In the blink of an eye a life can change forever and in the blink of an eye, a life can be touched.  I usually take a few minutes to write in my journal every morning, but today I was tired and thought "so what if I take a day off from writing....there is always tomorrow".  This afternoon I heard a story about a very special woman named Tubbs Jones and it reminded me that all we are guaranteed is this moment to leave a positive mark on the world.  Stephanie Tubbs Jones is the first black woman to represent Ohio in Congress.  Tuesday she had a brain hemorrhage and is in critical condition with limited brain function .  There are very few of us that accomplish all that this amazing woman has done but we should never doubt the impact that we can have on this world.  Never be afraid to show for a minute that life is good, life is hard, and life is full of challenges.The reality is that today we all are doing everything we can in the face of the ups and downs of life...but we have today...we have this moment.  Everyday is the opportunity for all of us to touch someone's life and leave a mark in people's heart ....for Tubbs Jones let's all make a difference today.

Last night I was rushing around to try and get out of the house to go to a function.  I was rushing around grabbing pajamas, shoes, and bathing suits throwing the stuff in the bag to take with us so the kids could spend a few hours with their grandparents while I ran to the dinner. A friend came by to drop something off and we stood in the doorway catching up for a minute.  While we are talking, I am hollering to the kids that we have to hurry and leave.  They all come downstairs and right away the bickering starts about who gets the front seat.  I finally just told them whoever got their first could sit their.  They all race out the door, jostling to get there first.  Suddenly it gets quiet and my daughter walks back to the front door.  She has the concerned and confused look on her face.  "Mommy, there is someone in our car".  My mind races thinking is it the person that broke into my car, is it a kidnapper, etc.  My friend and I run to the car....and she starts laughing.  Inside my car, just sitting in the front seat is her mother-in-law.  She is the sweetest woman and has Alzheimer's.  Tina gently coaxed her mom out of the car and the kids loaded up....but no one seemed to be concerned about sitting in the front seat.  

On Monday morning my baby girl will start Kindergarten.  Elspeth is my sweet baby girl who would be more than happy to stay home with Mommy.  When we went to go buy her backpack and school supplies...she crossed her arms in the middle of the store and said "I am not going to Kindergarten or High School....never".  I guess I should just be grateful that she is willing to go to 1st thru 8th grade.  Last night in the middle of the night she asked me if I would come and lay down with her.  As I laid down next to her and tickled her back (I should be an octopus as much as my children always want me to tickle their backs when they fall asleep...I need more hands!!!!), I got a little teary thinking about her going to the big school.  What if she can't figure out how the lunchroom works, what if she gets a teacher who yells, what if she falls on the playground and no one is there to wipe away her tears.  Now I have sent four other children off to Kindergarten...I should be able to do this...but really I will miss her having with me at lunchtime and the songs we would sing while waiting in car pickup for her other brother and sisters to come out of big school.  I know that as parents we are supposed to look forward to our children growing up....but I can't help but miss the times when they were young.