Anticipation of life yet to come...

When she was a little girl she loved shoes, red ones in particular. Aunt Gayle used to always buy her red shoes every Christmas... But I remember those black and white saddle shoes too, they all three had them, but Alexandra liked her shoes the most.

She rarely played in the doll house and never played with barbies, she would rather color, read and play games with her brother Nicholas. But she loved her shoes. I can still see her in that battery operated pink convertible barbie jeep, and those red pattened leather Mary Jane's.  She wasn't a dancer although I think she did have one pair of ballet shoes when she was 3.

Now she wears stilettos and will be soon walking across the stage draped in a black gown. Her grown up shoes will be taking her on a new adventure forward.

So much of life ahead.  Graduation, dating, new career, moving to a new location, traveling on fresh new territory. All on her very own. Wow growing up ~ really growing up. I know as her Mother I tried to always give her space to be herself, now she will be giving me mine. Living and working in spots that I am not familiar with. I know I might not be there anymore, but she always has someone with her to lean on, her faith, and I am going to count on that.

As I contemplate my number three, free from the chains of college and ready to fly like a butterfly once again into this thing we call life, I can't help but be so proud of the amazing woman she has become.

As her new journey begins, I hope and pray Alexandra will walk into her new world with confidence and be so brave to conquer everything that is set before her with grace and dignity, 

and cute red pumps.

I am passionate about Heart Shaped Rocks...

Although I have written about this in the past, maybe even twice or more, I feel it deserves another spotlight moment...  Who would have thought some old hardened dirt would create so much joy for so many?

I have recently received special heart rock gifts and found the ultimate heart rock at the Dead Sea in Jordan and I must share it's glory...   Notice Chris is holding it!!! It now rests on my desk... Every now and then I rub it on my face to get the Dead Sea youthful mud magic, so far no changes... Still old.

Heart Stones, Shells or Heart Shaped Rocks are natures finest gift... Each one expresses a universal feeling of love... They can give you inspiration and great pleasure to find one anywhere in nature.. It's an almost magical reaction to see one on the ground, it makes my heart skip a beat and get all giddy inside. 

It is God's simple gesture of sending love to earth...   

(and the angels that placed them there for you...)
It is a gift...

Thanks God!!!

Some are just too big to carry home!!!

I have discovered I am not the only person on earth that notices and collects these amazing worldly creations... Many people have blogs, stories, and even books about them.

Recently my daughter Ashlynn had a few of our collection of years of saving heart shaped rocks made into very creative necklaces and gave me 2 for Christmas. One of them has Mom written on the back. It is an awesome gift. I can wear true nature around my neck...I like that a lot.

We used to write things on them that made us feel good or where we were when we found them. I have a few favorites: The Creek, Chocolate, Naked Swimming in Cassis, Morning Baths, Friendship and My Children to name a few...

My collection is sprinkled across continents, in almost every room... I find them in drawers of old dressers, and they have been found all over the world...
In my eyes, it is one of the best natural treasures ever found.

 I sometimes get iphone pictures from random places my kids are, with images of heart shaped rocks,
with no words..  

It makes my heart sing...

I found a beautiful bunch of stark white shells in The Maldives and a few of the broken coral pieces were of course heart shaped, super cool.. They sit beside me to bring me a sense of peace sometimes when I am busy and frustrated, I will drift off to that beach where I wondered, head down feet in the water in a peaceful paradise... It is a very nice reflection.

I hope for all of you, a place you can go in your head without leaving your desk, a reminder of places so serine and tranquil it makes you calm within.

Where ever you live in the world you can find them.

They are not all rocks, some are formations made in the desert called desert roses. Here is one that is extra special... 

The globe is full of them in every color, shape and size... When you bring these home and display them in your bathroom, or on your desk it creates great chi, being one with the world. OHMMMMMMM!!! (sitting Indian style, eyes closed with fingers touching)
I feel rich in goodness when I surround myself with natural things from the earth. Not only rocks and shells, but sticks and wood and pieces of flowers and plants.

When you find one and share it,  then it magnifies the intensity of the meaning it brings to that person, representing  

love, strength, courage, hope and confidence.  

It is an intimate gift... All the imperfections, with cracks and blemishes and being lopsided is a representation of 

imperfect us, in a beautiful way. 

Two or more together are a family... Years and years of forming from yet one grain of sand into what we recognize as the ultimate Valentine. Something that speaks to us so clearly though our own heart and soul that is way more valuable just just an ordinary stone.

If you are a lover of heart shaped rocks, I admire your simplicity in finding the supreme souvenir...

The affection of Mother nature is out there waiting to be discovered...
Smiles, Sher