Reverb11: Theme song

Think about this past year. Is there a song that you've heard that has really struck a chord, one that has spoken to you?  {this prompt from resound11}

This is my boy. He was born when I was 23, 20 years ago.  Before that, a lot of things happened in my life.  There were jobs, boyfriends, friends, holidays - but once he was here nothing was ever the same again. It was just the two of us and there wasn't much money. Life was sometimes hard, but it was good, and he has brought so much joy into my life, and continues to do so. I have been various things in my life, both before and after he came along, but I am first and foremost his mother, always. 

I have posted this song here before, but I love it so this prompt is a good excuse to do so again. 

Reverb11: Haiku

Sum up your year, via Haiku {prompt from WEverb11} 

2011

Just watching the world,

Living life in a slow way.

I found I liked it.

Finding JOY: third

Him and me, this afternoon.  

Reverb11: Moment

Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year {prompt from University of Venus}

I worried about wearing a fancy, expensive dress, the sort of thing I would never normally wear. I worried about having to make a grand entrance, everybody standing up together and watching me enter, 70 pairs of eyes on me. I felt the weight of expectation, so much pressure to look wonderful, to be beautiful, and I kept thinking what if I'm not? What if they all stand up, turn round, and I just look ok? What if they are disappointed? More than anything I wanted to look and feel like myself. So I wore red, my favourite colour. I wore my hair the way I always do and did my own make up. 

And when it came to it, you know what? I was announced, everyone stood up and looked at me and I couldn't have cared less. All I saw was him.

Finding JOY: Second

The berries on the pyracantha, and the sun shining through the branches. 

Reverb11: Who are you?

Who are you? Describe Yourself. {today's prompt from Diana Prichard} 

I am red, especially a red satin wedding dress. Sometimes I am blue, rarely black these days.  I am multicoloured handknitted dishcloths. I am saluting, good morning Mr Magpie. I am Christmas. I am wife and best friend to the love of my life. I am words. I am long, long drives in the country. I am lists, writing them, losing them, and writing them again. I am rooibos tea. I am a bit of Tigger and a lot of Eeyore, a little Country Mouse and rather more Town Mouse. I am trees, and expansive skies. I am Essex and I am the East End. I am rainbow painted toes. I am an owl. I am hot chocolate with marshmallows for breakfast. I am long bubble baths, trying not to get my book wet. I am soft boiled eggs mashed with potatoes, eaten with a spoon. I am Mango Body Butter and Dolce Vita by Dior. I am snuggly blankets knitted by a beloved Auntie, I am Doris' niece and I will never forget. I am cherry brandy. I am grasshopper mind. I am feeding the birds. I am sweet peas in a windowsill jam jar. I am odd socks and pashminas, long skirts, jeans and Converse. I am silver. I am Joseph's mother, it is written on my soul. Here I am.

Finding JOY: first

The little rose on my back doorstep that is still blooming in December, despite the cold.