Seven Till Twelve in the Morning- St. Louis

About this image: My mind once again drifts back to St. Louis when I took a trip there back in November. If you recall, my cousin's children were in a terrible car accident in October and were on life support with massive brain injuries.  For those of you who are following their story, they are doing beautifully. They are currently in Florida visiting my aunt and uncle, who are their grandparents, on their first vacation since leaving the hospital. (Believe it or not, my aunt and uncle, who spent majority of the time from October until around February in Missouri helping with the care of their grandkids during their recovery, had a house fire shortly after returning home. They are fine but the house is unlivable until it is completely gutted and rebuilt on the inside.) They are both still in outpatient therapy for speech and physical therapy, but are making excellent progress. Kirsten is wearing hearing aids to help with the hearing loss she suffered as a result of the brain injury. They recently started back part time at their high school as well. It truly is a miracle to see how far they have come. They have such a supportive mother and father as well as extended family. Their friends and community are also unbelievably helpful, which keeps everyone's spirits raised and hope and love the center of their lives.  Both kids have an amazing attitude toward life and they continue to bloom into themselves each and every day. I am very proud of all of them.

Have a wonderful Thursday...tomorrow is Friday, y'all.

xo

Winter's Arch- Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri

About this image: This image was taken on Thanksgiving morning when Brenna and I were "trapped" in the hotel Thanksgiving morning because of the parade in St. Louis. The police had the streets in the city shut down, so we couldn't drive anywhere. We decided to take a walk to the Old Basilica located near the arch to light candles for K and E and say a prayer for their recovery. As we walked around the area, I noticed this tree, void of its leaves after the autumn drop, silhouetted against the Gateway Arch in the background. It was a dreary morning, misty and grey. The quality of light was mysterious and I loved it.

As I sit here in my studio on this gray morning typing this post, my mind drifts back to St. Louis, Missouri where my cousin's children are still rehabbing at the Children's Hospital after suffering traumatic brain injuries from a horrific car accident. Back over Thanksgiving, my oldest daughter and I traveled to St. Louis for a week to visit and help as best we could during this difficult time. They have come so far since then, both E and K, and they are set to be released to outpatient care on Thursday. Just a little over two months ago we didn't even know if they would live. It is truly a miracle that they lived and are recovering so well. It will still be a long road, but the journey of a thousands steps starts with one step forward. I can't wait to see how they progress once they are home.

Each morning, since New Year's Day, I've been reading one entry from my book, 365 Dalai Lama: Daily Advice from the Heart. Today, day 3, I wanted to share the message with you-

"I think human beings are the superior sentient beings on this planet. Humans have the potential not only to create happy lives for themselves, but also to help other beings. We have a natural creative ability and it is very important to realize this."

Have a beautifully blessed day.

xo