MOM, MOTHER, MAMA, MERE, MATKA, MADRE, MUTER, MUM, OKAASAN

 MOM IN COLLEGE

There are so many different words and spellings for the incredible women who gave us life. Today is Mother's Day - a day to honor the amazing women in  our lives. A day celebrating the women who birthed us from their bodies, but also those who gave us & our dreams life in their hearts through adoption or mentoring or friendship or love. While I hope we shower love upon and celebrate these women every day, it’s nice to have a day to shout their praises loudly and openly.

It’s a difficult day though for women who have lost their mothers or their daughters or their children before birth or for those who could not have children and become mothers. I always considered myself a mother without a child. I lost my baby girl, Eva Grace, through miscarriage at 5 1/2 months. The only times I was able to hold her, was when I held my hands over my belly bump above her. I can almost still feel that. She would be a woman now and I always wonder what & who she would have become… My mom has been gone 23 years... and I also wonder what living and growth she would have seen.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the women who nurture, who lift us, who support us and our dreams, who grieve with us and celebrate with us, who sit with and give time to us, those who fan our flames to be the best best we can be, to the encouragers, to those who wrap their arms around us and infuse us with strength, to those who adopt and stepmother, to those who are childless but give their love and nurturing to all around them, to the dog moms and cat moms and stewards of Mother earth… And to all of the amazing women that we do these things for, thank you - you are appreciated and loved.

 MOM IN FLORIDA

 DAD, MOM AND MY SURROGATE MOM BERNIE (WITH COFFEE CUP)

MOM AND DAD

ENCOURAGING DREAMS

Knowing that someone believes in you is one of the most wonderful gifts to receive, and one of the most loving gifts to be able to give. In a world full of naysayers and those who discourage, that person who believes in you is like a light shining bright and true. A person who believes in you, who instills confidence and courage and says yes, it can be done... someone who fans the flames of your dreams,  and lights a match to give your dreams light and life, is a rare gift and wonderful mentor. That gift and mentor was my cousin Jack, my Mom's favorite cousin. This morning I learned he had passed away. I was going to do a blog post about my visit to the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens and their amazing rose garden, but it seems more appropriate to use these photos and talk about Jack, who loved gardens and gardening and roses and being outdoors. He loved working among beautiful things whether they were people or plants. He was one of those rare people in life that your noticed because of his quiet presence that was compelling. He loved life, he loved living, he loved encouraging others, he was the father that my father never was.

While I was going through my divorce, Jack was always checking in on me to make sure I was OK. He would send me articles in the mail he thought would be helpful. One of them was about Flickr. He knew my love of photography and encouraged me to join, telling me it would be a good way to learn and improve my photography in a  community, and was free!  I put that article away for a few months, then found it and opened a Flickr account.  That one little thing Jack did, completely changed my life. We never know when these little things we do for people might be something extraordinary in their life. I told him it was because of him that my life changed - from that one little thing, from joining Flickr and making new friends and learning so many new things, it put me and my art and photography where I am right now. I'm forever grateful to him for caring enough to take the time to do that, and to encourage and to believe. How wonderful are people who care enough to do these little things that are such big things. He was a big believer in paying it forward and helping others. 

These wonderful encouragers of dreams, the mentors who say yes you can, I believe in you... they are such bright lights in this world. And now one of them is gone. RIP Jack Kasper, you were loved. You were one in a million. 

Encourage dreams. Take time to listen. Be a light. Look someone in the eye and tell them you believe in them. Each time I do these things I'll think of Jack.

MOM

My mom passed away 23 years ago. She had just turned 58. When I laugh, I hear her. My laugh has become her laugh. I've become my mother in wonderful ways... I laugh a lot, I remain naive in a beautiful way where I still believe in miracles & good things & beautiful souls. She was like that. She was unwavering in her loyalty to friends & enjoyed the simple things in life - a good laugh & a good book, time spent with family & friends, working in the garden, singing at the top of her lungs, a good sale! We can allwax poetic about Moms on Mother's Day & do the pedestal thing. My mom was human & ordinary, but that made her extraordinary. She loved with the best ability of her heart & parented as a single mom, the best she knew how & even when she might falter, it was always made better with a hug & an "I love you." She taught me to be human & she tried to understand me even though we were different in many ways. But when I laugh, I hear her still... somehow over the years, my laugh has become her laugh - & it's music to my ears.

Happy Mother's Day in Heaven Mom. 

STARS

Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major (the Big Dog), will rise above the southeast horizon this week. If you have a moment, and a clear evening, take a look south...

My grandpa was an avid amateur astronomer. As an organic farmer, (and before computers) he paid close attention to the signs in nature and would take me up the mountain to point out the stars and talk about their meaning and lore. He passed his love of stars and nature on to me. I wish he was still around to see the results of his taking time out of his day and sharing that love and knowledge. But when I walk outside at night, in places where I can see all those millions of stars in the sky, I like to think he knows...

That gift he gave of himself and his heart is priceless & has lasted my lifetime.... and those are the very best kind of gifts to give, and receive. 

If you like this fine art print, you can find it in my art shop here:

https://society6.com/product/look-how-they-shine-for-you-wf3_print#s6-3466630p4a1v45