Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the most amazing Dad I've ever known, my son...

Selflessly working three jobs (no kidding), he still finds time to...

 1. cook for the kids 2. daddy play time 3. trips to the park, 4. toy construction (w/anxious onlooker) 6. birthing coach 7. ear piercing stabilizer 8. photo shoot clown 9. teacher rather than user (note he's not on the phone *smile*)

I've never known a more amazing man and the truth is it's simply an honor to call him son. 

Happy Father's Day!

Graduation Day

Today is my youngest son's graduation from high school.  I simply can't believe how quickly the years have gone by and that we've finally arrived at this place.  Having our days filled with all the typical errands of a graduating senior, it's easy to get caught up in the chaos, but the heart of a mom pulls me back during quieter moments and bathes me in a sea of memories.

a favorite summer treat

The truth is life hasn't been what I'd wished for my young ancient soul ~ he's already faced hardships I would never wish on anyone but through these experiences we've both learned that we truly are not defined by these moments and we can rise above great odds to maintain a sense of purpose and integrity.

taken the year he won the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence

Like any mom, I'm immensely proud of his accomplishments ~ from taking leadership rolls in GSA and YAG to performing in our local summer theater and regional Latin convention, our little (not so, anymore) star has shined as bright as he could.  His love of Latin and excellence in Calculus has left us a bit perplexed at times but they give-way to our immense admiration for his achievements.

running Youth and Government meeting

This fall he'll be moving on to accepting his college scholarship and our home will be that much quieter.  It's strange to face the pending future of an empty nest, but for now I have the pleasure of relishing in these final few months of playing mom to a resident teenager.

Senior Prom

No one really ever prepares us for these moments and even though we see them far off in the distance they have a way of appearing at our door, always a bit too early and seemingly unannounced. So just as so many other moms have done before me, I'll cherish these moments, wish I had the past ones to live again, and look forward to the future milestones that I'm certain will arrive too fast themselves.

Best~

Pagan Living ~ Summer 2013

Once again I had the pleasure of working on some designing for the newest issue of Pagan Living magazine. You can find some of my creativity spread throughout the pages of this wonderful online magazine which includes the "Fluttering Wings of Summer" and "For the Queen Bee" articles.  It's always a pleasure putting imagery to such wonderful writing!

So be sure to checkout this newest issue, just out and packed full of wonderful articles, tid-bits, and finds! Whether you're a pagan at heart or just looking to get back to more natural roots, there's wonderful reading to be found at this link: http://issuu.com/paganliving/docs/summer2013

Enjoy~

50% Off Sale

Don't miss a chance to save big on select items in our Etsy shop ~ sale ends today! Visit the "On Sale" section in our shop to view.

Enjoy~

Birthday Time

I know I've been really MIA lately, what with finishing up custom orders, starting a new job and housing a busy high school grad,  life has just been w-a-a-y too busy to get in here and post. Work continues on the website though and we're nearly ready to go live, so that's super exciting too!

In the meantime, it's my birthday today and so I'm just popping in to give a shout out for our free birthday theme, "Birthday Bash".

It's chalk full of free goodies to help you celebrate your own special day and you can view those by clicking the title or image above.  And if you're looking for a special button to spread the word then we have several to fit the day ~ I've included a few below or you can view the entire selection by visiting our "Blog Buttons" page.

<center> <a href="http://www.plumroselane.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.prl-images.com/images/prefab/buttons/PrL-BlowWish.png" alt="It's my Birthday" /></a></center>

<center> <a href="http://www.plumroselane.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.prl-images.com/images/prefab/buttons/PrL-WishmeHappy.png" alt="My Birthday" /></a></center>

                

Enjoy~

The Roles We Play

In the midst of a busy work schedule I've also been playing mom to a high school senior this year. My son's life has been filled with all sorts of extra activities from Community Dramatics and Youth and Government to  GSA and church choir. All of these make for a pretty full week but coupled with a recent day visit to his future college and preparing for his upcoming Latin Convention, it's a wonder we've had time to breath let alone shop for Prom.

But Prom night finally came last night and I got to play several roles including proud parent, florist, and photographer...

The florist came with the creation of my son's boutonniere and corsage for his date. Since her dress was aqua blue we went with fresh hydrangeas and small white orchids. I chose a selection of white feathers, stemmed pearls, and delicate white ribbon to add depth, whimsy and elegance. I'm sorry I didn't capture better close-ups but they were both happy with the end results and that's what matters most.

The photographer came into play when I captured a few shots of them before they headed off for dinner and the Prom.  I love the natural setting by the wall and how beautiful (and handsome) they all look.  It was such fun to see how proud (and nervous) they all were.

The proud parent comes into play through every step of the journey.  It's amazing to see the years blur by as you can't help but reminisce about where they've gone.  You think about your own prom, watch them grow in your mind's eye, and marvel at how they've arrived at this day. You feel this amazing combination of sadness for past years you can never get back, coupled with a heart full of joy for the futures that lay ahead of them.

I know this is just one of many steps along life's journey but what an amazing time we live in ~ that I can not only share it with my son, his friends, and our family but all of you as well.  I hope you're all making your own memories this weekend ~ whether it's watching a little one take steps or reminiscing about your own journey ~ life is filled with countless moments to be treasured.

Enjoy~

Thank You~

I just wanted to say thanks so much for all the supportive comments I received in followup to my "A Few Bad Apples" post.  It's easy to forget that we're really not alone in this crazy world and that if we're going through something, chances are a lot of others are too.

Sure it's disenchanting to hear about each other's trials, and some even make us feel our own woes are "less than", but I like to tell myself it's the friendship and support that brings us all together and that is the truest treasure of all.

So thanks so much to everyone!  You sure make this little corner of blogland a brighter place to be!

Best,