Darkness and Light

Today was the equinox, the first day of spring. A day when light is balanced with darkness.
In keeping with that theme, I would like to balance the darker parts of my life (such as my post below) with the lighter.

Five (really) great things that I am so grateful for:

1. The sound of my mother's laughter. My mom arrived in town today in preparation for the quilt retreat that we are both attending this weekend. As soon as she walked in the door of the quilt shop I knew she was there...that wonderful positive energy washed over me like a balm and then came the sounds of her beautiful laugh as she greeted all those who dearly love her...how could you not?

2. Spring. Birth. Renewal. Rebirth. After so much cold and hard weather, Life is emerging from what seems to be silent unassuming sticks. Everywhere you look you see see life pushing through. The will to live and grow is strong and beautiful and I love watching every moment of it as it unfolds.

3. Community. Those near me physically and those of you who read this from all corners of the world and write you supportive, kind, insightful words. There is no way to share my appreciation and love for you being a part of my community. But it is fun to keep trying regardless. ;) Thank you..... Really. Thank you.

4. Opportunity. This word is tied to Hope for me. Through hope and faith and willingness to act on our dreams we create our new opportunities and a world that we can love in. Love ourselves, love our work, love our environment, love each other. Never doubt to hope. Dream. and then Act.

5. This one may seem a bit out of place when standing next to my others...but it brought me such joy today. There is a song that I heard a month or so ago on a children's program on Montana Public Radio. It was a beautiful folk song that sang about a chickadee and how she may not be large and stunning among the birds, but she is happy to be who she is and be free to fly through the world. I tried my best to find this song on the web and to find it on the play list, but to no avail. Today as I drove home from work it was played again on the same show and when I got home I once more tried to find it. (with a one word correction in the lyrics from my memory last month.) Success!! It is such a beautiful song....I'll post the lyrics here, but if you get the chance please try to find it and listen to it yourself. It makes my heart soar up into the sky every time I hear it.

'Little Chickadee' by the Chenille sisters

She is only, a little chickadee
Just a common backyard bird
And she knows no care or worry
She is happy in this world
Just a simple little chickadee
With a simple song to sing
She's not a peacock or a toucan
Not some fancy colored thing
But she can fly, she can fly,
anywhere she cares to roam
and call anywhere her home
And I said tell me little chickadee
Don't you wish sometimes to be
Someone bigger someone more beautiful
and this is what she said to me
If I were bigger or more beautiful
If I had fancy colored wings
they would not make me someone better
these are not important things
Cause I can fly, I can fly
Anywhere I care to roam
and call anywhere my home
She is only a little chickadee
Not the boldest bird to sing
But she knows that she's most fortunate
there's no one else she'd rather be
She can fly, she can fly
Anywhere she'd care to roam
And call anywhere her home
She is only, a little chickadee.