A ROSE NAMED - "THANK YOU" AND IN THE ARMS OF AN ANGEL

Good Morning and welcome to Sunday in Adelaide where the morning is breaking through and the birds are singing.   We are forecast rain, but hoping it keeps off for the morning so that the Rose Planting Ceremony can go ahead.   Our gardens could certainly use some rain.  

This beautiful rose is the one to be planted this morning in the Donate Life Garden to commemorate and celebrate organ donors everywhere and in particular those of the year 2011.

As a transplant recipient I clearly acknowledge that I owe my life to the generosity of a special family in their hour of grief and this morning's ceremony is to pay tribute to those sort of families.

My donor is remembered everyday of the life I have been given.   

There are other organ recipients that I know - Lizzie McGregor here in Adelaide,  who received a Kidney 20 years ago and is in great health.  Joe in Philadelphia who has the joy of knowing that his donor's named was Seth.   Melissa continues to do very well since her transplant a few days ago and I will remember the family that gifted her with life.  Of course there are my friends in Love Your Liver and all the other on line groups I belong to ~ we are a very thankful bunch and I shall be thinking of those donor families.   

Little Ethan who has just celebrated his third transplant birthday, two little girls names McKenzie  both struggle with issues but are both still fighting on.  Crosby and Tater's donors are also on my thankful list and of course beautiful Brooke who received a heart six months ago.

Sadly there are so many awaiting a transplant and my love and prayers are with you all.

Little Ethan and twin brother Eli with Ethan's third transplant birthday cakes.

Brooke six months after transplant

This is the launch of Donate Life week in Adelaide and there are lots of other events on around the City and in country areas - if you can get along to any of them please do.   There will be people visiting our Universities as part of their first week and making sure the word about organ donation is spread far and wide.

My love and thoughts are with you all as you struggle with whatever is happening for you.  Keep your spirits up and may your heart find comfort in special ways on this Sunday.

Shopping was a joy this morning - people are starting to smile back at me and it is great.  The girl that checked my food through was a true delight and it made the whole painful process of shopping quite a happy event.  As I walked back to my car I chatted with a gentleman who, on arriving back at his car said "It has been a pleasure talking with you; it has made my day."  Random acts of kindness certainly do work and I hope you can find some to do.

By the time I post this Saturday will have arrived for our Northern hemisphere friends and I hope it is the first day of a good weekend.   America has President's Day on Monday so that means they will have a long weekend and I hope that it is a day when special times can be spent together and rest and refreshment can be found. 

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday /Saturday wherever you are in this crazy world ~ I am time challenged and get mixed up very easily.

Thank you for visiting the Musings of my Heart  ~ a reflective heart this morning and also a very thankful one. 

Love and hugs,

Linda.


I am thankful for the Angels who give us the gift of life

WEDNESDAY AND CELEBRATION AT 70 WEEKS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tex0U7qS7h4&feature=fvsr

(Kenny Chesney)

So damn easy to say that life’s so hard
Everybody’s got their share of battle scars
As for me I’d like to thank my lucky stars that
I’m alive, and well

It’d be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you sat and watched go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me, I’m alive

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessin' can’t you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
And I’m alive, and well
I’m alive, and well

Stars are dancin’ on the water here tonight
It’s good for the soul, when there’s not a soul in sight
But this boat has caught its wind and brought me back to life
Now I’m alive, and well

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessing can’t you see
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
Now I’m alive, and well
Yeah I’m alive, and well

[Thanks to Brent Goens for lyrics]

In a world in turmoil and despair I find joy today in celebrating 70 weeks post liver transplant - 70 weeks since a kind and generous man lost his life but gave me the gift of life.

Each day is a blessing and I see things through different eyes - I find joy in the small things and love the 'good to be alive' feeling.

This is a link to the blog of a friend which brought me smiles and tears this morning.

http://tiilipeninsula.blogspot.com/2011/05/70-weeks-but-whos-counting.html

It made me so aware of all the things that have happened in the last 70 weeks - some of those weeks are lost to me but I am glad to be here to share my life with you all.

I hope and pray that the stars keep dancing for me and that there will be wind in my sails and I can keep breathing in and out for a long time to come.   I hold these wishes too for all the other transplant recipients I know and those I don't know.  I hope the quality of their lives is drastically improved and that life is sweet for them.

With a song in my heart, a spring in my step, a sparkle in my eyes and a smile on my lips I thank you all for visiting 'The Musings from My Heart" and reading my thoughts on this amazing day.

Love and hugs,

and to my Donor and family I am 

WELCOME TO MONDAY ONCE AGAIN - MONDAY MONDAY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPgbMAdAsbI

Welcome to Monday morning in my little corner of the world and it is such a different day to yesterday - the sky is blue and cloudless and the sun is shining - a truly lovely day, although yesterday's cloud and rain held a beauty of it's own.

A slow start to the day for me - and I really don't know why - just got up normally, made my coffee and then the smell of it made me feel nauseous - so don't know what that's all about.  I feel fine and have gone about doing what I have to do - laundry is in the sun drying and some tidying up done.  I have even done the vacuuming.  My computer is running slow today too - must be a case of Monday Monday.

Another week of my journey has commenced:

"Life is a journey not a destination"

Emerson.

It is another week of your journey too and I hope you have a lovely Monday and that you are able to see the sunshine, feel the wind in your hair and just relish that "glad to be alive feeling".

My girls are home safely from their time away and seem to have had a wonderful time - it is back to work for them today and I hope they take it calmly and take the benefits of their break back into their workplaces.  It is always lovely to spend time with friends that you can only see rarely because of the distance.

I took a walk in the rain yesterday to Bonython Park and visited the Gift of Life Garden which was established as an expression of gratitude and to pay tribute to the many organ and tissue donors and their families for making a new life possible for so many.

Bonython Park 

Plaque designating the Gift of Life Garden

This is the plaque for the rose of my year -2009

This is the rose planted for my Year - Gift of Grace

I was just about to post this blog this morning when I had visitors call in and we have had lunch and a lovely long chat and now back to finish this off and go outside and enjoy this beautiful Monday.

Wherever you are in our world - be strong, have faith and live your life with kindness and care.  Everyone is carrying some sort of burden and we have the chance to pass on smiles and a tender touch.

Thank you for visiting and reading "The Musings from my Heart" and I send love and hugs your way.