Hummus on a Golden plate

Today, I time travelled. Back, to the past. I was maybe 5 again. It was Christmas time and we were at my grandparents house in the village. Snow was pouring down. Outside the large window the scenery was all white. I was sitting in front of the open fire place looking at the flames, feeling my cheeks getting all warm and red. Soft Christmas music was playing and I heard the rest of the family talking and laughing as they were all preparing the food and putting up the last decorations. And then it was time to set the Christmas dinner table. Time for crystal glasses and shining silver spoons, forks and knives. I smiled and ran towards the table. Just in time. Just in time to see them being carried carefully out of the corner cupboard. So delicate, so elegant. The golden plates. The gorgeous cream white porcelain plates with a touch of gold around the edges.

The golden plates. I can only remember us eating of them at Christmas time. The rest of the year they lived in that cupboard in the corner. Sometimes during summer vacation I could sneak up, open the cupboard door and just look at them, admire them. And slowly let my fingers stroke them.

Today those golden plates live in the cupboard in my living room. Today I was sitting on the floor, holding them carefully in my hands. And they took me back. To long noisy funny Christmas dinners. To happy times, to celebrations. Always celebrations, festive days.

I got up from the floor. Still with the plates in my hands. I had decided. Today we eat from the golden plates. On a plain normal Tuesday. Call me crazy. Yes, we had hummus, salad and home made bread on my grandmother's precious golden plates. And oh, did it taste delicious!

I do think that my grandparents would have liked that. I lit a candle and I thought of them. And I celebrated: Good memories, Today. This moment. Life.

 PS: The hummus turned out yum by the way - maybe I'll share that recipe:-)

My Valentine

come to me

come and see 

who I am

the real me 

I am not the abuse

I am not what he did 

I am not just simply my trauma

I'm the courage that escaped 

I'm the cleverness that survived 

I'm the power that protected my tiny spark of flame 

oh my Valentine

you do get me right 

you give hope that I can love again 

you do fan my spark

into firecrackers bright

you see me 

with your eyes open wide 

you see beyond and you sense

and you know me so well

a new love

but we've always just known one another 

oh my Valentine 

you read all my signs 

I am yours 

and you know it is so

with respect, joy and laughs

we are like half and half

and together we're one of a kind 

I love you

you love me   

there is hope

I now see   

and believe

Be my Valentine

I celebrate Valentine’s day with my fellow blogger friends. Read more at Write Tribe’s language of love

Your children

What a blessing, to have a child
a mini you - just as wild
or so you think when you watch them grow
and your own mum says: see, I told you so

- first when you are a mum you will understand
they belong to themselves, just for you to lend

to love, support, encourage forever,
their side to leave? Oh darling. Never

no matter what, because they are,
and always will be your shining stars
your light and love, an eternal bond
with them you know you are always Home

*************

For my darling children with love. And for my parents too.  

*************

Your children By Khalil Gibran

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you.
And though they are with you, they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
Which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite.
And He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hands be for happiness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
So He loves the bow that is stable.


************************

They will manage. You will too.
Joy and love. Whole life through.

A gift from the heart

I once read that the greatest gift you can give to another person is your time. Once you have given it, you can never take it back, and hopefully you have created good memories too. Maybe you have shared a moment, exchanged some smiles, had a good laugh, got into a nice talk. In this digital age of ours, I do believe that giving your time to someone is a gift, and the same is someone spending their time with you. Whether it is being together, talking on the phone, initiating a talk with a stranger. Give a bit of your time, a kind word, a smile, and it can mean more than you know to the other person. For me, sharing good moments, making memories together makes time a gift from the heart.

That said. Like others, I do appreciate gifts gifts too. You know what I mean. Of course I do. Don't we all? If you are like me, you also get specially moved when receiving a gift feeling that the gifter has really thought of me. Like: 


The beginning of something brilliant. 
A gift for the new year from a friend who believe in new beginnings, and who knows that my passion is writing......

A guardian angel
From a friend who loves me

Softest cosy socks ever
From someone special who think about me, just like that. To keep my feet warm. And my heart.

Curry magic
From a dear blogger friend. Yup, I do love those curries. Will try to swing my magic spoon:-)

A dreamcatcher,
From an American workfriend who explained: Native Americans of the Great Plains believe that the air is filled with both good and bad dreams. According to legend, the good dreams pass through the center hole to the sleeping person. The bad dreams are trapped in the web where they perish in the light of dawn. Historically, dreamcatchers were hung in the tipis or ledge or at the baby's cradle board. And now also one above my bed:-)

And then the greatest gift of all.
Life.
Time.
Don't waste it.
Live it.

Did you give or receive any gifts lately? Please share.