What if...

What if you know someone who is going through the same exact nightmare you were going through a few years ago? People said to stay out of it, it's none of my business. There's nothing I can do. I agreed. I thought about it more... well, I really can't get it out of my mind. Then I realized, I don't want to leave it alone. I want to do something about it. I don't know what, but I know in my heart I just have to do something. It may end up nowhere, it may be a waste of time. I know I can't change the person involved. Things WILL be said against me. But I don't care. How can I? I know how that person is feeling. What that person is going through. I was that person. I can't just let it go. If something worse happens, I will never forgive myself. How can you just leave it alone when you know how terrible it is to be in that situation. It's like seeing a stranger having a heart attack and not calling 911. Everybody I talked to said the same thing. And maybe they are right. But my heart says differently. I will do something about it. For now, all I can do is pray. I pray for the people involved, I pray for healing, for peace and forgiveness. And that's probably the most powerful thing I can do for them. ~ My heart aches for them. But it's nothing compared to that person's hurt. I know it. I felt it. If you are reading this, know that you will be alright. Just pray. I promise you will get something great out of this. ~

story: Family

Came across this touching poem. We often take for granted the people we love most. Do not forget, your every word, every action means the world to the people who love you.

FAMILY

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,

"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.

He said, "Please excuse me too;

I wasn't watching for you."

We were very polite, this stranger and I.

We went on our way and we said goodbye.

But at home a different story is told,

How we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal,

My son stood beside me very still.

When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.

"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heart broken.

I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken. 

While I lay awake in bed,

God's still small voice came to me and said,

"While dealing with a stranger,

common courtesy you use,

but the family you love, you seem to abuse.

Go and look on the kitchen floor,

You'll find some flowers there by the door.

Those are the flowers he brought for you.

He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.

He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,

you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."

By this time, I felt very small,

And now my tears began to fall.

I quietly went and knelt by his bed;

"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.

"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"

He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.

I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.

I knew you'd like them, especially the blue."

I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;

I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."

He said, "Oh, Mom, that's ok.

I love you anyway."

I said, "Son, I love you too,

and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

The beginning of my little garden: my first rose plant.

Bought my first plant yesterday! I cannot wait for it to bloom. It's a yellow rose, my mom's favorite. Now I just have to NOT kill it..... :) Thanks to the helpful gardeners at Armstrong Gardens, they gave me lots of tips to take care of my plants. I am determined and will be going by the book on this one. I love it and the Mister adores it. It's amazing how one plant can make a huge difference in our patio. LOVE it!

Next on the list... more succulents. It's really easy to take care of. I can't possibly kill it. :)

ps... see that little pot with Sammy's picture? That's her mother's day gift to me. I absolutely love it! 

a short story: a moment of joy

A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. ‘Just a minute’, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90′s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940′s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard

box filled with photos and glassware.

‘Would you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I told her.. ‘I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.’

‘Oh, you’re such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, ‘Could you drive

through downtown?’

‘It’s not the shortest way,’ I answered quickly..

‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. ‘I don’t have any family left,’ she continued in a soft voice..’The doctor says I don’t have very long.’ I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

‘What route would you like me to take?’ I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, ‘I’m tired.Let’s go now’.

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.

They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

‘How much do I owe you?’ She asked, reaching into her purse.

‘Nothing,’ I said

‘You have to make a living,’ she answered.

‘There are other passengers,’ I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.

‘You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 15:12-14

happy wife / happy mama

I'm the happiest when I am with them. To me, this is what matters and what is truly important. 

February 2012 . Laguna Beach

"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other."

                                                  - Audrey Hepburn

Cousins are the best playmates!

They are so easy to please.  :)

hot fudge sundaes and a movie!

then I woke up to this! makes me so happy.

happy kids.

off to the lake and park!

snacks and cuddling are our favorite!

I love them.

my monkeys!

sisters <3

after loads of fun and non stop snacking, this is what Sammy gets... tummy ache. 

but that didn't stop us from eating some more.

at home... girly stuff, push ups and horse back ride. lol...

These kids make my heart melt. I love them to pieces. Always happy times with the cousins. 

My joy comes from God.

{source}

Lately, I've been MIA on my 365 grateful project blog. It's not that I've stopped being grateful, it's just that some days it's hard to figure things out. The only permanent thing in life is change. I've been a bit sad lately, for so many reasons. It's probably no big deal, but its weighing me down. I need to stop and pray and really think what gives me joy. God gave me my family and friends to love and care for. They make me happy. But the truth is, my joy doesn't depend on anything or anyone. It depends on God. His unconditional love, my joy should be coming from following Him. Only then can I truly appreciate the people around me. God is the only one who can truly satisfy me. I am happy and thankful for my husband and my daughter. God blessed me with two beautiful, wonderful people to love me. But even the people closest to your heart cannot fully satisfy you. So starting today, I am on a mission. The first relationship I need to fix is my relationship with God. I want to be closer to Him and fully understand His love. 

To my amazing husband, I love you more than anything in this world. I am thankful for you. Everyday I long to be a better wife. A better partner. Because you deserve nothing but the best. And I am so far from it. But know that I am praying, because I know I cannot be better on my own. I pray for God's guidance and for Him to stay in the center of our marriage, He is our only way to success. I cannot wait to hold your wrinkly hand in that rocking chair in our front porch 40 years from now. I love you forever. 

To my sweet sweet baby girl. I would do anything for you. I hope you know how much I love you. I just can't show you enough. I know there will be a lot of questions in the future. I will never be prepared for it, but I pray that you see and understand how much I love you. Know that I did it all for you. I am honored to be your mother. You are my first great blessing. And I pray for God to continually guide me, and mold me to be the mother you deserve. I love you more than you'll ever know.