I've decided to "say YES"

to some things that scare me. 

no specifics yet.  
but I want it in writing
to remember
when I look back I can say 
from Sept 12, 2012 on 
I said yes.

I'm excited to see where it goes.

THROUGH IT.

when you choose to "get over" something.  
it's not gone. 
it's still there. 
and tends to build up in the future. 
you can still FEEL it.  

you "got over it"

when you get through something. 
you may remember it. 
but it's been dealt with. 
it's not just "something" sitting there in the room. 
a big elephant. 
sitting there.

I just heard 
"don't worry about it, i'll get over it" 

so I asked, "can we get through it instead?"

I guess i hadn't really made that connection before. 
but now that i have, i had to share it with you. 

so please stop "getting over it" but WORK at getting THROUGH IT. {whatever it is}

love.S

now THIS is Love

My Grandpa and Grandma Darlene

This is LOVE.

They have been married for 13 years and have not spent more than 10 hours apart from each other...

Until about a month ago. 

They both have previously lost the loves of their lives. 

And then they were brought together. 

I remember one of the last things my Grandma told me was,

"Make sure you find Grandpa a wife... 

he needs someone."

her love for him was greater than her time here.

Darlene could not be a more perfect fit. 

She has loved and lost 2 husbands ... 

and is not about to lose a 3rd. 

Not now. 

They both are in the hospital fighting hard for their health! 

 Fighting hard for each other.  To be together. 

a picture says a thousand words. 

 I don't know if I can articulate what this picture means to me 

but I will try. 

As I look at this picture

I see comfort. 

I see confidence. 

I see love. 

I see devotion. 

I see laughter. 

I see fulfillment. 

I see friendship. 

 I see lives well lived. 

I hear their smiles. 

I see trust. 

I see determination. 

I see a soft place to land. 

I see the golden rule lived out. 

I see a bond that not many people truly know.

I see dependance. 

I see co-dependance. 

I see amazing examples.

I see a relationship that I will work hard to have someday.

I've started to think about dependance. 

Co-dependance. 

When did that become a bad thing?

When did we start to want to isolate ourselves and think that independence would some how be better 

than letting people in and truly loving. 

Giving of ourselves. 

Thinking about the other person before yourself 

and finding someone who will do the same. 

They make it look so effortless. 

All that I know of their relationships is to give 150%

To put your loved one before yourself. 

Their needs are more important than yours... 

HANDS DOWN

no questions asked!

Who does this now?

I try to live my life this way. 

I want 

this kind of love. 

this kind of friendship. 

this kind of trust and admiration. 

this kind of laughter. 

this kind of devotion. 

The kind that would sit next to a bedside all day everyday 

holding her hand letting her know that SHE is what matters

her health and well being... nothing else. 

The kind that even after having a stroke and being in the hospital 

himself he still tries to get out of bed to go see her. 

The kind that when they DO FINALLY get to see each other

she looks him in the eye and says, 

"now you work hard to get better so we can be together"

They were the "sweethearts of the ICU"

now they'll be the sweethearts of the rehab facilities. 

Grandma Darlene is one of the sweetest women I know. 

Grandpa is one of the biggest studs I know

{he still flirts with the nurses and makes everyone laugh}

The last few weeks have been really rough. 

But THIS is LOVE and it will get them through. 

I don't think we realize how powerful love is. 

This kind of love. 

It brings healing and strength. 

 In the times where it's not NEEDED as much it is multiplying itself to store up for when the time comes. 

It always comes. 

We all need love. 

So please build and don't tear down. 

Please speak life instead of death. 

Please kiss each other instead of just wanting to. 

Please talk when you want to be silent. 

Please laugh... A LOT. 

There are too many things that love can bring to let love go.

Don't seclude yourself. Reach out.

Give. 

Hope you're inspired.  

I know I am by their love!

not just determined by blood

I am thankful that FAMILY 
is not just determined by blood. 

It is determined by love for each other. 
A deep connection of concern and care for each other. 

FAMILY are the people who are around when your world feels like it's falling apart. 

They are the people who show up at your door when you thought you didn't need anyone. 

They are the people who go with you on trips to the doctor when you just need someone in the room. 

They are the people who make you belly laugh and your face flush over the simplest things. 

They are the people who believe in you in the great times and the hard times. 

The people who celebrate with you in the little things. 

They are the people who at the sound of their voice, your day was brightened. 

They are the people that no matter what time or space is there it feels like you never left. 

They are the people who you can't get enough of - even if you don't see eye to eye on everything. 

This is what my FAMILY is to me.

I am thankful for my FAMILY.  

my FAMILY by blood 

and my EXTENDED FAMILY - by choice. 

I am thankful for my FAMILY'S EXTENDED FAMILY - by choice 

they are also MY FAMILY - by choice. 

I am thankful that in times of need and want, FAMILY shows up. 

Thank you for "showing up" for us. 

With all my love,
to my FAMILY! 

21 Suggestions for Success

by H. Jackson Brown Jr.

1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.
2. Work at something you enjoy that is worthy of your time and talent.
3. Give people more than they expect & do it cheerfully.
4. Become the most positive & enthusiastic person you know.
5. Be forgiving of yourself & others.
6. Be generous.
7. Have a grateful heart.
8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.
10. Treat everyone you meet the way you want to be treated.
11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
12. Commit yourself to quality.
13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
14. Be loyal.
15. Be honest.
16. Be a self-starter.
17. Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.
18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more of than the ones you did.
20. Take good care of those you love.
21. Don't do anything that wouldn't make your Mom proud.