Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.

This is a BAHAI prayer a friend gave me - it has helped me through the years - I have carried it in my purse and used it when I worried about my boys:

God, Educate these children. These children are the plants of thine orchard, the flowers of thy meadow, the roses of thy garden. Let the rain fall upon them; let the sun of reality shine upon them with thy love. Let thy breeze refresh them in order that they may be trained, grow and develop, and appear in the utmost beauty.


I think that it can help people of all faiths - agnostics can do a little re-framing and it might work for them too - maybe it will help a few of you!

So many Young Men and Women are trained at Great Lakes - I feel like a minnow in a river full of other nice Mom, wife, GF minnows!
Well my baby minnow is Jesse. He is 6'4" or so - Chief calls him Sasquash because of his height. He came home from college in Dec. to tell me he was making this change in his life - in order to become more mature and disciplined. I said - "BS YOU WILL NOT!" He calmly said, "Mom I respect your thoughts and feelings under the circumstances especially, and will consider them, but this is right for me." The journey began! It is my journey too......he writes the most beautiful, funny, artistic letters. And he says my letters are, "better than food or sleep or ____ when he used to have that." HA! He is a very sweet, sensitive, strong individual. This collective group experience is making him grow in new ways. He did college in Spain instead of traditional High School - then on to UWM instead. He is a real individual (did I say that). He loves to speak Spanish and after a month long walk across Spain (Camino de Santiago pilgrimage) he said he will someday live in a simple/less materialistic village like he visited. He also ran with the bulls - glad I didn't know this at the time. He said, "Mom, I will never live a boring life." I am sure this is true. It has been fun! Oh the places he will go! And I am right behind him!
JESSE IS IN ITALY NOW - WHAT A GOOD EXPERIENCE HE HAS HAD SO FAR!