Happy Birthday Wishes And Reflections!

by

Happy Birthday Wishes And Reflections!

Happy Birthday CakeIt was a fun weekend for Happy Birthday celebrations and reflections!  My father was born April 27, 1914, he would have been 99 years old on Saturday!  Happy Birthday, Dad!  My dad believed his birthday was just another great day to enjoy life!  Even on his last birthday, April 27, 2002, just a few days before he died, dad’s calm demeanor and sense of humor were intact.  By this time, my father’s vision had deteriorated significantly over the past few years from macular degeneration, a hereditary condition that affects the retina.  My dad couldn’t read unless it was magnified into very large print.  Knowing that his birthdays were being cut short with his recent leukemia diagnosis, dad reflected a bit that birthday afternoon as I visited with him; we both chuckled when he said, “Maybe I’ll get a new pair of eyes in this deal!”  My father added to his birthday wish list by saying that he hoped there would be some well stocked book shelves in heaven with a soft leather chair nearby!

“We are all a reflection of those who came before us!”  

My father’s life was indeed a reflection of the wonderful upbringing his parents had given him.  In turn, as I celebrate more birthdays, I hope my life reflects the amazing example set by my parents!

Dad with ringlets cut off

The caption under this picture in my father’s autobiography states that it was taken right after his ringlets were cut off!  My dad always had a full head of thick wavy hair, he didn’t even start turning gray until he was 80 years old!  

Growing up, my mom had us make our birthday cards for family member’s birthdays.  I came across one I’d done in some mementos my mom had saved.  The coloring is smudged and my handwriting indicates I was grade school age–the real image is too faded to show, but here is the gist of my birthday card…

Crayon Happy Birthday

Farmer

Asks questions

Teacher

 Helps me

 Earns money

 Really fun

Good times with dad!

This picture of me and my dad was taken by my mom in an attempt to get us back on task after we were caught horsing around during a homework break where we nearly upended the lamp and flowers on the end table.  As you can see, we’re doing our best to look contrite and apologetic!?  ( I would imagine that the lamp and sofa pictured would go for a pretty penny at a vintage store today!)

If I adapted the Happy Birthday sentiment of “father” today, it would read more like this:

  Faithful         Articulate         Tireless         Hopeful         Endearing       Rare

My dad wrote this recollection on one of the last pages of his history:

“I have never had a day since my birth that I have not been blessed in countless ways!”          

He obviously had the foresight to be aware of the “countless ways” his life was blessed and make note of them!  Again, Happy Birthday wishes to you, Dad!  It was a beautiful day to celebrate your birthday!  Meanwhile, I hope you are enjoying a good book!

We also enjoyed a happy birthday celebration for my oldest daughter, Malia, and her darling family this weekend.  I remember when I was expecting Malia, (and in those days, you rarely knew whether you were going to have a boy or a girl before your baby was born) I told my dad that I hoped my baby would be his birthday present that year.  With a knowing grin, my father said that my baby deserved her own special birthday!  My cute, little baby girl, Malia, with her thick mass of dark hair and round, kiss-able cheeks was born early on the morning of April 28, 1981.  In keeping up with the tradition I started on my dad’s birthday card many years ago, I’ll write a few Happy Birthday sentiments for Malia now too!

Adorable girl, Malia

 Boating in Hyrum

My friend

Amazing mother

Loves her family

Interested in others

A beautiful daughter

 

What I’m learning now is…

I once heard it said that, “Your past is the landscape of your life.”  What I’m learning now is that when each birthday rolls around, (as they inevitably do…) it might be a good chance for us to reflect on our lives and enhance that landscape…as well as recommit to making it one that all our loved ones will have the opportunity to enjoy for many years to come!

Take the opportunity to spell out your loved ones names on a paper and consider the fun words you’d write to pay tribute to the unique impact they’ve had on your life.  Surprise them with your thoughts for their next birthday!   

–Mary    

 

Happy Earth Day! Tweaking The Perspective A Little!

by

Celebrating Earth Day But Tweaking The Perspective A Little

wheat farming

Growing up, I watched the intimate relationship my dad had with the land on our wheat farm so he could provide a good living.  I saw first-hand how my father truly respected his little corner of the earth so to speak, and the deep sense of satisfaction he received from the hard work his farm provided.

For my father, each day he was able to spend tending to his farm was an “earth day” celebration of sorts.

He recorded the following in his autobiography…

“To go out to the farm in the spring with the birds, the sky, the soil and all the machinery and get everything going, and then to see the hills cultivated in such a nice way was very satisfying.”

In considering the events of the past week, perhaps we’d all be better served if we paused a minute, took a deep breath, and celebrated earth day by looking around us and realizing once again, that we truly are blessed!  We might ask ourselves, “Am I doing what I was put on this earth to do?”   (I know, maybe a little intense–it’s just where my mind has been lately.)

