Strength

Have I ever mentioned how much I love strong women??! Perhaps it's because I was raised by several "Steel Magnolias." Remember the show "Designing Women?" If that show had been about a bunch of women educators instead of decorators, it would have been about my mom and her sisters! Strong,smart,funny Southern women. Mom would have been Mary Jo, Jane..Charlene, and Judy...Julia.
I suppose that since I was raised by such women (and my awesome Dad, of course!!), I always take note when I see these extraordinary women.

Yesterday morning I was watching "Good Morning America" as I always do. Co-host Robin Roberts has been battling breast cancer for the last several months and after chemotherapy and radiation, her hair has just begun to grow back. All these months she has been wearing a wig on the show. As of yesterday, she's no longer wearing it! She said,"I am not my hair, I am the soul that lies within." Strong southern woman.

Another strong Southern woman I've been thinking about this week is Susan. You've all heard me talk about baby Luke who's in the NICU in Atlanta. His mother keeps a daily blog about him. You can find her at http://up4anythingatl.blogspot.com/ In the midst of what is no doubt one of the most trying/scary times of her life, she continues to be one of the most inspirational people I have ever known. Check out her blog and you'll see what I mean. Through her blog and her family's willingness to share his struggle, Luke has touched countless people.

Speaking of strong women....or rather strong-willed...

Mandy "helped" me plant flowers Monday. (Yes, shocking I know..I worked in the yard.) I finally convinced her that holding the empty pots so they wouldn't blow away was,"THE most important part" of planting the flowers. Otherwise, she was going to run the show and we were going to plant them HER way. Tomorrow is her first school program at Mother's Day Out. She's very excited ,or as she says, "I'm so exciting!"

Blessings,

Leslie

"The biggest myth about Southern women is that we are frail types--fainting on our sofas...nobody where I grew up ever acted like that. We were about as fragile as coal trucks." --Lee Smith