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!