As Anne Frank would say "people are truly good at heart."  

We are all the same.  We all live our lives and our lives are remarkably similar.  We are all doing our best to be our best.  We all want to be loved and accepted.  We all need to feel valued and cherished.  It is my intent to note the "heart" of others, to keep in mind their perspective, to enjoy my life, embrace my happiness, and forget my sorrows. 

I stumbled across a list of advice the other day that melded with my inner most thoughts.  I couldn't help but record it here.  Without hesitation, I will keep it posted somewhere pertinent so that I might view it often.  

We should follow this wise advice and counsel and see what a difference it makes in our lives, in the live of others, in our communities, in our world. 

Enjoy. . .

 1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
 3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
 4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will.  So stay in touch.
 5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
 6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
 7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
 8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
 9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
 10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
 11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
 12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
 13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
 15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
 16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
 17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
 18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
 19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
 21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
 22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
 23. Be eccentric now.. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
 24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
 25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
26. Always choose life.
 27. Forgive everyone everything.
 28. What other people think of you is none of your business..
 29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
 30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
 31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
 32. Believe in miracles.
 33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
 35.. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
 36. Your children get only one childhood.
 37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere..
 39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
 40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
 41. The best is yet to come.
 42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
 43. Yield.
 44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves.    

-By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

You Can Never Go Back

You Can Never Go Back

Why does the truth have to be so sad.  Why can we never go back.  All the way, to way back when. When we knew so much less and were blissfully ignorant.  I have grown and now realize that knowing is not always better.  You can never go back to the way you were.  Such a sad and heartbreaking thought.  Once those glasses are put on and things are in focus, you will forever see the tiny details and blemishes that you wish you were still ignorant of. You can try and pretend that they don't exist, but deep down you know that they do and you will forever remember it. Granted, in the future  it may not bother you in quite the same way it does in the beginning, but it will always be there, a dirty spot, forever stained into your fragile memory. Worse still, once you know of the blemish your perspective is forever changed, you are no longer ignorant of it's existence. You will forever know.  It changes who you are and it steals your innocence and joy out from under you.  All of who you are, who you were, has been violated, never to return to its former state, to its former glory.  You have no say in the matter. You never did.  No matter your heart or true intent you cannot alter the other's choice to create the blemish nor the moment you were unexpectedly forced to look upon it.  You can only dream about and remember when.  You can only morn what might have been.  You can never go back to what was.  It was taken from you and your course has been forever altered.  Who is to say where it will go.  It is beyond control.  The innocence is forever gone, replaced by sadness that will forever taint.  That realization brings pure pain, pure sorrow.  At least there are two; present, precious, pure, and unblemished, there hope lies that it may possibly someway, somehow be if not different, at least changed, at least better.  Yet, it is what it is.  The mourning continues, it will forever be apart of who you are.  It is now your lot to be haunted not only by the blemish but the memory of its prior absence. You must accept fate, must accept destiny, you will never be the same, You Can Never Go Back.   

Remember to savor what is lacking a blemish, cherish the fuzzy and unfocused view, because once the blemish appears and your view is altered it will never, can never, be returned to it's prior state.  Time may ease the pain, but it cannot erase the scar.

Fabulous Fall

Oh how we love fabulous fall. . . 

Our favorite time of year has come and is nearly gone!  We have crammed in countless family fun days and in retrospect are so glad we did.  I love making memories with my Best Buddy and our Little Women.  There have been so many simple and wonderful moments the last few months.  What a wonderful time of year!

And He Walked Right By

So an amazing and wonderful thing happened to me yesterday.  As a family we ran on a quick errand to our local Home Depot.  (We are making a PVC Pipe Skeleton for Halloween!) Anyhow, while there we decided to split up.  Hubby went one way while the midgets and I went another. 

After a few minutes of gathering the items on my list I decided to bunker down in one of the aisles.  I knew that staying in the same spot would prove much more beneficial than wandering aimlessly in search of my honey.  

Staying put turned out to be a smart move and within a few minutes I notice my husband walking by.  He on the other hand didn't appear to see us.  Needless to say I yelped his name and he turned with a surprised look on his face. 

Now here comes the fun part...

My best friend in the whole world, who has seen me at my best and worst, and loved me regardless looked at me and said "You have lost so much weight that when I glanced down this aisle I didn't realize I was looking at you."  

Oh joyous day!  

It is officially the little moments in life that make my heart smile.  Although, rarely do those little moments directly revolve around me and my physical appearance.  But, after two children and large amounts of weight gain as well as loss, it was nice to have my sweetheart unknowingly offer me such a wonderful compliment.  

And the moral of the story is... 

"There is nothing more sincere than an unintended compliment."  

Thanks Babe

You totally made my day!

 

Happy Birthday J

To: My Best Bud,

"You already know I love you, but I like you because..."

• You are one of a select few that can make me happy when I am sad.
  
• We have special secrets, like... "we are locked in the sally port," I know you know what I am talking about.
• Together we have learned to turn any argument into something we can laugh about.
• We do fun things together.
• When I eat half of the chocolate cake, you will sit down and eat the other half.
• With you there will always be, motorcycle rides in summer, pumpkin patches in fall, hot chocolate and donuts in winter, and beautiful tulips in spring.
• You never hesitate to dance with our Little Women.
• You don't get offended when I roll over in bed.  You understand that it is not personal; I just need to roll over.
• Your actions on a daily basis show me how much you love me.
• Even when you want to be selfish you still give me the ding-dong that was covered completely in tin foil and if I really want a sip of your Horchota you are always willing to share.  You always scratch my back even if you don't want to, and take your socks off and share them with me when my feet are cold.
• You have taught me to enjoy the little things, such as spending time together while our little ones sleep.
• You choose to spend your days with me.
• You are my sweetheart and although you are not perfect you are perfect for me!

J.J. 

I love you!

Happy Birthday,

"Sweet P"

Slow Down You Move Too Fast

My life needs to slow down, it is suddenly moving way too fast.  I cannot deny that I appreciate the crazy nature of a busy life.  When things are back to back, structured, and scheduled I tend to accomplish more than I would otherwise, but the last few months are out of control.  

Every day seems to be blending into the next in a manner that I find distinctly unattractive. How grateful I would be for just a little more time to breathe, sleep, and think.  Then again, if I took more time to breathe, sleep, and think I would be spending less time appreciating, loving and enjoying the precious people that make my world turn.  

I guess for now I will just have to keep up the crazy pace and take it one day at a time. 

Note to self-

Try to remember not only to notice the flowers, but make an effort to stop and smell them whenever possible.  

Now get off of this blog/journal, yada, yada and go do something that really needs to get done! Homework/cleaning/loving/caring/breathing/sleeping. . . 

 

Why Can't...

Why can't. . . my special mommy kiss make it all better?  

Why can't. . . I fix it and make it go away? 

Why can't. . . we trade places at least for a little while? 

Why can't. . . I do more than observe from the side? 

Rest little one, mommy loves you and

 I am sure you will feel better soon.