Mother's Day Weekend

I just had one of the best weekends, that I've had in a really long time. And it was spend with my family exploring the awesome animals at Adventure Aquarium and the Philadelphia Zoo.

Jake is at the age now, where he's really able to enjoy learning and experiencing new things. I love watching the excitement in his expressions and speech as he tells me about what he's seeing or feeling. It melts my heart, and I'm all smiles. Kids really do bring me to life- my kids anyway. They are my greatest achievements to date. Dana was even smiling during our trips this weekend. Unusual for a teen who only wants to be with her friends...But I'm glad she was a part of everything, wanting to be. This has been the best Mothers day ever! Handmade greeting cards! Quality Family Time! and Lot's of warm memories made of this day. Thank you FAMILY! I know I am loved.

Jakes Card reads:

Dear Mommy,

I think of all the things you do,

And then I know why I love you.

You make my breakfast, You wash my clothes,

You take me places I want to go.

You teach me things, You read to me.

You help me become, what I want to be.

You sing me songs, You hold me tight.

You hold my hand, in the dark at night.

In all the world, I know it's true,

There is no mommy just like YOU!!!

~Love Jacob

What more could a Mom ask for? I have the best kids. My Dee is a sweetheart. She's always showering me with thoughtful gifts as well. She surprised me with some very trendy candle holders and wall sconces- which I can't wait to use :) Awesome! I guess now I have a reason to get started on redecorating my diningroom! Another trip tp the paint store is in order :)~ Oh Chris....honey?

My hubby and I were laughing about the unusual gifts he gives me for the holidays. Unusual indeed but much appreciated and wanted no less. For Mom's day he bought for me a bongo at the zoo. I'm collecting natural handmade musical instruments, and I really wanted a bongo :) Yay! I'm one very happy bongo momma!

My ex, Dana's father, even brought me Dunkin donuts coffee and donuts for mother's day! How thoughtful :) Thank You George. Here's hoping all of the Moms out there had a fabulous Mother's Day! I did.

Tempers Rising

Day in and day out, men and women, & young adolescents are making pulic displays of themselves with their explosive arguments beating on eachother, tearing each other apart mentally and physically. Out of control, tempers flare as I quietly watch from safe inside my home- ready to make the call 911 if needed. It's a tough call whether or not to get involved and break up the fighting. My husband and I certainly don't want to see anyone get hurt, but I've learned a long time ago- it's not wise to get in the middle of something of people you know nothing about. As a child I watched my Mom and Uncle come to the aid of a young woman being smacked around by her boyfriend on the street corner. My mom ended up with a black eye from trying to help. As it turned out, the girl didn't want help and called on her boyfriends friends to back up the dude beating on her. It makes no sense, but that is what my mind jumps back to- when I have to make the decison of getting involved or not. And today, you would probably catch more than a black eye.

I recognise a spark within myself wanting to spread the wise words of those who walked before us, Jesus, Buddha, Ghandi, & the Dalai Lama to name a few. But I don't have the voice to be heard. (literally, I literally lost my voice lol) I feel I should be doing something with my life, volunteering with the homeless, animal shelters, childrens hospitals....something. If I cannot speak the knowledge and wisdom, perhaps I can lead by example instead. You haven't felt happiness like that of which comes from helping others.

We don't get to pick and choose who deserves our help. God will bring them to you.

Gossip is Poison

Everything you do, everything you say, touches someone else, in some sort of way.

So please be careful and think before you speak. I have always tried to live by this the best I can. It's like Mom always said; if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all. Sure, we have our opinions but they are sometimes best kept to ourselves. If our opinions are spoken in shared company, gossip can be born, and will grow 10x as ugly as it was meant to be. Gossiping is not a productive passtime.

I have spent years listening to women talk crap on co-workers, friends and even family. Most times I was able to listen and give no opinion, especially not adding to the gossip. Gossip mostly ended with me. But on occasion gossip was like a poison sometimes tripping me up, leaving me feel like crap. Nothing productive ever comes from gossiping. I'd rather not be a part of it. This was the main reason I left my profession as a hairdresser 10years ago. Talk about an oxymoron; so much ugliness in what was supposed to be a place of beauty. I'm reminded that even listening to the gossip will poison the mind. So it must be stopped/cut off/ nipped in the bud immediately. Make it known that you don't wish to be a part of it.

If your friendships consist of nothing more than this, then perhaps it's best to re-evalute your relationships. Can they be salvaged? What do you have in common with that person? This is something I'll be figuring out this week. I don't enjoy being dragged down to that level of entertainment. If someone had something negative on their minds about me, I'd hope they would come to me so that we can resolve it together, as true friends do.

This is not to be confused with friends warning you that someone has done you wrong. If they speak truth, it is not gossip. Friendship should not be hard-it should come easy. So stop the drama and honestly talk about what's bothering you so that it can be worked out. This is my view and way to live by.

