ANOTHER WONDERFUL MOTHER'S DAY!

       Yesterday when I woke up it seemed as if we were in for a bleak day and probably some rain. However the sky became bright and blue which was no surprise on my tropical island of Jamaica. My 2 brothers and I had an enjoyble day with our Mom in the cool hills of Boyne Park. Of course Janine was also here with us in spirit. 


      Above is a picture of the card that we presented to Mom early in the morning. Janine and I always liked making cards for her so I have continued this tradition. I got a cream sheet of cartridge paper and pasted a picture of the Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) on it. This was taken from the January section of a calendar featuring Australian wild flowers.  Strangely enough most of the pictures that I took of it showed a bright light at different sections of the flower. I saw this bright light as indicating that there is always a brighter future ahead.


      You will notice that I have Janine's name listed on the card with these words 'Janine (looking down from heaven).' As I have always told Mom "While you are here on this earth I will be listing Janine's name." She is very pleased about this. 


      It has not been easy for Mom to see only one of us over the last 2 years and 7 months. As she told me after returning home from my Aunt Prilly's funeral, several times she just kept looking beside her and it seemed so strange to have only one of us there. Therefore every opportunity I get I keep Janine alive in her eyes.


     Mom has also done a good job at this. She reminds me that Janine is not in her grave, she is right here with us.


     Well, I am not blowing my own horn but I must say that I was pleased with the Mother's Day lunch that I prepared. It consisted of fried chicken, rice and peas, corn bread, baked ripe plantains and a vegetable salad. Mom and my 2 brothers commented on how lovely it was. They also enjoyed the home-made chocolate ice-cream I made and the cake I baked.


      Throughout the day we had the pleasure of hearing a wide variety of songs especially for mothers on our radio stations.  Some of them were songs using the pulsating reggae beat which is the national music of my country.


     A big part of making the day enjoyable was discussing things about Janine and our celebrations over the years that made us smile. As I said to Mom "Everything went smoothly and quickly that it seemed as if Janine was here helping me. The only thing, I was doing most of it as usual."


      I am happy that I decided to start this Blog and was able to pay special tribute to my mom with posts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I also thank all my friends who took time out to read the posts and indicated that they liked them and wrote comments to me in emails and on Facebook. Furthermore I thank everyone who sent Mom good Mother's Day wishes. She sends her heartfelt thanks to you all.
       

A TRIBUTE TO MOM

By JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


My mother is amazingly great,
That is one point I won't debate.
She makes me oh so proud,
Never one to follow the crowd.


All my life she has taught me right from wrong,
And never to be too quick to join the throng.
Her direction has kept me on the right track,
I have no regrets as I look back.


A lady who has endured life's knocks,
Has had more than her fair share of shocks.
Despite all these personal blows,
Has held her head high and it hardly shows.


I see her as a tower of strength,
Someone who has never lost faith.
For many more years I hope she is around,
Ready and able to give advice that is sound.

A VERY SPECIAL MOTHER!

PICTURES OF MOM WITH HER CHILDREN!

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


    From the early age of 13 years old I have only had one parent, my mother, Kathleen Naomi Haughton-James ( nee Lindo).  She became a widow on August 14,1975, when my  father Harry collapsed and died of a heart attack while performing his duties as a Councillor in the St.Mary Parish Council on the tropical island of Jamaica.


    Since that fateful day I have been amazed at the strength that she has displayed when she encountered what I call the valleys on this journey called life. It is not that she did not display sadness for the loss of her husband when she was only 47 years old but managed to have the strength in holding it together and taking care of her family. It was a strength noticed not only by her family. I can never forget the words that someone said to her shortly after my father's death - "Mrs. James, there are so many beautiful things about you, but probably the most beautiful of them all, is your ability to take knocks."


     The person who said this died some years ago, but little did he know that come October 16, 2008 mom would have suffered yet another blow, that of the death of her youngest child and my identical twin sister Janine.  Again she showed all the signs of loss and it was more difficult then as she was now a lady in her 80s.  However again she held it together and was a tower of strength for me. I keep saying to her "God certainly knew how important it was for you to have been around when Janine died." We have been through our trials together and her strength has helped to pilot me through my darkest hour.


     Of utmost importance is her strong Christian faith which has never faltered despite the circumstances that she has encountered. This has been such a good example for me who in turn leaned on this faith to carry me through the most challenging period of my life. I am truly blessed to have her as my mother.


    Every Mother's Day she gets a card and despite the fact that Janine is no longer around I never fail to write in it - "From your children: Richard, Sutcliffe, Judy and Janine (looking down from heaven)."


    I know the day will come when my mom is no longer around but I hope I will get the chance to celebrate many more Mother's Days with her. Every day I give God thanks for giving me such a special mother.

THE WORD MOTHER

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


This Sunday, May 8, will be celebrated as Mother's Day in Jamaica and many countries.  I take this opportunity to wish all mothers a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! Today, Saturday and Mother's Day I happily post tributes to my own mother Kathleen Naomi Haughton-James.


More than I could ever ask for,


Overcoming so many obstacles in life,


There with me as I traverse life's hills and valleys,


Holding my hand every step of the way,


Ever sure and ready with strong faith,


Really a tower of strength for me and all to see.

PICTURES OF MOM OVER THE YEARS!

DAILY WORD - A POWERFUL LITTLE MAGAZINE!

