What kind of flower would you be?

This morning I woke up to the sound of raindrops hitting the window and sighed a small sigh of relief. Today will be a quiet day with no need for me to drive back and forth from the soccer fields ferrying my 2 younger children to soccer games for playing and refereeing. It will be a day to clean up around the house then sit in a quiet corner and read a book or a magazine.

This morning, I went out to feed the chickens while the house was still and quiet and saw this Morning Glory resting in a pot of Lily I'd thought had died. It was a gift from one of my students last year. Many times in the past few weeks, I've been tempted to throw the pot away but either the color of the material surrounding the pot or my sheer laziness in picking it up and walking 10 feet to the garbage bin, had prevented me from doing so. But now, the Lily is growing again and this Morning Glory bloom seems to be resting on the edge of the pot encouraging the new growth.

I'm partial to Morning Glories. I supposed if I were a flower, I'd be a Morning Glory for all its characteristics that are similar to my own.

*They are 'morning people' they rise early, greeting the day.

I rise early having most of my energy in the mornings

*When the warm, loving rays of the sun retreat, they close into themselves seeming to gather in their energies preparing for a better day.

I'm known to pull into myself and become quiet during difficult circumstances.

*Like weeds, they grow quickly and persevere through obstacles set in their way. If not tended, they will wrap themselves over the porch rail, the patio furniture and I suppose oneself if you stood still long enough!

Perseverance could be my middle name... I won't let obstacles stand in my way. I will achieve what I am setting out to do in this life.

*They carry within their blooms a star

I carry Tom within my heart. When he died, the children and I chose a star in the sky (Orion's left foot). It helped them and more so me, to be able to talk aloud to the star when we were especially missing him and had something we wanted to tell him.

*They come in many varieties, my favorite being the ones with variegated leaves.

I wear many hats, bouncing from Mom, to Pre-K teacher..read as 'silly nut head' to professional, daughter, sister, friend and then back to Mom all in an afternoon.

But while I liken myself to a Morning Glory, today, I'll reserve those personalities and just 'be' for the day, gathering in the quiet and the gift of a rainy day.

Post Script 9/16/07 While I had all good intentions of enjoying that day... it was sadly not to be. Soccer was not cancelled. Meri played in a down pour and Sam reffed a very cute bunch of U8 boys. The rain ended abruptly once Meri's game was finished. We stood wet and shivering and watched Sam's game. After 3 hours on and off the field, I dropped the kids off for hot showers and I took myself up to the outlets and bought new clothing... THAT FITS!.... happy to report I can now comfortably wear a size 12 :)