Thursday, April 29, 2010

Phenomenal Woman

Phenomenal Woman.

Phenomenal Women.

They have always been my inspiration. My heroes have always been women. Strong women who have overcome obstacles in their lives. One of the poems I printed many years ago when I started journaling and digging into my past was one by Maya Angelou. She continues to be an inspiration to me. Everything she writes seems to apply to me on some level. She inspires me to think, reflect and write.

We are Phenomenal Women...all of us. We were created for something special in this world. We're strong...yet caring. We're different...we're phenomenal. You are...believe it!

Enjoy...

Phenomenal Woman

by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need for my care.
’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Maya Angelou, “Phenomenal Woman” from And Still I Rise. Copyright © 1978

Sunday, April 25, 2010

It's Only Just Begun...

...Spring, that is! I'm having a hard time staying out of the garden but I'm finally starting to recover from 3 weeks of feeling pretty miserable and getting a recent diagnosis of bronchitis. Having bronchitis and pneumonia within the last 4 months is taking it's toll...mostly on my emotions. I need to make some changes in my nutrition and stress management and I'm working on that now. Nutrition... I know what I need to do. Stress Management...this is something else altogether. This is hard for me. Taking time to do things for myself is necessary but finding the time is a challenge. I know I need to make these changes so the time will be found.

The sun is shining today and I'm feeling a little better. I took a little stroll through the yard the other day after it rained and this is what I found...


The potted geranium is loving all the rain...


The clematis is full of buds and I can't wait to see it in bloom...

Pretty purple blooms...

Cardinal eggs waiting to be hatched...less than 2 feet from our front door in a Holly shrub...


Oh, what's this? It's a little sneak peek of the giveaway I'll be hosting soon...

Until next time....


Jackie

Monday, April 19, 2010

On This Day...A Year Later

A year has gone by since I wrote the post titled, On This Day. This post is close to my heart since it's the story of the birth of my second son, Kyler, on April 20, 2006.

As we are about to celebrate his 4th year I'd like to share, with you, the story again. I have always loved reading and hearing birth stories but I especially relate to them since I have two of my own. I hope you enjoy reading one of mine.