where it all started

it's my birthday tomorrow.

this is the window sill

that is right next to my bed.

on it sits a night lamp,

a willow tree angel,

and my baby shoes.

a couple of weeks ago,

b. was tucking me in

like he does every night.

he looked at my baby shoes and said,

"you know what i think of every time i see those?"

i said, "what's that?"

he said,

"i think, 'that's where it all started.' "

with my birthday approaching,

i thought he was talking about me

being born, so

i said sweetly, "awww."

he said, "not you!...

your shoe obsession!"

i laughed and laughed
and laughed.

beauty in the mundane

the trees outside

(that's the beauty part)

by the parking lot

at work

(that's the mundane part)

our favorite cafe

coffee for me

coffee for you

out on the sidewalk

with a little friend, too.

a charm on my favorite necklace

“each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again. and what do we teach our children? we teach them that two and two make four, and that paris is the capital of france. when will we also teach them what they are? we should say to each of them: do you know what you are? you are a marvel. you are unique. in all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. you may become a shakespeare, a michelangelo, a beethoven. you have the capacity for anything. yes, you are a marvel. and when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? you must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children.” ~pablo picasso

goodbye, summer... we had a blast, you and i!

you and i—

we played like a kid

again

in my sister's back yard.

you and i—

we spent a day

with a dear friend

and her daughter

at the pool—

it was her first season with you.

you and i—

we bought more flowers

than we used to

and stopped

to take a closer look

and appreciated

your Creator.

you and i—

we made a pact

with our best friend

to spend more time together.

and we did—spend more time together.

we laughed with her,

enjoyed coffee with her, too.

laughed some more

and caught her unaware.

you and i—

we walked down damen ave.

exploring my husband's

brother's neighborhood

and went to farmers' markets

and had fish-n-chips

with strangers

on a warm night

in downtown crystal lake.

you and i—

we wore flip-flops

as much as we could,

ate tomato, basil and mozzarella

as long as you would let

the basil and tomatoes grow,

became paparazzi

at a friend's

wedding,

wrote a song

with my husband,

and took naps

in the sun lit rooms

of my house.

you and i—

we went to a cubs barbeque

to play silly games

and hang out with friends

who might have had

a few beers

but had fun none the less

you and i—

we watched His sunsets

together

each one

more beautiful

than the last

{usually while i was driving home from work—

but that's okay—still every bit as beautiful}.

you and i—

we drove to places

through summer storms

out in the country

with a pouting chauffeur.

you and i—

we went to an outdoor concert at ravinia

like i promised we would

and sat under the lights

to hear good music

with good wine

and good food

and great friends!

you and i—

we went to the zoo

together

for the first time

in about 20 years

to see camels

and gorillas

and flamingos

and mountain goats

and grizzly bears

and rhinos

and giraffes

and tigers

and monkeys.

you and i.