Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Today the world celebrates everything Irish
Isn’t is just amazing that a little country like ours has the whole world celebrating being Irish to-day. This is helped in part by the fact that once again we have Irish people working in every part of the world, and this is their day to celebrate where they come from. At home (in Ireland) we’re a bit less enthusiastic about the parades and celebrations.
When we were younger it was a very holy day, when you celebrated the life of St. Patrick who took us kicking and screaming into christanity, hence the symbol of the ‘shamrock‘ (God the Father, God the Son and God the holy Spirit) we had to go to mass and we knew all the St. Patrick’s hymns.
To understand how we were taught about St. Patrick listen to the lovely video below, its a child’s interpretation of St. Patrick’s Day. It was recorded a long time ago, the little girl is from Dublin with a beautiful Dublin accent and so you have to listen very carefully to understand what she is saying.
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Before I was a mom
We came across this little poem, and thought we’d share it with you all as it’s Mother’s Day today in many parts of the world, including Ireland and the UK.
We wish you all a very happy Mother’s Day and hope that you are sharing with it the special people in your life xx
Before I was a Mom -
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.
Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn’t worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on – Pooped on – Spit on – Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests…or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn’t want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn’t stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life
so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom -
I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn’t know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn’t know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn’t know that something so small could make me feel so important.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.
Author Unknown (but these words couldn’t have been said more perfectly!)
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Living your best life
Today I was going to write a post about dying.
This week I watched as a dear friend buried her 46 year old husband, it was heartbreaking.It made me wonder ‘what life is all about‘. Am I living my best life. So instead of wallowing in feelings of sadness I’ve chosen instead to appreciate what I have in my life, and focus on all the gifts of family and friends that perhaps I take for granted.
I thought also about the long list of things I want to do. Life is so fragile, what would you regret not doing?…. What do you want to be remembered for?………, what would you ‘actually’ be remembered for?
Well I wasn’t pleased with my own answers to these questions, so now I’m on a mission to do the things I want to do, I’m not just talking about huge stuff like a ‘bucket list’ of holiday destinations, but simple stuff, like
- drinking the good wine you have saved in your cupboard,
- drinking it from a lovely glass,
- wearing the expensive shoes you’re keeping for special occasions,
- buying yourself flowers,
- wearing the expensive perfume ‘everyday’
- wearing ‘nice underwear’
- on that note – buying myself some ‘nice underwear’!!
- using the good dishes,
How to Make a Beautiful Life
Love yourself.
Make peace with who you are
And where you are
At this moment in time.
Listen to your heart.
If you can’t hear what it’s saying
In this noisy world,
Make time for yourself.
Enjoy your own company.
Let you mind wander among the stars.
Try.
Take chances.
Make mistakes.
Life can be messy
And confusing at times,
But it’s also full of surprises.
The next rock in your path
Might be a stepping stone.
Be happy.
When you don’t have what you want,
Want what you have.
Make do
That’s a well-kept secret of contentment.
There aren’t any shortcuts to tomorrow.
You have to make your own way.
To know where you are going
Is only part of it.
You need to know where you’ve been, too.
And if you ever get lost, don’t worry.
The people who love you will find you.
Count on it.
Life isn’t days and years.
It’s what you do with time
And with all the goodness and grace
That’s inside you.
Make a Beautiful life…
The kind of life you deserve.
-unknown
We are Phenomenal Women
http://irishmoms.com/phenomenal-women/
Read this and feel good about yourself, whatever shape or size you are. (Maya Angelou ‘Rocks’ – she is a real life Phenomenal Woman- Hey we all are!!! in some way)
Phenomenal Woman
by Maya Angelou
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
My AH-HA moment today!!
Could not have said it better myself – any suggestions on how to acheive this goal ??? (Reward for a ‘sucessful’ answer!!!)
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