Raindrops

1st birthday

How we celebrated...

Blown away...

I was blown away what could i say.This was totally unexpected,caught me off guard i must say.Really nice surprise.Im not a jewellery person but i guess i will have to get used to wearing my ring now.The scenario will forever be fixed on my mind.It was the perfect weather-Clear blue sky in the late afternoon,slight afternoon breeze and the swaying of trees that later led to a crescent moon at dusk...nature has a way of making things beautiful.

Desiderata

My all time favourite poem.written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann these words still hold water.today this is my blog...

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

To George Waweru Tuti,happy birthday love hope you enjoyed.

WHY ITS FUN TO BE A PARENT!!!

When my baby is crying at 3 in the morning, it’s easy to forget the good bits about being a parent. It’s even harder when this happens after a long tiring day. Good thing is, at the end of the day, here are the reasons why to me parenting can and is so much fun: Feeling a tiny curl or grip around your finger when you touch her palms-usually referred to as the grip reflex. Close to almost a year now, I panicked because I had a new born baby at home and had no idea how to care for her, to relieve her cries, feed her, bath her, cloth her, But then in the end I realized how much fun it is on learning the ropes of the job. I was amazed when the first time she yelled out so loud, I picked her up, put her against my shoulders and patted her on the back and incredibly the yelling stopped!! Just like magic or is it the magic touch? hhmm…..You know sitting up in bed feeding her while he massages my back in the middle of the night, you might feel like you are losing out on sleep but I don’t feel that way. After all the people who matter to me are right there and we share the sleepless nights together. Even being the most tired you have ever been in your life and…..the happiest are the simple joys of experiencing parenthood.

The other day I overheard my fiancée earnestly talking to his boys about how a baby develops. He elaborated every stage of a child’s development which made my heart smile. Even him showing her off to his friends gives me a lot of satisfaction. Yesterday he asked me why I always watch our baby’s sleeping face every night and I told him gazing into our daughter and knowing that she trusts me totally is an overwhelming feeling. I cant help to wonder what the future holds for her. She looks very angelic when asleep. You almost want to be a baby all over again. Even discovering all the little characters that make our baby unique: being a left hand, fat toes, flat foot, hair that curls no matter how much we try to comb it-we keep saying we will shave it off for new hair to growI cant tell you how many photographs we have taken which we mean to put in an album but we have never quite gotten round to it. I should think they are a million by now.

I took our daughter to see her grand folks and to have her christened (meaning to be dedicated to God for healthy development) the past weekend and it was amazing to discover how she developed different names for her grand folks. It was hilarious. Watching nana and grandpa spoil their little treasure rotten was out of this world. I enjoyed every minute of the time spent there. I think she is a really bright kid!! Most of my friends and sisters call me mama Ima and its something that have gotten used to by now. How can I forget how discovering the pleasures of three in a bed that parenthood has brought along? Even if we only have a few inches of space while she lies sideways across the middle we are not uncomfortable. Sometimes she even decides to sleep walk while stumbling on us in the dead of the night. Its something that we wake up to laugh about then position her well and go back to sleep. Then as we wake up in the morning to her infectious giggles, smiles, hugs and sloppy kisses which just make my day. They are sort of like a blessing for a new day. What a coincidence that our daughter walked on her own on her dad’s birthday!!! 12th Sept 2009 will remain an unforgettable day. She was so excited. It’s almost like she couldn’t believe she could walk alone. It’s amazing to see her discovering the world. These are the little miracles of being a parent. In a couple of days we will celebrate her 1st birthday. Can’t believe its been a year already!!!!

I have my sisters and friends to thank for the support they have given me. God bless you and enrich you with His grace.

Weddings beautiful

The past weekend, I attended a wedding. Despite the chilly weather, it took off well. This was an intermarriage wedding. Even with the unrest that the country succumbed to in 2007-2008, intermarriages are on the rise. And why not? If you ask me, love has a way of bringing people together. One lady's speech touched me. She said once you have intermarried, you don't belong to either tribe you were born into. It made so much sense.Its almost like she was speaking to me.
Anyhow during the wedding,thoughts of how planning a wedding can be tiresome came into mind and couldn't help thinking how far the couple has come to their big day. It all starts when you get engaged. No matter where you were when he popped the question; on a beach, dining at a favorite restaurant or enjoying a simple quiet night at home. One thing you can be sure you will remember that moment for the rest of your lives. Because, in those heart-stopping seconds when you said "yes", both your lives were changed forever. From this moment, you are likely to be floating in the clouds with your feet barely brushing the ground-and that's how it should be. You have embarked upon the most wonderful of journeys. The joy of a life shared. From that time forward, you will focus upon the unique vision that you have for your lives together - and upon the next stage in your journey, the preparations for your wedding day.
You'll very quickly discover that preparing for your wedding takes time, energy, and patience. From discovering your dream gown, choosing your rings, finding a florist, perfect reception venues, caterers, musicians, menus and seating plans, your 'To Do' list will at times seem endless.
You want to start with what you would like for your wedding day. Before your family, friends and wedding service providers become involved, sit down with your partner and dream a little. Will you go traditional or nostalgic? Cocktail or cultural? Urban or rural? There are numerous possibilities to explore before you decide. Nothing is set on stone at this point, so think freely and creatively. Spend time simply imagining your dream day. After all, this day will only happen once.
Obviously, setting the date is a priority bearing in mind that April, August, December are popular for weddings. You will also need to consider the weather patterns for your dream day. You don't want a rainy day for your wedding although your theme will greatly influence this. Also consider other family events, whether some guests will need to travel from upcountry, your own professional and work commitments, and whether you have allowed 'enough time' to organize your wedding. Most wedding planners' advice at least 12 months to organize your wedding.
To everyone who has embarked on this journey, I wish you every success!!
............Me

SIMPLE PLEASURES

I love to walk. Walking evokes calmness and peace of mind. It can be wherever: in the park, in the hood, on the streets, in the village, wherever…..This habit was nurtured when I was expecting my daughter who is now 10 months. I would walk from work,which was quite a distance and on the weekends, I set aside a few hours for this ritual. I thought it was great exercise both for me and my unborn baby. It turned out I was point on.