As I’ve said in this previous post, I often feel a deep sense of kinship with mother earth while working in my yard.  If I get discouraged or feel a bit overwhelmed, I literally turn to earth’s dirt to give me better perspective of what a wonderful place this world really is, and how fortunate I am to share a small part in it!

Happy Earth Day–Be Inspired By It’s Beauty!

I hope that these artful pictures taken by my daughter-in-law, Whitney Wilding, and my son-in-law, Cole Gibbons, (both beautiful photographers) help us all to remember again, that no matter what, we really can all work together to make this wonderful planet earth a better place to live!

IMG_0894

Butterfly Conservatory in Buffalo, New York

Adirondacks

Breathtaking view in Letchworth State Park, complete with rainbow!

Big Sur-California

Big Sur, California

Flower in pond at Conservatory Garden in Central Park

Conservatory Garden in Central Park in New York City

Lower Manhattan from 850 ft

  A beautiful view of lower Manhattan!  A view Cole and Mandi see each morning!

Central Park in winter

 A winter wonderland view of Central Park!

Hurricane aftermath

 Hurricane aftermath in New York City–Mother Nature reminds us of our vulnerabilities!

IMG_0979

What I’m learning now is…

As we look around, it doesn’t take long to realize that we are indeed privileged to live here on earth.  What I’m learning now is that more often than not, it seems like it takes some sort of tragedy or unusual circumstances to startle our senses into helping us remember the fact that we truly are so blessed!  Getting older has helped give me a better appreciation for most things in life, and yet, we are all prone to take some things for granted.  

 

I’d love for you to share any photos or thoughts you have about this great place we call earth!

–Mary

A Special Tribute To Boston and God’s Promise!

by

A Special Tribute To Boston and God’s Promise!

StethoscopeOn Monday morning, April 15, 2013, I arrived early at the hospital where I work to attend the birth of a family’s beautiful twins.  Much like I did on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, I witnessed new life being brought into the world while so many others experienced the sad devastation of lives lost!  I first heard about the tragic news of what had happened at the Boston marathon later on Monday afternoon when I went to check on the twins with their mom in her room.  The TV was on a news station that was giving the sad chain of events as reporters tried to piece together bits of information as they learned of them.  We were all stunned as we watched the details of what had taken place in Boston.  As I glanced over at the twin’s parents, they seemed to be holding their babies just a little tighter.  The Boston bombings reminded me of the wise words of a doctor I worked with on another horrific day in our nation’s history when a young mother who had just given birth couldn’t help but wonder aloud that her baby’s birthday would always be overshadowed by the attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001.  I remember feeling so sad about the torn emotions of this new mom at what should have been a joyous occasion for her family.  However, her thoughtful delivering physician stated, without reservation, that her baby’s birth was a positive exclamation point to a sad day of painful heartache!  Monday’s events in Boston serve as a good reminder for us to always pay special tribute to those we love and the positive influence they are in our lives!

I have a family of runners!  Like so many of the people who lined the streets in Boston on Monday, I have been the spectator along the sidelines cheering behind barricades with my camera poised, ready to capture the perfect picture of the tired, yet triumphant smiles of family members as they anticipate the finish line.  It’s always a cumulative celebration of the sheer grit and determination sustained throughout the race, as well as the many training hours endured!  I can’t even imagine a race ending like it did at the Boston marathon this past Monday!

Marathon runners www.mytributejournal.com

Due to super storm Sandy, New York’s marathon was cancelled last year, but my daughter, Mandi has qualified to run in it this year and her dad hopes to join her.  The race will definitely serve as a tribute to the tenacity of the people of this great city…also, to the people in Boston–to everyone in America trying to be strong during hard times!   

Recently, while reorganizing some papers and files, I came across a poem that my daughter, Mandi, wrote for a grade school sponsored “Reflections” contest when she was perhaps eleven or twelve.  Her words seem wise beyond her years at the time.  I hope that at the very least, this poem will provide some sort of healing perspective to the unbelievably sad circumstances in Boston this week.

gods promise poem

What I’m trying to learn again now is…

My parents always taught me to cherish life…..perhaps that’s why I chose my profession!  It’s so hard to even conceive of a world without our loved ones in it when we lose them.  Despite so much tragedy in the world today; most recently at the Boston marathon, what I’m trying to learn again now is that there really is such decency in the world too.  May we always strive to be examples of all that is good and decent in life, so that our children and grandchildren can carry that influence forward for their generations and the ones to come!

I know this is just a small little blog, but I hope you’ll share ways to heal our hearts from these tragedies and how we can stay strong and be happy in looking forward to the future.   

–Mary