My Lover

He seeks me in the darkest,
deepest reaches of my heart
and knows the hidden yearnings of my soul.

He fills me with His essence,
with the fullness of His love -
His breath of life alone can make me whole.

He meets me where I’m searching
for a hand that I can hold
and leads me to the place where I am loved.

He soothes me with His presence,
gently whispering in my ear,
“Don’t worry – in My eyes you are enough.”

He saves me from the shadows
and He calms me with His touch,
embracing me just like a faithful friend.

His promise is a covenant
He’s made with me in faith
that He will be my lover ‘til the end.

He loves me with a fierceness,
with a power that conveys
His strength and His desire for my heart.

Protector and my Lover,
He pursues me night and day -
our joining means we’ll never be apart.

An Ode to My Parents

Normally, I wouldn't post a blog entry on my birthday. After all, having just completed the special birthday breakfast my son requested, I am on my way to spend a few hours being pampered at the spa, after which I will come home, spend the afternoon with my children and have a celebratory dinner of sloppy joes, waffle fries, baby carrots (our new favorite) and far too much Carvel ice cream cake. This day is all about me. It's my birthday. Me, me, me, me, me. Which is why my wonderful husband sent me an e-mail this morning and then called me bright and early to be the first to wish me a happy birthday today. Which is also why I am sure I will receive many phone calls from people I love wishing me the best (or enjoying the fact that I am getting older by the second).

The "me" factor aside, I want to make this day about my parents. They brought me into this world. They agreed to love me, raise me, teach me, love me, cherish me, teach me, keep me safe, cry for me, cry over me, struggle for me, love me, stay up late waiting for me, let me go, welcome me home, and so on. I don't think any two people have ever taken their parenting decision more to heart or more seriously than my parents.

I love them.

And I thank them.

Happy Florence's Birthday, Mommy and Daddy. You rock.