A Pair of Wings

I have watched the movies where super heros were flying or cartoons where men don wings and take to the air. If I had the opportunity to add wings to my back they would be like those of fairies.

I would visit places in the world I will probably never have the opportunity in my life. I would love to see the castles of Ireland, the Cliffs of Dover, and Big Ben. I would fly further down to see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre. When I was finished in France I would fly through Greece. The traveling and visiting would continue until I had seen all that I could see.

I love the idea of wings but I would want to share all I see with my family. Maybe would could all get wings?

My Mother's Time

My mother is Karen Anne (Steen) Cote. During my childhood she spent her time making our house a home. I had so many food alergies, my mom cooked almost every night. Though food was not the only thing keeping my mom busy. We had a large garden in the yard with tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, green beans, etc. We also had a second plot at a local college which grew many of the same things - we canned a lot of these for the winter. Also in our yard we had apple trees and a grape arbor - this meant homemade apple sauce, grape jelly, and other yummy goodness.

My mom always found time for her art. Sculptures and paintings filled our homes. She had an large art studio in the basement and was always working on a painting. When we moved to Florida she was busy with her teaching. Her art projects for class became her art - I know she missed oil painting (she started oil painting as soon as she retired!).

My mom also sewed - so much that we had a room dedicated to sewing when I was little. This sewing room did become my bedroom when I was 13 - thank you, mom, for giving it up. My mom made lots of clothes for my sister and me. I never owned a pair of jeans until I was 14! My favorite was a red, white, and blue dress that I wore in the 1976 Fourth of July parade.

My mom always made time for the family. We camped almost every weekend and she would play board games and sing songs and read books with us. She read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series to us when I was 12. We mapped the journey of Bilbo Baggins on a large map she drew so we could 'see' where he was. She read Little House on the Prairie series; Betsy, Tacy, Tib series; Anne of Green Gables; and so many other books with us. My sister and I have a love of reading because our mother read with us and around us. She was well known to stay in the 'thrown room' just finishing a chapter.

So I ramble on. I am lucky to still have my mother around me and my family. She hosts Art Camp for the the grandchildren every summer and my sister and I HAVE to attend as well. We create and talk and share during this week of art. I am so thankful to have had a mother who showed me how to spend time on and with the ones you love.

Love you, Mom!  <3

Open and Closed Doors of Bonus Daughters

I have the ability to mother three girls since I married my husband. They came into my life at 9, 11, and 13 years of age. Throughout the middle and high school years one or the other thought they might want to live with us instead of their mother and step-father. I am sure this was teenage hormones but each time I got my hopes up that I would indeed have a daughter in my home. It never happened.

Two little boys came into my life during this time and I enjoyed every moment with them. Rick and I had the girls for Thanksgiving and we created our own traditions. Sometimes we were lucky enough to have them for a week or two during the summer - often one at a time. These times were treasured; even when the girls bickered, I was happy to hear their voices in the home. These were also the times when they would question if they wanted to stay with us for a school year. The door of happiness would close when they would return to their mother and call us with horrid tales of threats if they decided to come to us.

The girls grew up and went away to college. The boys were growing and we moved to California. Then the door opened again, and Courtney found herself in need of a home to reflect on her life and decisions. Rick and I were excited to have her with us - a part of the family and a true sister for the boys. We watched Courtney go through the 'high school' years even though she was in her 20s. She moved out after about nine months but stayed close and we enjoyed our time together. We became close; there was no way for this to happen other than her living with us. But the door needed to close again. She moved back to Arizona to finish college and we moved to Florida so I could start my new job.

Florida was wonderful and the boys were growing up with cousins and grandparents less than a few hours away. It was wonderful but Courtney's presence was missed as she became a sister the boys wanted around...we wanted around. But then the door opened again.

Ashleigh needed us. I am sure her phone call to us was one of the hardest she had ever made. She was the daughter who didn't believe Rick loved her or fought for her when they divorced. She rarely called and would barely talk when we called her. Ashleigh was pregnant and had lost her job. We welcomed her with open arms. The first month or so we were figuring each other out; it must have been hard to travel so far and come to a home you found distrustful. And then it happened.

Ashleigh became part of the family and another true sister to the boys. I had the honor of being her birth coach as little Brooke came into the world. But Ashleigh and Brooke didn't stay with us long - only two weeks after Brooke was born they traveled back to New Jersey to stay. The door closed.

I still look at all those closed doors and wish they would open again. The happiness was wonderful. But I try to think about what door is open and which daughter will again become part of our life. Not that I want pain or strife in their lives, but I am glad we are there for them whenever they need us.

God gave me two sons by birth and three daughters by marriage. I love them all with all my heart. It doesn't matter who birthed them; I love them just the same. The description 'step-mother' is so twisted I hate using it. 'Bonus mom' is a much better description. They are more than 'step' to me - they are my 'BONUS DAUGHTERS.'