The habit has grown on me since then. I believe the moment when you first wake up in the morning is the most wonderful of the 24hrs no matter how groggy you may feel .There is that possibility, maybe certainty that anything can happen on the day that lies ahead.

On this day we took a walk with the man I have grown to love. It was a great day, bright and sunny- perfect to spend on the outdoors which was contrary to the dull, gloomy, chilly days that we have been experiencing lately. This July has been chilly. You want to spend it warmly tucked in bed. We walked hand in hand, there was so much laughter .It’s amazing how much we shared. I have no idea of the distance we covered. It was not important, at least not to me.

If you ask me, by far the sexiest part of any relationship for both partners is sharing what goes on in your heads. There are times when simply sharing the same space or experience brings great connectedness and joy. I call it simple pleasures. I remember the first time our daughter fell asleep in his arms, you should have seen the excitement on his face. It was priceless. It was like something magical had happened to him. That’s why they say the beautiful things in life are free. You wouldn’t buy that kind of excitement even with all the money in the world.

With all the excitement going around me and in my life, I am in no mood to struggle to obtain elusive details. I live the moment.

Laughter

Whoever said laugher is the best medicine,said it right.Ieven took the liberty to understand the true meaning of the word:Laughter is an audible expression or appearance of happiness, or an inward feeling of joy (laughing on the inside). It may ensue (as a physiological reaction) from jokes, tickling, and other stimuli.Strong laughter can sometimes bring an onset of tears or even moderate muscular pain-Wikipedia.
In my case though,it was as a result of what i call great company.All my April weekends have been spent in hosi.My daughter has had a rough month but this is part of growing up.She is however feeling well now.In a twist of events,the past week has been saturated with laughter for me.Laughter that i wouldnt want to stop.I didnt realize how much i had missed this company untill now.This was perfect timing.Coupled with that,my daughter is now 7months and the joy she has brought to my life is immeasureable.Despite the ups and downs of relationships being a mother has given life a new meaning.I look at him with my daughter and the look in his eyes tell me he sure does love her.The way he holds her,asks about her when he is away is something that i dont take for granted.That this exactly what i always hoped for.He wants to bond,to share,to feed,to love and just be there.This is the great company i am taking about.Synchronization at best i would say.So here i am today counting my blessings and im not about to stop.Yes there are better days ahead.This past week i have learnt that we should not spoil what we have by desiring what we do not have but always remember that what we have now was among the things that we always hoped for.I couldnt have said it any better:) :) :) :)

R.E.S.P.E.C.T

An excerpt from my journal:
I lie awake at 3.09am on the morning of 6th April.In not the best of moods,i am pensive(:You see,life throws so much at us. Nobody’s life is entirely free of pain and sorrow. I would think its a question of learning to live with them rather than trying to avoid them .We are often told it is better to give than to receive, it is best to be humble and it is best to not shine a light on ourselves. True, but it is important to recognize that until we honor ourselves, we will not be able to fully give to another, shine the light on another or truly understand humility.What then happens when a line is crossed?Will we pretend that nothing ever happened?This fact is true about me:I know without a doubt that i can love with the whole of my heart and the opposite is equally true.
Why i have asked many times,doesn't it seem to get better?Because the pain created is always some form of non acceptance, an unconscious resistance to what is.The solution?Embrace acceptance.Afterall,all things considered,such is life:)And so today marks the beginnig of my turning point.......................()

JOY.........

Ask most people what they want from life and you will usually get the same answer, “I just want to be happy.” There is a common belief that happiness is something that can not only be achieved, but held on to as well. That goal remains elusive…“the happiness that lasts” is never found because life is forever changing.

It is far better to seek joy.In the search for happiness, the individual focuses upon himself/herself. To make such a move requires faith. We must act first, finding hope in the midst of loss, thus giving birth to faith. This is a move that engages rather than avoids suffering. To love is to respect and value ourselves while breaking out of limited self-interest and reaching out to others. It is love, joy and faith that give meaning to life.

Tomorrow i turn a year closer to the end of life,a year older in friendship and a year wiser in life.
And yes,better days ahead:)

IMANI

My daughter's name is Imani.The inspiration for this blog.She is 5 months going 6 and what a handful she is.Who would have thought motherhood would have been so much fun,so much anxiety,satisfaction and yes pure joy?The experience is amazing to say the least.Ima said her first word which you wouldnt guess:"Hallo".Instead of mommy!!The girl is fascinated by phones and will grab yours if given a chance.Right now she is battling having to put everything she gets a hold to in her month.She is growing fast.A couple of months ago i was going through labor that lasted me 18 hours and yet if you ask me how that experience was,well lets say her smiles and little kisses have helped fade that memory away:)I love her to bits and i wouldnt give her up for anything in this world.For all the sacrifices,watching a little person discover the world for the first time is part of a miracle of being a mom.And i couldnt be happier....

Children are born true scientists. They spontaneously experiment and experience and reexperience again. They select, combine, and test, seeking to find order in their experiences - "which is the mostest? which is the leastest?" They smell, taste, bite, and touch-test for hardness, softness, springiness, roughness, smoothness, coldness, warmness: the heft, shake, punch, squeeze, push, crush, rub, and try to pull things apart. -Richard Buckminster Fuller