Awakening the Buddha Within

I'm making a resolution to start and end my day with this prayer for a pure and forgiving heart. Borrowed from Lama Surya Das.

May my heart stay open and loving even when I'm feeling hurt and frayed.

May I learn always to include others in love's vast embrace.

May my heart remain pure and kind amid the painful details and muck of life.

May virtue and serenity belong to all, even my competitor and adversaries.

May my brokenheartedness open my heart even further to bring forth love and openhearted compassion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Be kind to the destitute,

Be patient and loving toward the wicked,

Be kind to the afflicted,

Be gentle with the fool,

Empathize with the weak and oppressed,

Be especially compassionate to those who cling to concrete reality.

(Patrul Rinpoche)

Day one.

Today was a day of meditation and reading. I haven't taken much time these past weeks for reflection, and it shows because I've been a little off my mark. But with the help of my Buddhist sidekick (haha) I should be more mindful and awake from this point on.

A quote from the book, Letting go of the person you used to be, by Lama Surya Das... It's not easy to stay positive and hopeful when everything is going wrong. There are times when everyone feels lost and discouraged. There are times when all of us feel as though we want to surrender, give in, and give up. When this happens in our lives, we need to realize that we need healing and rejuvenation. We need to do whatever we can to restore and reinvigorate ourselves.

When positive or joyous feelings and attitudes pass through each organ and circulate throughout our whole system, our physical and chemical energies are transformed and balanced. ~Tarthang Tulku.

Nyingmapa lama Tulku Thondup Rinpoche in his book "The Healing Power of the Mind" names the four healing powers of the mind: Positive images, positive words, positive feelings, and positive beliefs. These inner qualities and their cultivation and development through meditation and attitude training can greatly strengthen our innate capacity to heal our mental, emotional, and physical afflictions.

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle~ Philo

Let the Cleansing Begin.

Alright so, I think my body mind and spirit is crying out for a little help. I'm feeling anxious-and a lil left of center. This week I'm going to behave, eat healthier, exercise, and focus on a total cleanse of self. Meditations & reading are also on my to do list. I must finish the last two books I started. And I want to plan some family days/nightly activities together :) I need more family interaction, to feed the soul. I just can't get enough of my kids laughter. Dana came home today looking and seemly very refreshed! She was beaming with personality, which I loved to witness. Jake says some of the funniest things (I love 5yr olds) We were watching a commercial together, (sexy dance fitness video promo) He says to me- Mom you need to get that! It's just $1! I'll do it with you! But that's not the half of it. I was getting him ready for a shower, when I saw him dancing naked on my bed- watching himself in the mirror. LMBO!!! he was copying the dance moves he say on the tv. What really had me giggling was his little 5yr old voice saying "yeah behbeh." BAHahahahah....

STINKO de MAYO 2010

Alright so it's come and now it's gone! Goodbye Stinko, smell ya later. This party had a lot of hype and were not even Mexicans lol. It seems we'll use any excuse to party with our friends.

Chris and I (being both unemployeed) have way too much time on our hands now- so what better way to use this time then to make props and games for when our friends come over. I suggested we make a carnival wheel for our parties. So my hubby Chris came up with the Wheel of Karma :) We spent about a week making the game- and it was worth it. Shit we need to maybe patent it!!! hey...... that could be our new day job, designing drinking games. Anyway we were really excited to introduce it to everyone. Not sure if were really cool for doing so, or just super dorks! hahaha It wouldn't matter- we liked doing it. Odd we didn't even get through all the truth and dare cards! There are some really funny dares we haven't tried yet. I am glad we video taped the fiesta though because after last night- Im not sure how many more of those big bashes we'll be having for now on. Hahaha Chris & I are both feeling too old to be acting like college idiots anymore. It was fun, but were paying for it the morning after. We didn't even get to all the games... The night went too fast!

I hope everyone had a great time. I'm taking away some fun memories! Jays TP Turban, Lisa's makeover, All the bucket heads, wet TP faces, Tiff's Hitler stash lol, Steve's pie in the eye, Chris making out with his cow tongue, and all the pledges being brave enough to be paddled! Good stuff! I wish I actually got to sit and talk with more people, I was busy being stuck in the moment filming all night. By the end of the night I had to sneak off to bed without goodbyes- I was already feeling like pooh. Sorry guys!!! A sure sign I cant hang like the old days. ahaha but a full busy day of cooking before hand catches up with this girl after while. Thank You RUBIE for all your help in the kitchen, before, during, and after :) You really made my workload alot easier! And thank you Tiffany for the yummo brownies & cookies! Lisa & Rick for the Corn Bread! (I feel another blog coming on "friendships")

Thanks for the laughs & for the memories everyone! My Clan Rocks!

xoxox your Zen Hen