Yesterday, April 4th was a very special day! Two of my favorite people were born on this day.

My mother...

Patty Lea born in 1950, shown in this picture top left. Happy Birthday mom!! I love you.

My mother is my best friend and just a little crazy, which makes her perfect. She is the most self motovated determined woman I know. I dont know what I would do without her.

On her left is my father, Terry. Bottom row from left Anna, me, my grandmother Wanda, Maya and my sister Bethany.



Maya Angelou born 1928. What a woman and what a life she has led. She is most definitely my favorite modern poet, and who I named my first child after. Although, I have many Maya favorites, here is one that you may know and is one at the top of my list...

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

The free bird leaps on the back of the win and floats downstream till the current ends and dips his wings in the orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky. But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings with fearful trill of the things unknown but longed for still and is tune is heard on the distant hillfor the caged bird sings of freedom The free bird thinks of another breeze an the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn and he names the sky his own. But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom. Maya Angelou