Mar
15
The World Renewed.
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Births and the announcements of births are always Live-Again-Moments, and so it is with great pride and pleasure that I share the Live-Again-News of the birth of our family’s latest addition, our second grandchild, and first granddaughter!
You can see for yourself the great beauty our new baby possesses, and the comfort and security she feels in her maternal great-grandpa’s strong hands as she came into this world as an Ohio State Buckeye fan!
Allow me to introduce and gush about ♥McKenzie Grace♥, a leap-year baby, born on February 29th, at 3:59 p.m. Born three weeks early (and two days before her mama’s shower~ she just couldn’t wait) via cesarean section, McKenzie weighed in at 6 pounds and 10 ounces, measured 19 & 1/2 inches long, was immediately identified as belonging to us by her glorious long strands of dark hair and dark eyes (certainly a trait from my side of the family).
Mc Kenzie’s arrival is a blessing to us all and she has settled right into our family as if she has always been a part of us.
The birth of a baby reminds me that the world will start anew each and every day, no matter what our state of affairs are. It makes no difference if we want our world to change or if we want our world to stay the same, it will change. Although change is scarey to some, hope to others, prayered for by many, babies are good changes. They are another person to love, and love is always good.
Have you loved a new person lately? Loving is what makes our days Live-Again-Days!
Wishing you loving changes in a constantly renewing world and a Live-Again-Day!
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Feb
24
Introducing Paul Butler!
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Pauly is my second born nephew, the dear son of my only sister, born on the same day as my second son, Caleb. Thank goodness we don’t really remember our second birthdays because Caleb’s was spend at home with his dad (not a bad thing by any means), and without his mom (me). I was at the hospital with my younger sister, wishing it were I there in that hospital bed, just so she wouldn’t have to bear the pains of labor herself. My apologies to my son for practically missing his whole 2nd birthday, and my thanks to my sister for letting me share such a miraculous experience with her.
After a long labor and an unplanned cesarean section, a nurse wheeled a precious baby boy out into the maternity area hallway, and I thought I would burst with excitement staring into the enlightened eyes of my sister’s first-born child. I remember it just like I remember looking into my own sons’ newborn eyes and my grandson’s newborn eyes. It is a look that for me, only freshly birthed babes have. They look so wise and intense, and make me feel like they know much more than I. They are born knowing they only need loving nourishment. They need nourishment of mind, body and soul. We are born knowing the love is all that really matters. Why do we let ourselves forget at times?
Last night I was privileged to watch my now 21-year-old nephew rock it out! He preformed solo at Un Mundo Café, a neat coffee shop in Springfield, Ohio. His performance was amazing to watch! He sang songs he had written and melted into his guitar as he played with his heart and soul.
I was amazed at his talent, and felt honored to be there in his presence, yet once again. I was honored to witness his musical abilities and his creativity. How many people can write entire songs, lyrics and music and then perform them so flawlessly? But mostly I was honored to witness Paul knowing and living his passion, and doing so at the age of 21.
I watched my shy nephew, stand on the stage and live in the moment, a moment that only contained passion. I watched him dissolve into the songs and play his guitar like it was a permanent part of him that had always been with him. I watched him perform with a fun and fresh excitement that I had not seen in him before. With his guitar in his hand, his mouth to the microphone, and sweaty wet hair clinging to his head, I saw that look in his eyes that I had first witness 21 years ago. Yes, I was honored and privileged to be there with him again.
Is this what our passions do for us? Do they remind us, somewhere deep in our souls, that love is really all that matters?
I have spent a lot of time over the years wondering what my passions are. I have also wondered if I would really know when a passion presented itself. Would it come to me like a lightening bolt and burn itself into my forehead? Now I am thinking back to the first moment I met my nephew, my own sons and my grandson, and I am wondering if our passions have always been buried within us. Maybe it was passion I saw in those knowing newborn eyes, just waiting to be rediscovered and remembered.
Maybe the path to finding our passions is simply realizing love. During those moments of time when all feels good and right with the world, and we know that love is all that really matters, we should stop and look at what we are doing, make a mental note, or better yet, a soul note, and ask ourselves if maybe this is a passion.
What makes you feel whole, right and good? What makes your eyes resemble those of a new life? What makes you know that love is all that truly matters? Do you know your passions?
Thanks for another live-again-day Paul!
And a child shall lead them…
Let’s live another live-again-day!
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