My Story

A new section and time in my life.  I feel peace over most everything that is in my life now, something I've not felt in a very long time.  My marriage is stronger and friendships seem brighter.  My job remains challenging but less stressful.  I don't expect every day to be glowing but I do expect every day to have meaning and purpose - something good that I can concentrate on.

Spending time with family today renewed my tranquility. Seeing the joy on my daughter's face as we play is priceless, and talking...really communicating with my son today brought me such joy. I know not everyone has that so I treasure these special moments all the more. Today is a day that I will treasure and hold dear. When I am old, it will give me a pleasant memory to ease with the changes.  When my husband looked at me and said, "it makes me happy when you smile", I understood.  He is at peace when I am. A happy household is something that cannot be bought. It has to be worked at, proven, and cherished. May our lives continue to have peace and happiness.

I began to write about fibro and the challenges that those who experience it go through - fibro fog, flu-like symptoms, muscle tenderness and aches and pains, but that's just not what I want to write about today.  Instead, I want to write about how thankful I am to have a job, to have dear friends that truly care about me, to have the best bosses, to have a loving husband, two precious children and a wonderful family.  I have one of those truly happy families and I know what a blessing that is.  I've experienced the loss of a wonderful husband, the loss of my dad, my brother and my mother moving away, but I have so much that I don't take for granted.  My husband is so loving and attentive to me.  He truly believes I'm the love of his life and special.  Bless his heart for knowing me and still feeling that way.  My children are soft-hearted and respectful and we are all so close and share things many families do not.  The church that we have been a...

It is weeks like the ones lately that I'm so thankful for my family and friends.  It's a reminder of what is truly important...and what is not.  Sometimes I have to let things slide - helping out at church, getting together with coworkers, accepting another volunteer request.  I try to not feel guilty but it's still a struggle.  I want to do everything but my body is not able to.  I'm learning that it is good to find a few moments to get away to a quiet place and bask in the Lord's peace and just listen to Him.  It restores my soul and body.

Communication is important.  For those who don't step out to make an effort, try.  You are missing out on so much joy, apt to make incorrect assumptions and hold resentments, and in the words of Stephen Covey -  "In the last analysis, what we are communicates far more eloquently than anything we say or do."  I cringe when people say they love yet don't care enough to alleviate another's concerns.  Even when it's hard I will try to communicate.  I can't always agree or make people feel good, but I can be honest and straightforward - and caring.

Each day is a blessing and a learning experience.  The way we handle our challenges help to mold us into the people we are.  I have a positive spirit - one that I've worked on for years, especially after my love, Ricky, was paralyzed and suffered daily.  Together we learned to enjoy the smallest details - a short time during the day without pain, the birds chirping, our son learning something new, or a special moment between the two of us bonding the strong love and relationship we shared.  There are days when I get discouraged or burdened but I write it down, think it through - and bounce back.  Life is too important and my time too valuable to let stuff get in the way of enjoying it to the fullest. 

You know how sometimes someone says something or does something so thoughtless that you want to just say, "Really? You actually think I'm that spineless that I'm going to allow myself to be run over like that?" I've always been the peacemaker and the one that wants others to like them, going out of my way to show love whether or not it's returned.   But...there comes a time when your young daughter starts noticing and you have to say that is enough.  She has been hurt by seeing how these certain people treat her mommy. I have to set an example for her. I don't want her to make the same mistakes I've made by letting others run over me.  There came a time a few years back when I got to the end of my rope. I finally got tired of a certain family situation and I blew.  In doing that, I destroyed years of trying to be the good influence, the sane one, and the fair one. It was one of those situations where two adults were acting like spoiled brats without co...