I think I might have to completely redesign this blog to accommodate the comments I might be compelled to broadcast about the current state of our nation and what's happening in congress. I've never felt such a direct link to the decisions on capitol hill in relation to my own personal circumstances, and I might go mad if I don't do something (other than emailing, calling, and harassing the senators + reps on a daily basis)....I apologize in advance if I offend anyone, but I really don't think I can take it anymore.

Wherever you put your colection of your favorite pictures of the ones you love becomes a sort of shrine. A sacred place that calms your spirit when you see it. For me, this collection in my dining room gives me joy everytime I pass it. I have to set the little birds straight (they used to be tree ornaments Graham + I picked out one year...) ... dust the edges of the frames, adjust the tassle from Cooper's graduation, maybe pick up the little car and spin the wheels, but try not to think of how fast the time has flown. All of a sudden, I am so like my grandmother.

Lavender grows by my mailbox. I picked some for Enid, my elderly neighbor whom I'd grown to love. I'll write some about her later. The thing is, I really didn't believe she would be gone before the lavender blooms were. I meant to tell her that lavender stands for rememberance. I am thinking of her every day.

Artist Anne Faith Nicholls, has a crazy idea, but it's working: she's creating a painting everyday and selling it online at her blog. Here's the painting I got last night! It's called 'Expose' of the City' ~ I wanted to support her work and I can't wait to get it! Go check her out!

April 6th, 1989...my first baby was born at 10 p.m. We named him Nathaniel (after the Nathaniels on both sides of our family) and Cooper cause we liked it. It fit him. I didn't sleep for the whole night. I couldn't hold him for the first 4 hours cause he was so small he had to be in an incubator~ so the first images I really saw of him were on video! His dad shot pictures of him, and the nurses brought in a monitor so I could see him. I was so amazed! What a miracle! I know it's a cliche but this baby was the most amazing and life altering experience ever to me. His dad and I pledged always to be the best parents we could be, and that never seems like enough. Now he is 20 and I am very pleased. He is doing really well and I am very grateful to EVERYONE, teachers, babysitters, his brothers, counselors, cousins, friends, and especially his dad, who, although he never sees it clearly~ has been a strong and good father.