My first day in a new world wow its bright. My momma holds me close to her and I feel happy. I look around the room and look for daddy, but I don't see him this makes me so sad I start crying. I think momma knew what I wanted, she rocks me and says, "do not worry my angle he will be here soon." Now it's a day later and I awake from sleep and again I look around for daddy, and yet again he is still not here. My momma starts to get ready for us to go home, so I think daddy will be at home. Mommas drive home and sets me in a bouncer and uses the phone, I assume to call daddy, however, is not able to reach him. I fall asleep but am awaken by a knock on the front door. My momma takes me in her arms and opens the door and we see two officers with their hats off. Momma starts to cry as one of the officers says, "I am so sorry Jessica but there was a bombing before Daniel could leave and well, I'm sorry, but he didn't make it." A little while later after the officers leave momma rocks me and says, "my sweet angle one day when you'll understand I will tell what happened and how those men where your father's best friend, and how he was the bravest man I knew." my momma was crying but for some reason I knew I was safe and that I would still get to know my daddy.

While most folks celebrate the 4th of July, it’s the 5th when I remember having a dream come true.

Many years ago, when my heart drove me to explore various places around the world where I might find “my baby Maria,” I knew it wasn’t going to be a simple journey.  As a single parent, my options were limited in where I could adopt a baby girl.  Mexico appeared to be an easy possibility, notwithstanding all the red tape, reference letters and endless forms needed to apply.  Several months later, I got a call saying the program had closed for no apparent reason, and they wished me the best of luck.

I then learned Honduras offered an adoption program, and I even had a chance to communicate with another Mom who successfully added a daughter to her family.  While having a little baby girl was my wish, when I received a photo and description of a one- year-old, I accepted that she was the one chosen for me. That was until I received a letter apologizing for the agency’s mistake of giving this girl to someone else, and sorry to say, there were no more children available in the foreseeable future.

A co-worker once called me tenacious. It may have been this never-give-up attitude or very strong belief there was a plan for me, that kept me going.  Paraguay popped up in my research with an adoption office in rural Minnesota.  After completing a third set of paperwork and non-stop praying, I hoped this would be my destination. A photo and description of a beautiful three-month old baby girl, whose birthmother’s name was Maria, felt like a sign from above.  The following Christmas Day, I found myself in Paraguay, where following a knock on my hotel door, my Maria appeared.

On July 5th I will celebrate the day 35 years ago when this adoption was finalized, and Maria officially became my daughter.  Every ounce of effort was rewarded, and I’ll always give thanks for all who helped make my dream come true.

Often I lay in bed, the boxes of stuff strewn across my room. It's an even bigger box. My life.

Schrödinger's cat is frequently observed. Is the cat alive or dead if we can’t see it?

I spend hours scrutinizing my very own Schrödinger's box. Will I stay in my room surrounded by the boxes of paint, art supplies, and books? Or will I go outside? And if I don’t go outside; if I stay in my room, will anyone truly see me for who I am, or will I be stuck in this box, known and unknown, at the same time?

There is a chill in the air, kept out by coat.

The mulled wine warms hands, and lips alike.

The suns setting but all around is candles, flickering.

The dog lays down at my feet, getting comfy on the blanket.

The speakers come to life with a buzz, a woman center of the band stand.

The children are stopped in their play, encouraged to go back to their adults.

The lady starts the whole thing off... with a prayer, I smile at my mother to remind myself she is the only reason I am there.

Together we find the first song in the booklet, leaning in so we can both see the words.

But she doesn't need them, she just wants to be close, so we can sway to the beat, singing loud and off key.

People in the park brought together through signing silly songs.

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Can you hear the bells have come?

Ringing on today

Merrily, come caroling

Unlike any other day

What once was warm and full of life

Is quiet, sodden land

What once was hard is now at ease

A gracious, glorious plan

Decorum’s, decorations

A tree to stand upright

A beautiful and precious, we

That are gathered here tonight

What must the orders of us be,

A natural or candlelight?

Are we to see what these men see

We sing of all these nights?

Come together, are us now

Enjoying what has come

To pass and will still come to us

In Christmas‘s now on

Though if the snow stops falling

Our souls will shrink and flee

What holiness do us possess

Smiling glee to glee?

Conflicting snowy naught

And cheery merry souls

Which traditions are we to lose

Though we all continue on?

In the bleak midwinter

i once stepped in snow

it was soft and crunchy

but so very cold

And it wasn’t mealting

it snowed and snowed and snowed

In the bleak midwinter

Long, long ago

Mary and Joseph

they had traveled far

with their little donkey

Carrying the Christ

And my mother

She once told me this

winter isn’t winter

Without a kiss

What can i say?

just as i am

Christ, he is our shepherd

lion and a lamb

So with all the wise men

i’ll follow the star

And ever Christmas

Give him my heart

Give him my heart

Hello, Writers and Dear Readers.

In today's vid, we feature a triple threat, to say the very least. Writer, painter, musician, tattoo artist, and on and on. Click the link to the channel and check out this low-key and humble, high-art man of talents. He's right here on our site.

And before any of you decide to take a swipe at the old man, I'm aware that I mispronounced n'ere. But I rolled with it...

Here's the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTGysKxtx1o&t=19s

And.

As always.

Thank you for being here.

-The Prose. team