I wish you all the love in the world.

But most of all, I wish it from myself.

And the songbirds keep singing, like they know the score

And I love you, I love you, I love you

Like never before, like never before, like never before.

"Songbird"- Christine McVie                                      "Songbird" - Eva Cassidy

Day 14 - Month 2- "Heart/Head"

He without a doubt has control of both, whether I like it or not.  It scares me, and he knows it.  Some days my head is my own worst enemy, some days it is my heart...most days they work together to give love.  It would be so much better if others were always open to receiving that love, both in their heart and head; no matter how much we talk or don't talk, there is no way to ever truly understand the experiences that have shaped one's heart and mind before you got there.  I can only hope we want the same things, and that as we grow older I will feel more certain.

"Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction."

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

"Look Up"- Day 20

"Look Up"

This group probably has no idea how I look up to each of them and the challenges they have endured or overcome to land where they are today.  They are my incredible siblings and cousins.  Divorces, special needs children,  teenagers, medical and law schools and the subsequent loans, psychological issues, gay and lesbian acceptance, master's degrees, marriages, miscarriages, layoffs, furloughs, 15 children and four stepchildren, a life ending and changing car accident, the absence of one of us from a tragic death, successful businesses, political activists, caring for aging and ailing parents, waking up and going forward on days when you just don't think you can.  Never settling, always reflecting, always growing.  Looking up to our own parents for advice and models, realizing we need to be that for our own children.

I have to say that Facebook has been great if for no other reason than to see my "NC family," regardless of where they live now, every day.  It lessens the miles and grows the connections and has helped us to get to to know each other as adults.  I look up to each of them for the challenges they have faced, whether by choice or not, and the ways they have grown and endured.  It will be up to us to carry on Grandma's dream...I know we can do it! Peace and love xoxo.

"Strength & Weakness"- day 15

Him...