As a mother I celebrate myself

I raised two incredible humans. Our path was unusual and hard. The effects of divorce were substantial, far reaching and painful as much for them as it was for me. The mother spirit that was with me when I gave birth has only grown stronger through the years. And most importantly, the pursuit of my love has been never ending; leading us into the relationships that we share today as strong and loving individuals. I am proud to be a mother and I celebrate the strength and wisdom that I have gained through the challenges and the triumphs – and the joys – of raising my son and daughter.

I celebrate my daughter as a mother

When raising my daughter it was important to me to give her the example of motherhood that I wanted her to give to my grandchildren. The intimacy of our close relationship throughout her life built a foundation of trust and respect through sharing and non-judgmental acceptance. Today I see these qualities coming into fruition in my daughter as she raises her new baby. The patience and love, present awareness and tenderness she exhibits is a jewel in my crown as a mom. I really couldn’t be more proud of her.

As a daughter I celebrate my mother

Underlying my motherhood and my daughters, is the tapestry of wisdom, unconditional love, and strength of my mother. As in most families, and with all mothers, throughout life there are circumstances that mark your maturity, and situations that have the power to make you or break you. Mom has endured in grace, embraced the good and the bad, and has lived through hell and came back with a faith that is unbreakable. Her example of unconditional love and faithfulness has marked my life and continues to inspire me today as a mother and grandmother. She is a queen among women, a force to be reckoned with.

Mothers everywhere I celebrate you

I encourage you mothers to stay focused on your role as a mom. To realize that there is nothing more important than the task at hand to raise your children, and to do it in love and with patience. It is the diversity of women across the world and how they lovingly give and accomplish this task that is indeed the beauty of motherhood.  Happy Mother’s Day to all!

 
I’ve been thinking about what a small/large world it is. It is SMALL in that we humans are so similar and what we need for survival in this world is pretty much the same – food, clean water, shelter, education, love, self esteem, good health…the freedom to be fully human and to know we are safe. It is LARGE in that there is a great separation between those who have and those who have not.
Here in America let us never take these things for granted as we fight to uphold the right for all peoples to be free. And let us never harm or put in harms way one hair on the head of one of the “least of these” for they are our hopeful future living in the midst of us now.

Love and peace!

 
 
Photo ©Sandy Hibbard from “People of Cambodia” series by Sandy Hibbard at Lensqueen.com.
 

It’s like being out on the sea when a storm blows up and there is no where you can go or hide. You simply have to batten down the hatches and ride out the storm.  Life is like that.

Many years ago I went through a terrible divorce that tore my family apart.  And like any divorce where children are involved, my beautiful babies suffered for the mistakes of their grownup parents.

My daughter was only 10 at the time and my son was a young 13 year old.  We were ripped apart.  The pain was nearly unbearable for all of us, but we made it through the storm.  We endured and grew closer together and more intimate than we ever could have imagined.

Sometimes those wounds surface though, and bring to each of us reminders of the pain, and that hurt can be as real as if it were happening now.  Life is like that too.  But year by year, moment by moment, just like you, we push through the pain and gain understanding, strength, and compassion for ourselves and others on a deeper level.  We learn to live this life in love and without judgement.

I wanted to share a poem that was written many years ago for her as we were weathering the violent storm that struck our lives. May it remind her of her beauty and the love that has always surrounded her while she was growing into a beautiful young lady.  I celebrate her on this day and every day, as the beautiful daughter she has always been, and the amazing woman she has become. She will always be my princess!

Love and hugs forever,
Sandy (momma)

Little Girl of Mine

Little girl of mine
rosy pink and soft
our little princess
you were always the boss
Funny little turned-up nose
lips unfolded like a rose
tender gentle heart
full of love and grace
strong and determined
while reaching out for mom’s embrace
I was always there
never left you for a minute
time and circumstance were cruel
but my love was with you in it
Beautiful young lady
tall and lean and graceful
never doubt your heart of love
it will teach you what you need to know
Soon you’ll find your own place
when mother’s not enough
you will grow to understand
and lean on thankfulness
Little lady of mine
a princess so refined
know this one important thing
and never give up on your dream
…you were born to sing!

© Sandy Hibbard

For My Son

These big man hands were once
Creating crafts of clay
With little fingerprints left in
Little cracks, little dents
This once small heart,
Afraid of the dark
Now is large and knows
Real fear, real sorrow
Once tears for scrapped knees
And broken things
Now knows the angst of a broken
Heart that must keep beating
That little head once framed by
Dark curls while the world unsullied
Slipped by,
Now tosses and turns to the music
Of lost hope’s time
Those little feet that danced in joy
For no other reason than they could
Now trips over the shroud
Of meant-to-bes and shoulds
Once swaddled by dreams, soft smiles, little lashes
Trembling in sweet sleep
Now knows the terror of waking
To a heart breaking
Knowledge has given you wings
But reality has its sting
And now your tears will know
Why they’re cried-
You will go on
Your heart will be stronger for the battering
And your soul will be whole despite the tatters
You will find your song in the promise
Of the broken wings that still can fly
You will be free, you will be free
For there is still music and joy
And beauty and this is the way of the world
A circle of beginnings and endings,
Of joy and sorrow, of tears and laughter
Of music and silence
Of dancing and stillness
Love will come and go
But it is always here, an indestructible force
That just lies dormant waiting for you to uncover it
Or it will surprise you with an ecstasy unconfined,
Deep, like ancient wine
You will weep, but you will sing
You will walk in darkness, you will fly in light
You will dash your heart across the stones
But you will hold it to the fire
You will love, desire and fight
You’ll gain the day and own the night
You’ll hold the river’s flow
You are stronger than you know
© Kelli Geopfert
Photos by Alain Laboile

Remember how we use to play
play like there was no one looking
our imaginations engaged
our dreams set free
remember how we use to laugh
laugh like we discovered gold
we didn’t care if we disturbed anyone
the game was on to see who could laugh the longest
the loudest
magic shows, secret hideouts, adventures in the park
there was no end to what the mind could conjure up
there was no stopping the heart
Where does that child go
can you bring her wonder back
the part in us that easily believes
we don’t have to stop dreaming
if you play with me we will make a game of getting old
if you laugh with me we will lose complete control
And if you love me, if you choose to be with me
We will adventure like the young and discover the world from our hearts