Monday, January 23, 2006

reason to celebrate

the weekend passed in a happy blur as we all honored ash.
celebration is so good for the soul! we danced, ate, laughed, blew our best bubble gum bubbles, enjoyed seeing our old and new friends mingle, and danced some more all the while marveling at the transformations around us. not only was our home transformed
into CLUB B, able to rival any hot spot in the area,
but watching ashley cut loose and dance and laugh and play
reminds me of the transformations this year has brought.

this has been a year that confronted her with her own mortality as she
was challenged to make sense of the beliefs of her childhood and
parent-taught values and the finality of a broken and finite world.
this year brought her debut as a performer and her
first official boyfriend,
along with all that failiar second-guessing
that comes along with it.
she took on issues of self-worth and the strong temptation to compete with perfection in both body and mind for others approval
and is turning the tide in her own world view to healthier,
multi-faceted self image and definition of a successful life.
AND she has a laptop.
to look at her now is to see the woman emerging.
this is an honor and a blessing that humbles.

there was a time in the not too distant past when this
gregarious and confident young woman was nowhere to be found.
like the rest of us, she's got lots to learn, but she has the advantage of perspective and the undoubtable love and support of her family in
whatever circumstances she lands in next.

i cannot think of a better reason to celebrate!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASH!!


chryl left the ground at 13:47 2 comments