Band Together for Lupus

May is Lupus awareness month & this year's theme is "Band Together for Lupus." My fight with Lupus is a personal one. No, I do not have Lupus, but it has impacted me to my core. A day does not go by that I don't think of my mother's fight with Lupus that took her life too soon. She was only 47yrs old when she went home to be with our Lord after over a 15yr battle. I rejoice in that fact...the fact that she is home and free of pain. But I wont stop praying for a cure because it didn't find her in time. My family has been hit hard by this ugly disease. We've lost several family members and many more are still fighting today. I wear purple for my momma, my sisters, my daughters, my nieces & nephews, my cousins....for myself!!

"Birth Talk for Women of Color"

A new blog for all women, The Mahogany Way Birth Cafe, recently had a call for birth stories. Of course, I submitted Maggie's birth story and it was chosen for the very first story! I still love sharing her birth and hope that it can inspire/encourage someone like the stories I read while I was pregnant.

If you enjoy the Mahogany Way Birth Cafe, you can check out Darcel blogging about life at The Mahogany Way. She has also set up a great on-line community for women to discuss everything from birth, breastfeeding, cloth diapers, and homeschooling.

Wordless Wednesday - Day @ St George

Maggie is 1 !

A year later & still sharing

One year later and still sharing my story. Maggie was born just over a year ago and I love to share her story. Like I've previously mentioned, reading others' stories kept me inspired during my pregnancy and reiterated my faith in birth. I recently shared Maggie's birth story with indie birth. It's "intellectual fuel for free thinking mamas...."

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday - Mariah's 7mos old!

She is gone...

Monday afternoon my family and I said "good-bye" to our Granny. Sitting in her service brought back many memories. Memories of my childhood with my Momma and sisters. I watched my Aunts cry for their mother and remembered my own pain. I wanted to let them know that it does indeed get "better"- whatever that means. I do think of my Momma daily and even cry for her often, but my nephew said it best. "Why are you crying? The doctors couldn't make her better. So, she is resting with God now." He was only five years old when he said those words, but the power of those words give me strength. I know she is gone, but now she gets to be with our Granny again.

She is gone

You can shed tears that she is gone
or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she’s gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back
or you can do what she’d want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.