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


    Ever since I was a teenager the Daily Word magazine published by Unity has been subscribed to by my family. It is a most inspirational magazine that always has a message to uplift your spirit at the very right time.  When my twin sister was ill she still found time to read it in the morning or have it read to her. I have also found it to be extremely helpful since her death and never fail to read it early every morning.


     There are monthly affirmations, the Editor's Note as well as an inspirational article at the beginning of every month. The poems and Letters From The Heart are also very good. From day to day each month you get a message about FAITH, DIVINE ORDER, HEALING, GRACE, HARMONY, PROSPERITY, ILLUMINATION and so much more. When an entire issue is finished I even sit and read the entire month's messages again. I am really happy that my parents introduced me to this magazine.


   Speaking of Unity, over the years I have read several books that my parents bought which were written by one of their authors.  I also remember how my twin sister and I eagerly looked forward to the Wee Wisdom magazine when we were children.


   I eagerly recommend this powerful little magazine. It is definitely worth the read whether you are experiencing good or bad times.

THE NEED TO WRITE

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


       Shortly after Janine's death I remember a cousin saying to me "Why not start a Blog where you can share your thoughts on what it is like being a twinless twin?"  Then I was so confused that I never gave it much thought.  However after 2 years of linking up with other twinless twins, reading books and better understanding a lot of my experiences I decided to start a Blog. If you are a twinless twin write down your thoughts, poems, articles etc. even if you do not want to share them with others. You will definitely find doing so therapeutic.
      I am also happy to see other twinless twins having Blogs. Three twinless twin Blogs that I am currently following are Enjy's Place, Kari's Blog and Twin Love. I have also joined the Experience Project's Twinless Twins group. I had some problems accessing the site but happily that problem seems to be over.  If anyone knows of other twinless twin Blogs please share them with me.  In the meantime write on.  Below is a poem that I wrote some months after Janine's death.


THE NEED TO WRITE
By Judy Haughton-James


I have always wanted to work in the media,
Being a broadcaster was the first idea.
Finally decided to be a Journalist,
And pursued my goal with earnest.


Did courses in Journalism and Writing,
Found them extremely interesting.
Broke into print with hobbies and interests,
Since then have written on a wide range of subjects.


These days writing for me is therapy,
While others offer me sympathy.
Now without my identical twin,
I draw on all the strength within.

celine dion ft. josh groban, the prayer

Josh Groban - Your Raise Me Up on Ellen Show

MUSIC AS THERAPY

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


      Some years ago my identical twin sister Janine and I had an article published in Jamaica's national Sunday Gleaner newspaper titled 'MUSIC AS THERAPY.'  It gave facts on research findings showing the effect of music on human beings, plants and animals.  We started it with this quotation from one of the world's great philosopher's, Plato - "Music is moral law. It gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything."


     I remember the days when we started playing the recorder at St. Cyprian's Prep School. We were even brave enough to play it in front of the whole school at devotion when we were in high school. Oh, how I wish that we had continued piano lessons. We were even members of the choirs at our two high schools.


    We have always found time to enjoy listening to music and our taste included a wide variety - reggae, calypso, soul, gospel etc. These days I do not get to listen to a lot of music during the week but I certainly make sure to get my fair share from the radio stations and video programmes on television during the weekends.


      As I write about this subject I am here wondering when I will be able to take up the case with CDs that Janine and I received as gifts or bought ourselves.  Not even at Christmas time am I able to listen to our many Christmas CDs.  Anyway I am happy that I can still watch and enjoy the popular Digicel Rising Stars Show which Janine and I enjoyed so much.  I eagerly await the start of this year's season.


     There are several songs that have had a great impact on me since Janine's death.  Two of them are Josh Groban's song 'You Raise Me Up' and Judy Jacob's Song 'Days of Elijah (There is No God Like Jehovah).'  I find them so inspirational.


    Whenever I hear Josh Groban's song I remember how it lifted my spirit so many mornings shortly after Janine's death. There was a talkshow on radio that we used to listen to every morning and the host always started her show  with this song.


     Music is indeed powerful! As our late reggae superstar Bob Marley said in his song Trench Town Rock "One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain."

THE JOYS OF PEN-PALLING

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES
        For many years Janine and I have corresponded with pen-pals and it is was always No.1 on our list of hobbies.  We even had the pleasure of meeting some of these pen-pals - Vicki from the U.S.A., Dominique from Switzerland and Sue from England. I will never forget the enjoyable afternoon we had at The Ruins Restaurant in the popular Jamaican tourist resort of Ocho Rios when we met our mom's pen-pal Dorothy whom she had already corresponded with for over 60 years.
       Since Janine's death in 2008 I have kept in contact with many of her former pals. Robby from Italy has been a great friend as she has helped me throughout these challenging times with positive words in emails and our chats on Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, Yahoo Chat and MSN.
      This poem that I have written sums up how I feel about this hobby and I know that Janine shared this opinion during her time here on earth.


      THE JOYS OF PENPALLING


For many years I have been pen-palling,
A hobby I have found fulfilling.
So much I have learnt,
From persons on this earth.


People live many miles apart,
But are quite similar at heart.
Interesting people, customs, places to learn about,
A wealth of information there is absolutely no doubt.


Sharing tales of failure, success, joy and sorrow,
You build a strong friendship for tomorrow.
The day may come when pen-pals meet
Each other like long lost friends they greet.