Reenie's Ramblings

These shoes, they are one of a kind.  They are an obviously hand decorated item. But they are priceless. My daughter took time to paint, decorate and design these shoes for me for Christmas. Not only did it make her face beam when I thanked her profusely for them, but her heart almost burst with pride when I wore them. When I wear these shoes, I am not wearing them to impress anyone and I certainly know some people notice and raise an eyebrow.   But do you know what is on my mind the whole time I walk in them? These were made with love. These represent my daughter knowing what I love (heels, yellow, blue and polka dots) and wanting to do something for me because she loves me. This is what I believe fashion should be. Items to dress ourselves with that have meaning, or warm our heart simply because we have them on. Not that long ago, I went to a dinner where I met someone I had never met before, whom I thought would be a part of...

I've seen and heard, more than once, people arguing the abortion topic and this "unwanted baby" keeps coming up. People are making the case that just because you are against abortion doesn't mean you are "pro-life", that babies who are unwanted or improperly cared for don't actually "live", at least not fully. I am not wanting to get into a debate over abortion, I have very passionate views about that, but don't need to argue them. I just find these comments cut through me and are something I can't get out of my head. It causes a train of thought that is deeply personal for me and for many people I know and care about. My birthfather was born to parents that didn't want a baby. Timing, relationship, all of it was wrong. I was born to a woman who didn't want a baby. Both situations were one of the "examples" people sometimes use as a reason for abortion. "They have their whole life ahead of them.....

From the very first time my daughter was big enough to go into a bathroom stall in a public bathroom by herself, she always wanted to be next to me. She would stretch her foot out towards my stall and we would touch toes. As she has gotten older and more independent, we sometimes go in separately. If I enter after her, there is always that sweet voice "Mama, are you there?" or "Mama, is that you?". Rather than answer, if I am next to her, I always slide my foot under the divider between stalls and receive a joyous foot tap that responds instantly to this acknowledgement that her Mama is indeed near her. She's growing up, too fast it seems, and yet I love that this little gesture, that started when she was younger and needier, has continued as she ages. It is this little way of saying "I love you" without actually saying it. It's tiny little moments like these that mean so much and are the ones that I hope to always cherish. Sometim...

The rainbow comes after the storm. Sometimes the valley experience must be endured before the mountaintop moment is ours. During the struggle, it is often difficult to understand the "why".  During the storm, it's easy to want to give up.  During the climb, the negative voices can seem like the most powerful thing we hear. I'm currently enjoying a mountaintop experience and the view from here is so breathtaking, so full of hope and joy, I am bursting with it. The journey to get here, hasn't been easy.  In fact, it was so difficult at times, it shattered parts of me. As I find myself here, I am amazed at how quickly healing is coming to those shattered parts. To be given an answer of "why" is incredible.  We don't always get to know the "why" for things that happen.  This particular experience has given me a "why" and I am beyond thankful. To reach a point where the storm doesn't contro...