I recall when we were small

and time went by so fleetingly

with flashlight beams beneath our sheets

and story-telling into dreams

Every November, I remember

sharing a birthday month with you

theme-party planning over Halloween candy

and being so silly and free

How I miss the childhood bliss

imagination, a state of being

while never-ending play-pretending

was found and stayed and came to be

 

a ditty for my big sister, stephanie "blue roses" komashin
on her birthday (based on Japan's time zone)
© kimberly k. taylor-pestell, all rights reserved

I am so incredibly thankful that

...you were born twenty-seven years ago

...our lives intersected {and how beautifully so}

...you are such a loving, thoughtful, and true man of character

...you chose me back and I get to spend the rest of my life with you

Happy Birthday, Love.

inkling: happy balloons  |  © kimberly k taylor, all rights reserved

Ode to Daddy

Today, is my Dad's birthday and I am

so very glad and thankful that he was

born. I respect his mind, his constant

and steadfast support, and how he has

never given up, even though life has

been very hard.  I am thankful for the

way he has always, ever believed in me.

And how he believes in my intelligence

and my creativity even when they are

different from his own.  He is one of the

smartest people I know, but he is one of

the humblest, never making others feel

inferior.  Never making me feel that I

am any less. Instead, he makes me feel

I am more.  My dear Daddy is a truest

blessing to my life and his love for me

means the world to me.  Happy happy

birthday, Daddy. You make this world

more beautiful and I love you, always.

My Daddy and a present!

My favorite early photograph of Daddy, me, and Stephanie.

I've always loved how handsome he looks when he sits, quietly contemplating.

Ode to Katelyn and Jeremie

She is light and joy and spirit.  She makes things bright and love abounds wherever she resides- is left in her wake wherever goes.  She exemplifies true, committed friendship, and even when she has no time or energy.  She is integrity and honor and her thoughts are beautiful treasures for keeping.  She is honest and sincerely gracious and she is quick to forgive, understand, and believe in others.  Her spirit is both soothing and vibrantly radiant, like light bouncing from corner to corner until all the dark spaces are illuminated and safe.  Her laugh is music, authentic and free.

He is gentle and kind, warm and patient.  He sees her.  He sees her antics and -isms and takes note of them as delights and they give him joy.  He respects her mind, her talents, her intelligence, her dreams, and her heart.  He is understanding and patient and cares about those for whom she cares.  He is easygoing and reserved, cautious and intentional.  He is quick to find humor and joy.  He listens and cares about her words and thoughts and feelings.  He respects them and deems them lovely.

 

I am so joyous for my lovely Katelyn Paige and her Love. Truly truly they will continue to be so and I can only imagine what wonders they will find, create, and share with the world.

Congratulations, dear friend. Celebrating in your immense joy...

{canon 30d : ode to katelyn and jeremie}

© kimberly k taylor, all rights reserved

Ode to Jackie

J   ocose

A  ntic prone

C  alculating

K  een

I    nquisitive

E   xception, not the rule

Happy birthday, dear cousin.

You never cease to intrigue and I enjoy our letters and thought-sharing verily.

Ode to Jason

Joyeux Anniversaire, Love.

Because of you,
My life is more full.
I had my first kiss.
I see joy and patience everyday.

I feel truly and unconditionally loved.

I have hope for male/female equality.
I am steadfastly challenged and inspired.
I started to truly believe in my own intelligence.

I wrote love letters that traveled over 380 miles.
I have a new respect for cold beaches of the north.

I learned to waltz on a rooftop under a blanket of stars.
I will never be able to watch Erkel without laughing at you.
I laughed so hard in a university library and fell in love with you more.

I am learning grace, gentleness, and a more vivid beauty of serving others.

I am so utterly thankful that you were born, Jason.

You are Warmth and Light and Love to me and your embrace never ends.

Je t'aime, mon Quelqu'un.

{canon 30d:  a portrait: jason pestell}

© kimberly k taylor, all rights reserved

Ode to Brittany

Today marks the twenty-third year of my beloved baby sister's life.

How ironic, that on her birthday twenty-three years ago,

it was I who received the most precious gift of a lifetime.

She is life. She is love. She is courage. She is strength.

When you came to us, dear sister,

you brought into this world a truest beauty,

the purest I have seen.

And gave to me a future;

one I never deserved,

but found to be bright and lovely and real and lasting.

Forever, I will strive to live up to
the honor of being your sister.

Happy Birthday, my beloved Brittany.

You are Music and Joy.
And my love will find you, evermore.

Continue in your brilliance and the world will always have light.

{canon 30d: and beauty traveled north}

© kimberly k taylor, all rights reserved