drum circle

(despite it's blurry quality, i love this photograph)

we met up with some dear friends at a drum circle hosted by one of the local universities in our town. every year, the music therapy department (at TWU) provides all the instruments - mainly djembe's and encourages everyone to play and dance along.

i simply loved that all of the children (and adults!) played and danced along to the singing and drumming - coming alive and fully engaging  their entire beings to the music. it was such a beautiful and fun experience to see the community come together and just be present with their surroundings and with one another. to hear loud singing, hands beating in rhythm, clapping, feet stomping to the beat, and tiny squeals of delight and bursts of laughter, simply made my heart happy.

sparrow absolutely loved every aspect of the drum circle - the drumming, singing, and playing with all of the other kiddos. my little bird loves music so much, it awakens her body and soul, and it's so cute to watch her move to the beat. and as i see the wonder in her eyes, the passion in her smile, and hear her uncontrollable squeals, my heart can't help but swell with emotion. i love my little bird and it is pure joy to be at her side as she experiences all of life's firsts, even little hippie drum circles.

don't you love wall art?

dream bikie.

oh man, i get so giddy over bikes. it's been a long long time since i have owned a bike. the last one i had, a free spirit, got stolen by my landlord. (long story there). riding a bike has easily got to be one of my top favorite things to do. i love how the wind feels on my face and how it blows my hair, and it's what i would imagine flying would feel like, especially when going down hill. when i lived in denton, i rode my bike everywhere. work.school.coffeeshop.concerts.library.park.friendshouses.lakerayroberts. i didn't drive a car anywhere, and didn't even own a car until my junior year of college (and that was because i got an internship at an art gallery in dallas, and riding my bike there was not.going.to.happen.)

kona creates some of favorite bikes, i especially love this one the kona ute. it can carry anything, picnic baskets, art supplies, camera equipment, grocery bags, guitar & amp (if i wanted), even a small human. gotta love utility! so here is another bike to add to my list of wants. it seems that list is growing longer and longer. oopsie.

to my mother

 Because I feel that in the heavens above
The angels, whispering one to another,
Can find among their burning tears of love,
None so devotional as that of "Mother,"
Therefore, by that dear name I have long called you,
You who are more than mother unto me.
-Edgar Allan Poe

mother's love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved. -Erich Fromm

A mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled. -Emily Dickinson

Happy Mothers Day Mama, how I longed to be in Austin on this day to hug you and tell you in person that I love you, and to tell you thank you. Thank you for all the sacrifices that you have have made for me, thank you for the endless love you have shown, so deep and so wide, even at times when I was ungrateful or to stubborn to see all that you were doing for me. Thank you for teaching me how to stand and to be strong and that it's okay not to have all the answers or to have everything figured out, that God is the one with all the answers and in his time will reveal those to us. Thank you for showing me how to sew and allowing me the freedom to be creative in all areas of my life, especially how I dressed as a child. Thank you for working all those years just to make ends meet, and putting yourself through school, and through that showing me that it's not too late to turn around. It's not too late to make positive changes. Thank you for letting me go, and wander off in the world finding my own, and supporting the choices I have made. Thank you for loving my husband. I more than anything, just want to say thank you for loving me. I love you Mom.
Love,
Meg