These gorgeous lights were inside the Citadel mosque in Cairo

Last night we watched the Avatar film.  Since I'm not a big fan of Sci-Fi, I was preparing myself for a long two hours during the opening scences of the movie.  By the end I was blown away!  There's one line in the movie that goes something like this...we are all just borrowing energy that one will one day return to the source. 

Seriously good flick packed with ancient wisdom!

What mark will we leave on this world?

An Instant Pick-me-Up!

On our last day in Egypt our driver insisted on bringing us to a church and I have to admit by day four I was a little done with mosques and churches.  After all, I had been inside the King's Chamber of the Great Pyramid just two days earlier and was sure that was the highlight of the trip.  As I should already know, there is always room to be further dazzled.  This is the Church of St. Samaan and the story is that the mountain of rock that it is carved within was originally in a different location and moved by the prayers of St. Samaan and others of his time.  The carvings are incredible and I am so grateful for Raafat, our driver, for his persistence.  Definitely a must see in Cairo!

Love this!

A good friend sent this to me and although I don't know exactly what is being said I pretty much get it and LOVE it!!!  Can someone PLEASE translate for me???

Waste not a moment...

A Precious Human Life


Every day think as you wake up,

Today I am fortunate to have woken up,

I am alive; I have a precious human life,

I am not going to waste it,

I am going to use it.

All my energies to develop myself

To expand my heart out to others.

To achieve enlightenment for

The benefit of all beings,

I am going to have kind

Thoughts towards others,

I am not going to get angry,

Or think badly about others,

I am going to benefit others

As much as I can.

H.H. the XIV Dalai Lama

Egypt

Just a few days ago I was standing among the last of the intact ancient wonders of the world.  These great structures have withstood the passing of so much time and their exact locations are still being studied as to what they actually represented aside from a burial site for the kings.  The air is electrifying - the buzz of your high stays with you long after you have walked away. I wanted to stay there forever, to watch the sun pass over its horizon until the night came and the sky filled with stars. But we had so much more to see and do in such a short time.  I like to know that my footprints will remain, forevermore; my hands have touched and run across the stones that were precisely set to erect such beauty, and my mind's eye has burned permanent images inside me that allow me to be there in an instant.

Please watch this

One of the many amazing talents my friend Adele Selena has shared with me are her guided visualizations and meditations. She is now offering free meditations here. Please take a few minutes to watch and enjoy the gifts she shares!

Egypt

Just returned early this morning from a most amazing journey! MUCH more to follow...

Mikayla's celebrates today

So, seventeen years and one day later I had my second baby girl. She was due on March 5, but as fate would have it, she did not come. The labor started on Tara's birthday and rather than jumping in the car and rushing to the hospital, I called the doctor and told her that this baby was going to have to wait. I was busy making Tara's cake! My water broke and I grabbed the paper towel roll and stuffed my pants with a big wad of padding, sat my ass on the stool and continued to decorate that cake. I was actually crushed! I will never forget Tara's face when she walked through the door to find out the news. My heart was breaking into a million pieces for her and I think we both cried for a million different reasons. We were going to be a new family soon and there were still a lot of raw emotions behing all of this. But as I mentioned, Tara handled it with grace and composure as I packed up my things and headed out the door. Labor progressed normally at first but in the end she just wouldn't come and early the next day the doctors decided it was time to get her out via C-section. I remember the night nurse rubbing my face and telling me that it was past midnight and it was okay, I could let this new baby out now, she would be having her own special day. As the sun was just rising they rolled me down the hall and within fifteen minutes my little Mikayla Reanne was here. At that moment, I couldn't imagine the world without her. The first thing I saw were those little purple little feet and then I heard that first cry. There she was, lying across my chest, a perfect little angel. Mikayla is so lucky to have such an amazing big sis, and the same can be said for Tara. A little sister to love and adore you is a lifetime reward! And as cool as they are to share such happiness just one day apart, I still want to be sure they both know just how special each of them are to me in their own separate ways. Thank you both for choosing me to be your mom - it is really me who is the lucky one! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU MIKAYLA - MIK-DOODLE, MIKI-D, and as Mimi liked to call you Trixie D. Your laughter is contagious, your smile melts my heart and I love you forever!!! Your timing was perfect as I see now, and your existance is a gift to this world. xoxo

Happy Birthday Tara

The first time I ever saw this painting I was immediately convinced it was as if the artist painted it for me and Tara.

My first baby

I've been daydreaming all day about Tara's arrival 25 years ago. All 7lbs 2oz of pure love. I remember my mother dragging me out to the store about a week after she was born to buy some food and how I cried in the supermarket because I wanted to get back home to my baby. Same with the first time she went off to kindergarten and then sleep away camp (which was only a week). Most parents can't wait to get away from the kids for a little holiday. Not me, I knew these times were precious and made sure every vacation included both her and Ryan. That's what retirement was all about, right? Well, I'm not ready to retire quite yet, but I'm still crying every time we part and still plan my vacations with her in mind. If I could keep her with me forever I would. We are mother and daughter yes, and I know it sounds cliche', but we are truly the best of friends. I am blessed to have such an amazing relationship with my daughter, she is my blood, a part of my essence, a slice of my soul. Her beauty astounds me and her grace is one of her greatest virtues. She has taught me just as many lessons in life as I have her. I am so bummed that I am not with her today to celebrate every day that she has been a part of my life, but I know that she is surrounded with love and luckily I am not the only one who realizes her greatness. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FIRST BABY GIRL. I love you to the moon and back again my sweet Tara! xoxo

The Alchemist

To realize one's destiny is a person's only obligation. When you want something, all the Universe conspires in helping you achieve it ~
The Alchemist - Paul Coelho