I bought some new little solar powered lanterns the other day.  I kept forgetting to check if they worked.  Tonight I remembered to find out. They are on my patio in the back yard.  As I was waling there in the dark I noticed that my lawn was decorated with little seeds from the large maple tree in my side yard. 





I am amazed by theses whirligig seeds.  When they are on the tree they remind me of bats hanging from the branches, with their wings slightly spread. 




As they come off the tree and float on the breeze they are like helicopters.  As they near the ground, it seems they break apart and the the seed end gets deposited nearest the ground, leaving the fin sticking up.  These fins are luminescent in the moonlight of the full moon.  BTW, the lights do work. : )

Let me begin this post by saying Happy Mothers Day to all of you other moms out there.
**Disclaimer-Also let me say that what follows may make you upset on this day of happiness and you might want to stop here. 

I was reflecting on what this day means to me this year.  My mind thought of two very special women that I know from work. 
The first is my friend, Deb.  She has two grown children and five grandchildren.  Her daughter was adopted and has some developmental problems.  She is the mother of three of those grandchildren, all boys.  She is in her thirties but acts as though she were a teenager.  She has a history of drug abuse.  Through everything, Deb has stood at her side and kept a very realistic yet optimistic outlook.  She has petitioned the court for custody of the boys and won, all the while not alienating their mother in the process.   Deb then analyzed the situation and realized she would not be able to keep the boys at her home.  She works full time and takes care of her ailing mother.  She also works for a nursing agency on her days off.  She contacted some friends that have taken in foster kids for many years.  She knows this couple personally and trusts them.  She asked if they would be willing to take in her grandchildren.   Her paycheck from the agency goes to the couple to buy things for the boys that aren't provided through child support and social security. I marvel at how much this woman does and still finds time to spend on herself. Deb is unassuming, funny, and a good friend.  I hope she has a wonderful Mothers Day.
The second mother I want to tell about is 20 years old. I work with her mother, and have known her for many years.  This young woman is amazing. She recently gave birth to her first child, a son.  She is single and was at college when she found out she was pregnant.   The father is not in the picture.  She has accepted that with grace.  Early in her pregnancy  the doctor told her the baby was not perfect.  He told her to expect the baby to born with physical problems and mental retardation.  She accepted this with grace also.  She moved back home, putting college on hold.  Her home situation is not the best either, to say the least but she had the undying support of her mother.  When the baby was born, he was whisked away from her to another hospital for an operation.  She had a c-section so it was a few days before she could even see her baby.  He made it through the surgery with flying colors.  Then the doctors delivered the news that he is more severely affected than originally thought.  They told her he would be lucky to live two months at the most.  Her son had a second surgery (Necessary to prevent infection) that he sailed through and she and her son got to come home yesterday.  He will be on Hospice care.  She has broken down and cried and now is looking forward to what little bit of time she has with her son.  This situation is far from over for this new mother and her precious gift from God, but she is strong.  She says she is going to cherish this time and focus on being the best Mommy she can.   She is going to need the love and support of her family and friends.  I hope she counts me as one. She does not go blithely through life but accepts what it has to offer and meets each challenge with a good attitude.  She does not ask "Why me?" but asks, "What can I do to make this situation better?"  I admire her right now.  And I always will for what she has been through.  She will have a tough time ahead of her.  For now, though, she is a mother with a newborn to love and she is content.