It feels amazing to.live in paradise, weeks of perfect weather, green plants growing out of every Crack. 

It's also heartbreaking to know the rest of the world is burning, like cookies in an oven left on too long.

She sang

 "Prepare, oh prepare"

she sang as she planted her garden

 "Prepare, oh prepare"

she sang as she hung her solar panels

"Prepare, oh prepare"

She hummed as the wildfire smoke made her eyes tear

That wasn't fun

plague and earthquakes elsewhere were enough

but for it to come home

that was not fun

But she ate her saurkraut

as the world burned around here

tried to stay grounded 

doing daily chores,

 of which there were never any lack

New she sang songs of redemption

as she hung on

waiting through the dark

waiting for the light

Old nonsense

 I'm not done with my old nonsenses

I've got stars to watch and clouds to name

I've got flowers to befriend

asparagus to apologize to

before devouring it

I have toddlers to make messes with

kid to hop stone with

stream to majestically ford

and wet feet to let dry in the sun

mullin to pet

dirt to dig

spontaneous somersaults to perform

trips out of the blue

so many things to do

I'm not really ready for something new

March 1st

 I smiled today as I walked in the storm

covered in snow

wind whipping my jacket and hair

was it the beauty of a winter storm that made me smile?

was it the wind pushing me backward on the snowy ice?

or was it the beauty of weather living up to its legendary forms?

maybe, it was peace in Christ?

 To awake in the morning with the arms of my children around

has got to be one of the most tender and sweet things in life

 one more minute Mama, please

the bed is so warm,and I like your voice sinigng

One more minute mama, please

I am surrounded by those that I love

and do not want to leave

One more minute, mama please

I am doing that which I was sent to do

One more minute, Mama, please

these dreams will not dream themselves

Me I am

 A new year

not a new me

but a me who has become more me than I was last year

I look in the mirror and feel 

I have worked my whole life to become who I am now

the confidence that comes from grey hair 

and no longer having eyes tracking every movement of my butt

the power that comes from wisdom 

and learning to rely on my own "Mommy Magic"

feeling the power of "Mommy Magic" fill my being

and burst out of every pore

Learning that management is the balance of working for what is best for each in your circle 

while maintaining the integrity of that circle

Understanding that the physical is only a partial representational of the spiritual

And that life is about loving those you are with

and choosing to be with those you love

that things can exist simultaneously in states of "this is all-important" and "this has no real importance, even if its due tomorrow" and choosing which one you will act on

and no matter how patient you are trying to be, a toddler in your care 24/7 does occasionally need to be yelled at.