When My Mind Is Still...: Happy Birthday Natalie!

Friday, September 26, 2008

Happy Birthday Natalie!

Natalie means "Christ's Birthday"

Natalie is the English form of Natalia, which is derived from the Italian "natale," meaning "birthday." The term refers specifically to Christ's birthday - the Italian phrase for "merry Christmas" is "buon natale!", literally "good birthday!"

Natalie's birthday was Sept 17. Natalie is my niece, the daughter of my brother Kirk and his wife Monica. She is as quiet and sweet as can be. As I was searching through my photos for a picture of her, I just had the urge to want to squeeze her. What a sweetheart!

These photos are from the Surprise party Brenda threw for me last year, 2007. Natalie is the blond right in front.

Natalie is on the end holding Jens.

Here she is again-- all the cousins are having a crazy picture.

Happy Birthday Natalie! Hope you had a special day and wish I could run over and give you a squeeze. Love, Aunt Karalene

1 comment:

Holly said...: Boy September is a popular month for you! Very nice tribute and I didn't know the definition of Natalie - very nice! :); September 28, 2008 at 2:18 AM

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When My Mind is Still

When my mind is still and alone with the beating of my heart,
I remember things too easily forgotten:
The purity of early love,
The maturity of unselfish love that asks --
desires -- nothing but another's good,
The idealism that has persisted through all the tempest of life.

When my mind is still and alone with the beating of my heart,
I can find a quiet assurance, an inner peace, in the core of my being.
It can face the doubt, the loneliness, the anxiety,
Can accept these harsh realities and can even grow
Because of these challenges to my essential being.

When my mind is still and alone with the beating of my heart,
I can sense my basic humanity,
And then I know that all men and women are my brothers and sisters.
Nothing but my own fear and distrust can separate me from the love of friends.
If I can trust others, accept them, enjoy them,
Then my life shall surely be richer and more full.
If I can accept others, this will help them to be more truly themselves,
And they will be more able to accept me.

When my mind is still and alone with the beating of my heart,
I know how much life has given me:
The history of the race, friends and family,
The opportunity to work, the chance to build myself.
Then wells within me the urge to live more abundantly,
With greater trust and joy,
With more profound seriousness and earnest service,
And yet more calmly at the heart of life.

-Paul Beattie