TODAY...

I was asked the question ( in front of about SIXTY people,BTW) "what does your FAITH offer you?" This was asked to me by a preist, as I was sweating, I responded...(of course I had though about this for a week and came up with it THEN.) " Absence of fear, complete serenity...and an unbreakable personal connection with God." Man, I tell ya. if I DIDN'T have it, I wouldn't be here. That's FO SHO. ;) Doing the right thing...well, it's FAB.

'when you posess light within, you see it externally." - Anais Nin

This is my friend Kristine. She goes by that now. I guess again because all my friends hit a certian age and grew up and wanted to be called by their full names except me. But this poat is far from being about me. KRIS....as she is to me is my DEAR friend from high school. She flew in to see me in the hospital for ONE DAY.....and sat bedside and made me laugh and danced around the room to Stevie Wonder and I tried not to barf plain cherrios that she brought me from her hotel. I hadn't seen her in over 26 years. We were so close then, and it was like nothing changed when I saw her again....except she has a better job, I told her. She is a SELFLESS individual who is now in ITALY( because she wanted to take a FRIEND THERE for her 4oth bday) (again, selfless..and shes SO GONNA KICK MY BUTT FOR THIS POST.) But here's the thing. She STOPPED...midway through her vacation with her friend in Italy, while learning to make olive oil and ravioli....and found a CATHEDERAL and the patron saint of HEADACHES ( she at this point didnt know my surgery had worked because she was there for the pre-surgical treatments)...anywho....She proceeded through the town, to the altar, and lit me a candle. Oh how I cried. Because of course at like 10 dollars or whatever a minute she CALLED me and asked if I felt it. Which of course I did. Because at that moment I was missing her. And thinking how lucky I was to have her back in my life again. I am thank ful for the pain. the suffering, the everything. I know WHY. God dosent make bad things happen to people you know...he is right there beside you the whole time. Waiting for you to see. Im grateful for all of it. Every last headache. Dont want them back...but wait till you see how Im gonna pay it forward for all those people who STOPPED, and did...and lit a candle and called, and just simply asked how I was... for a whole year. Just wait till Im back on my feet baby......Thanks is puttin it mildly. :) Love you.

The black and white of it.....true friends..lots of them..furry and humankind and much much to be grateful for.

For those who know me well, I have been blog absent as of late. I have been sick. For a year now. But every season has an end. And I am now slowly healing. And GRATEFUL. SO GRATEFUL. People have been so amazing and helpful and caring. I'm brought to utter tears by my friend Dawn, who at the thought that I was going to be hospitalized for a few weeks after a surgery on my head IMMEDIATLEY flew in from Florida to help me organize, pack and reassure and cuddle. I was a wreck. Still am, trust me, But there she is, luvin my boy like hes hers. like a rock. GOD love her. And he does. And I cant even tell you how many more people have helped me. Friends and Family by the Dozen. Monettes out of the woodwork. Jake has been so loved. And this has been such a MESS of a time. Ive tried not to let it show. I cant any more, so Ive decided to. Its time to move on, CRY like a big baby, heal up, and help the next person. Who's with me....all in favor? Tis a new season.......SO. Thank you to all. You are loved.

September 15th...... and WAITING.

Ok, so Im TRYING to be patient. But it is SEPTEMBER 15th......... And I do live in Michigan.

School has started. I saw my first leaf TWO WEEKS AGO...SEEEEEEEE???? I even have proof!!!

I have NOTICEABLY changed my fashion for the season, purchased scented oils and candles resembling autumn apples and delicious other secret fragrances that make people stop and say...hmmmmmm? " What exactly IS that Barb??? THAT AMAZING SMELL that you burn in your house" ( little do they know it's my secret paranoia of having three dogs mixed with a dash of OCD cleanliness tossed in, compliments of my mother....

BUT NOOOOOOOOOO.

It was 80 degrees today.

And call me crazy but I'm over it.

I like Fall best.

Gimme 60 degrees.

I want a fire burning

Trees red and orange and yellow

Pumpkins

Halloween

SWEATERS

cmon.

it cant get here soon enough.

hurry. :)

What would I do.........................

WITHOUT these two people I do not know. Carin and Craig (a.k.a. Boobington) are two of my best friends EVER. Carin is the one who I can laugh with until I CRY at LEAST twice every time I see her. I love her like a sister, would get in a fight for her even, and came close!

Boobington keeps a watchful eye over me. He thinks I dont notice that he takes care of me. He would never let me know it. He rocks. We laugh for hours over typed messages, usually at his expense. I call him a giant dorkus...even though he is far from it. He has kept me sane through a serious illness and a long distance relationship...all while looking like a GQ model. I don't know HOW my BFF holds it all together! ;)

Love you both!

THIS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

...is my friend Kristen. It is truly hard for me to call her that, because growing up before she was so sophisticated (as pictured above) she was known to me as KB. I , of course am BA. We still call each other that, and can still raise a ruckus as shown here at the local thrift store. KB has been my very best friend since the 7th grade...and we all know THOSE are not easy years. But we are more than friends, we are sisters. We will be old together. Bake pies. Sit on the porch. Wear funny hats, and laugh about the young kids. I LOVE YOU KB! This one's for you.

TEN!

Where exactly does the time go? It seems like I was just changing diapers, watching Baby Einstein over and over, and showing him all the new things the world had to offer him. Tomorrow my baby is going to be TEN! Double digits. Before long he'll be asking for the keys to the car. Going on dates. Attending college. So for now, I have our nightly walk together. He asks questions. We play ninjas on the hill in the woods. And I cherish every moment. Because its going too fast. Life is so good. Just look at him.

Snake Hunters

So, I keep telling myself.....Dean's a scientist...he knows what he's doing...but in my head I see my little boy playing in the woods with the little boy who used to fall asleep next to me in Human Bio class and forget his pencil every day.. hmmmmm. Well. Guess there havent been any snake bites yet. :) And look at that face. Pure JOY on the Jakeman's face...digging for his favorite creature. With bucket in tow...Waiting for the big catch. UGH. The joys of boyhood. So cute.

MY WILLY!

Everyone should be as blessed as I am to have such an amazing friend...My Willy is more than a friend..she's family. Thank you, sister..for giving me exactly what I need, when I need it....EVERYTIME. I love you..dearly.

Worth the wait.....

This one's for you baby. Love you.