Mr. Frog
She thought if she tippy-toed up behind Mr. Frog he wouldn't hear her nor would he see her. Across the sodden grass she crept ... putting her feet one in front of the other. Just as she was about to whisper his name he let out a deep, resounding croak. It startled her so that she fell, off-balance, to her knees. There he stayed. Right there in front of her ... just inches away. His little eyes blinked time and again. It was as if he was waiting for her. She could see the sleek texture of his back, the glistening skin beckoning for her touch. She gingerly reached her chubby little fingers out to touch him and as if he knew ... he turned on his two tiny front legs as if to greet her. It was a magical moment, for sure. "Why hello there Mr. Frog" she whispered. "I'm so sorry if I gave you a start!" she went on. "When I saw you here I thought it would be wonderful to get to know you." And so it went ... she chatted and he just sat there soaking up her attention. They met this way off and on for the next two years until one day Mr. Frog was no longer there. It broke her heart after she realized that her friend was not coming back. She was, however, two years older now and was able to think back on all of the fun times, all of the times she had confided in her friend and ... she was thankful. Sometimes the memories of a thing are so very precious (for they last a lifetime) and no matter where life takes us ... we can carry them along.

The Chill of Spring
Sitting here at my desk, I feel the chill of Spring thick in the air. The heavens have rained down upon the grounds soaking them with the waters that were stored up for such a time as this. I watch the plants closely as the raindrops fall upon them ... and imagine (just for a wisp of time) how refreshing each one must feel, how nourishing this shower will be for all of the tiny seeds underground that are anxious to spring forth into the sun and fresh air. I think of all of the little beings and the infinite nature of this small patch of dirt that I am looking out at. Wouldn't it be magical if I could envision, even one more time, the fanciful little creatures of my childhood imagination? Once again I could see in my mind's eye all of the glittering wonderment as little fireflys dove here and there throughout the tall grass just beyond the garden ... waiting until the coast was clear to come out and help those little seeds raise their blooming bodies above the ground. Oh, the imagination of a child ... such bliss is only realized when children are encouraged to create and believe. :)

May God Turn My Darkness into Light
My friends and family are being laid off from their jobs. Plants are being shut down ... money is getting tight. The Holidays are right around the corner and parents are scurrying to and fro trying to find needed items on sale and "hoped for" items at a bargain. What we all find when times get tough is that we learn to appreciate the smallest of things. We also begin to realize that so much of what we surround ourselves with is unnecessary and even hinders our relationships with one another. As a result we can say, with confidence, that our hardest times in life are also our most blessed.

Before You Were Conceived
Under the dandelion she crept ... a tiny splash of dew falling upon the back of her head. She was intent on her destination. She was burdened with her tiny knapsack of treasures. Determination drove her on as the morning dew stuck to her wings and kept her grounded. Normally she would have been there by now. The sun had come sneaking through her hovel this morning and woke her with intense brightness. Slugger, the snail, came slowly from the baby fern underbrush and wished her a good morning. This brought a smile to her face. Slugger didn't really travel far on any given day but those who happened upon him were very blessed by the kind words he always offered up. Just around the willow trunk she could see the other fairies fluttering here and there as the sun peeked through to warm & dry them. It was show & tell at school today! Oh, she had waited so long for this day! Her heart sang! She got to the hollowed entrance as soon as the Queen Fairy's bell rang. In just moments she would be able to unwrap her worn little knapsack and extract the kerchief from within. Once she was called upon to share her surprise she flew ever so slowly to the front of the class, careful not to drop her package. The Queen Fairy made room for her on the weathered podium and buzzed backwards as Aestella unwrapped her priceless pieces for everyone to see. Why, she had an itsy little bottle that looked like it had brown fluid in it ... it said COKE on one side and Barbie underneath. She gingerly passed it to her classmates. Her next treasure was a beautiful gold plate with a hole in the middle. It was almost weightless. (The Queen Fairy knew it to be a sequin). The final piece ... the "piece de' resistance" was a beautiful little jewel that sparkled as though it captured the sun, itself. (She didn't know it, but it was a diamond). Her classmates ooo'd and aahhhh'd over the treasures which caused Aestella's heart to soar with joy! There is just no measuring the amount of joy a little fairy can hold in their heart ... or bring to yours. :)

Fairies
When I was a little girl I loved to read stories about fairies and their secret little hovels in the woods. It is good to always keep the imagination, curiosity and wonderment of a child in our hearts lest we grow old and hard instead of older, softer and wiser. -bd

Burdened Clothesline
my dad used to tell me that when I felt overwhelmed with problems I should think of this; if I were to visually hang all of my problems out on a clothesline and then compare them to my neighbor's burdened clothesline ... I would most definatly decide that my problems didn't seem so bad after all.

God never allows us to be burdened with more than we can handle.

The Voices That Cry Out
"Mom have you seen my jeans"?
"Mom where is the shampoo"?
"Mom, I need $20 for the school field trip today"!
... in our busy-ness we sometimes forget to cherish the voices that cry out to us (as we should) lest they some day be silenced and we forget the sound we once held so sweet yet took for granted.