Charm and Grace

This is a poem I've written about my father, who actually did give me the sun, the moon, and the stars. Happy Father's day! When I was just a wee, small girl, Just less than three feet tall My father said, “Jump in and swim, and we will have a ball”. Said I, “I’m way too small for such a big, big pool. Then said he, “Just jump to me, and I will catch your fall”. Jump in, I DID! I closed my eyes, and jumped with outstretched arms. A promise kept, he caught my fall, by water, I was charmed. Said he, “Your such a big brave girl, It’s time you learned to dive”! “Just curl your toes around the board and fall right off the side”. Dive in, I DID! I curled my toes, and leaned over at the waist, I held my breath, pushed off the board, and learned that I could fly. When I was a wee bit older, Just almost four feet tall, Dad said, “It’s time to ride your bike with just two wheels, that’s ALL”! Said I, “I’m way too small for such a big, big bike”! Said he, “Just look ahead and pedal hard, ...

About a year ago I thought it would be a great idea to go back to grad school and get my specialist degree in science education. This spring I thought I might want to get a doctorate. This summer I'm considering becoming a certified spinning instructor. Or maybe I'm already certifiable! I've always worked. I was eight years old when I had my first job. I swept the floor of a beauty salon down the street for twenty-five cents. I would buy ice cream with my change. I worked in the dye room of a carpet factory when I was 16. I loved mixing the chemicals & dyes. After graduating from college I worked for the Georgia Geological Survey making maps in Albany , Georgia until I was offered a higher paying job as the Quality Control Manager at a Pet Dairy. We started having kids, so I worked in a Montessori school teaching science & PE. I've even worked as a maid in Pebble Beach cleaning mansions. I'll have you know that I've scrubbed hand painted & gold pla...

This entry may be boring, (sorry in advance) but this is how I plan to journal. I don't want to forget how good my days are. I don't know if you know who Virginia Cazier is, but she is the finest example of an optimist that I've ever met. She could take a freaking disaster and put a positive spin on it. That used to drive me crazy!!! Anyway, I've realized that this is a godlike quality. It's occurred to me that I need to write Virginia a thank you note. She's made a difference in my life. Here's to Virginia Cazier! Today has been a great day. John & I went to Mulberry Creek Park. I walked around the lake twice which totals 4.4 miles. I was drenched in sweat but it felt good in spite of the heat. I took some pictures of the flora around the park. There were mushroom communities in one part of the park. The mushrooms look like thatched huts where fairies might live. Miles' 25th birthday is today. He, Ashlyn, Jimmy, Bradie, Ellie & Johnny celebrated...

When Lauren was born, I had the distinct impression that she was as much my sister, as she was my daughter. I was simply walking along the road of life just slightly ahead of her. My role would be to teach, to love, and to provide encouragement to her as she made her way through mortality. I had the honor and privilege of taking my daughter, Lauren Ann, to the South Carolina Temple in April. This was a required step prior to her marriage to David in the Washington D.C. Temple. Everyone wears white in the temple. The clothing is elegantly simple because the temple is a quite place of contemplation and instruction. There is no indication of wealth or status in a temple. The simplicity of the clothing is an acknowledgement that all people are equal in the sight of God. I was able to make Lauren Ann's temple dress. It is a plain white satin dress with a beautiful draping neckline. She will be lovely in this dress. I wrapped the precious dress in tissue paper and beautiful white and gol...

by Paula Fowler, June 6th, 2010 I usually look out of my breakfast table window while eating my honey bunches in solitude. I've had visitors before, so I anticipate who'll make an appearance at breakfast. I've had visitors on my lowest of low days when my heart was utterly broken. My guest, a bird with one missing leg that proved even broken things could carry on. This morning's guest, grace and charm, called my name through my window, and told me to look a little closer at its blossoms and leaves. I learned of its red rimmed and heart-shaped jagged leaves surrounding winged petals so intensely red as to be judged impossible to be real. Eyelash fringes along the folded petals suggest a sense of touch. Perhaps it does, as it pulls me closer to examine and to love it for the first time.

The truth is that I've never really liked begonias. My opinion about them recently changed as I was eating breakfast and looking through the bay window of my breakfast nook. I noticed their beauty as they beckoned me to take a closer look. I had the idea of taking a picture of them through the window so that you could see the lace curtain, and then move closer in so that you could see the details on the leaves and petals. I'll never view them again as I did before.