Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Momma Says Om ~ Life

Momma Says Om's theme this week is LIFE.

What a perfect theme for me to reflect on and try to find an image and thoughts to share after the events of the last few weeks. Our family has experienced many facets of 'LIFE' in a very short period of time.

My image is this.....

Mamie & Gabriel



The oldest member of our immediate family and the youngest. This is my Mamie and Gabriel. Mamie was 87 on September 16th and Gabriel entered our World on October 2nd.


Life

My mantra is this, "Life is a Blessing" and I have tried to live my whole life with this belief.

As a child, I was blessed to be allowed to be a child. Nurtured and loved. To learn, explore and dream.

As a Mother, this mantra has become even more dear to me, as having a new life growing inside your womb and under your heart, brings the blessing front and center to your whole being.

When pregnant with my last child ~ the blessing of life became so dear, because I knew this would most likely be my last journey of carrying and birthing a precious new life.

Soft markers for Down syndrome made the Mantra even more poignant for me, as I met some people on this newest [but slightly different] pregnancy journey who didn't share the same view of the Mantra that I did, that "Life is a Blessing" and tried to deliver fear and judgment towards the new life deep inside my womb.

"Down syndrome?" they would say. "Your NOT going to have this baby, are you?" were some of the comments I heard.

But joyfully ~ those who did not view life as a blessing were few and I was able to move foreword from their harsh comments with more resolve and appreciation for life.

Five years have passed since the birth of my last little life blessing, and one of the saddest moments in my life has occurred. My own Beloved Mother has passed from her Earthly bounds.....My Mother was the one who cherished me, carried me and birthed me into this world and loved me unconditionaly. She gave me life. My Mother truly believed that "Life is a blessing" and raised my siblings and I to embrace life and live it to the fullest.

A circle, of birth and death......and LIFE is what we celebrate in-between.

"Life is a Blessing......a glorious and precious blessing"

12 comments:

All 4 My Gals said...

I love you Tara Marie, this is a beautiful tribute to your mom and to motherhood. You are such an inspiration!

Anonymous said...

What a moving post. Nicole is right, you are an inspiration. I think I may adopt your mantra. :)

Jeanne said...

Blessings to you! Beautiful as always!
Love Jeanne ^j^

Anonymous said...

Your blog is always so photographically lush and your entries have the wonderful quality of feeling spontaneous, yet distilled, all at once. This post is especially beautiful!

R said...

Beautiful. What a gift your mother passed and what a gift you are giving.

Betsy said...

As usual, a wonderful post...

I wanted to comment on the beauty of your grandma's hands in that picture.

I love, love, love to look at people's hands, and her tell a whole life's story that have probably seen many things...from caring for newborns, tending to gardens families and much much more.

Someday when you are looking for a montage, chose the beauty of hands...your family must have many tales to tell.

Anonymous said...

I love you too Tara Marie--this is a beautiful post!

Anonymous said...

YES, TARA, LIFE TRULY IS A BLESSING!!!

OH, BETSY, IF YOU COULD HAVE SEEN MY FACE WHEN I READ YOUR COMMENT ABOUT MY MOM'S HANDS... I HAD TO GO BACK TO LOOK AT THE PIC AND REALIZED YOU ONLY SAW A SMALL PART. IF SHE HAD BOTH HANDS OUT, YOU WOULD SEE THAT SHE ONLY HAS ABOUT ONE STRAIGHT FINGER OUT OF TEN. ARTHITIS CITY!!! PRAISES THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE PAIN. NOW IF WE COULD ONLY GET HER OUT OF THE BRACE. YES, HER HANDS WOULD TELL A STORY. I PRAY THAT ONE DAY MY OWN WOULD TELL AS VIVID A STORY, BUT I'M SURE IT WOULD PALE IN COMPARISON TO MAMIE'S. WHEW, IT SEEMS WHENEVER I COMMENT IT TURNS INTO A NOVEL. SORRY

LOVE YOU TARA
AUNT JAN

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!!! Your Mamie is lovely! She has the sweetest kindest eyes, too.

The Mom said...

TM this is the most beautiful post. I so agree with you - life is a blessing, and this is such a beautiful tribute to your mother, and your grandmother. Your family is amazing and inspirational - thank you!

Shelley said...

A wonderful post - and one I needed to read today - Thanks

Jessica Fuselier said...

Reading your post truly blessed me!!
Thank you for the beautiful sentiment.

My Mantra is quite similar to yours
& goes along nicely with it:

"WE ARE BLESSED TO BLESS OTHERS"