Going slow

Life is a symphony, & we lose a third of it by cutting out the slow movement.

The Joy of being a part of you

Is the joy of being part of something greater.
The joy of singing the same song.
The joy of relating to each other so easily.
The joy of growing up together, living together and building memories.
The joy of helping to change the world by changing ourselves, by giving love and sharing it one heart at a time.
The joy of knowing we have brothers and sisters in the next country or on the other side of the globe.
The joy of being a support to each other, in times of crisis or in times of abundance.
The joy of haven't even met, but being no strangers, instead, family.
The joy of having one same goal and main purpose.
The joy of knowing that you're not the only one.
The joy of knowing there is someone out there who knows how it is, maybe even has been there, and what is best, also cares.
The joy of keeping communications and having an international network of friends and associates.
The joy of making history together.
The joy of changing together but being so individualistic at the same time that you can be fulfilled.
The joy of understanding each other.
The joy of sharing smiles.
The joy of being happy and fighting for many of the same things.
The joy of meeting each other at the different bends in the road and finding love in each other's smiles and disposition.
The joy of being a wordwide family!
The joy of knowing what it is and not being sure how to explain it.
It's the joy of having love and having Jesus, and striving to share it with others. How do you describe that?
The joy of growing and expanding and getting bigger and wider.
The joy of open arms.
The joy of not being perfect, but going on anyway.

Happy 42nd Anniversary!

My two pockets

There is a happy soul whose home is the Other End of Nowhere. He has two pockets. One has a hole in it and the other is carefully watched that no hole develops in it. Everything that he hears of a hurtful nature--insult, cutting remark, gossip, unclean suggestion, or any such thing--he writes on a piece of paper and sticks it into his pocket with the hole. Everything which he hears that is kind, true, and helpful, he writes on a piece of paper and puts it in the pocket without the hole.
At night he turns out all that is in the pocket without the hole, goes over all that he had put into it during the day, and thoroughly enjoys all the good things that have come his way that day.Then he sticks his hand into the pocket with the hole and finds nothing there, so he laughs and rejoices that there are no evil things to rehearse.
Too many of us reverse the other, putting the evil things in the pocket without the hole so that we can mull over them again and again, and the good things in the pocket with the hole so that they are quickly forgotten. Paul's way was: "Whatsoever things are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, whatever is admirable ...think on these things." (Philippians 4:8) -F.W. Boreham

I need to put things in the right pockets...take out the scissors to make the hole in the right one.

I miss you cuties

Benny I miss you taking my hand and teaching me how to be a ninja. I miss the conversations we'd have about aliens, being a prisoner, favorite foods or when I'd see you again. I learned that pancakes are the best meal, and I'll never forget when you ran out to see me and hugged my waist with all the enthusiasm within you.

Alex I miss your active mind and ready ideas, I miss your liveliness and when you'd suddenly chuckle. I miss your kisses and your big eyes.

Lene I miss your sticky kisses and you swinging your arms around my neck! When you'd beg me not to leave you, when you'd hold my hand, yell my name all throughout the house or when you'd make me run after you in high heels, ok that wasn't so fun -grins- But I miss you tonz! Looking at the moon with your eyes was an irreplaceable moment.

Leire I miss your smiles, enormous and radiant, even if it was at the roof you seemed to be staring at, I'm sure you can see something more which my eyes fail to see.

I love you and I pray for you.

Love means believing in someone

Love takes time. It needs a history of

giving and receiving, laughing, and crying.

Love doesn’t promise instant gratification,
only ultimate fulfillment.

Love means believing in someone, in something;
it presupposes a willingness to struggle,
to work, to suffer, and to rejoice.

Love is doing everything you can to help
others build whatever dreams they have.
Love is doing everything you can to help
others build whatever dreams they have.


Love is on a constant journey to what others
need. It must be attentive, caring, and
open, both to what others say and to what
others cannot say.


Love will never reject others. It is the
first to encourage and the last to condemn.

Love is a commitment to growth, happiness,
and fulfillment of one another.


-Adapted from Barb Upham

If an old man can smile, you can too.

He's seen life, he knows how it is. -And he can still smile at it.

What's there when nothing else is?

There's a part in the "August Rush" movie that made my eyes widen, my heart skip a lil beat and an expression of realization wash over my face.
Lois was talking to Evan, the little boy, and told him: "Never leave your music, never forsake it. Because when there's no one and nothing else, your music will be there, a safe refugee where you can go to and find strength to live on again. I learned that the hard way."
To me, the one thing that has been my refugee time and again, in the worst moments I've gone through, as well as the good, has been Jesus.
Seeing it this way, no one would ever dream of abandoning the one thing that will be there for them when nothing else can.
For those of us who want to keep our sanity, our wholeness, our living life, Jesus is not just the only thing that can keep us together come what may, but also the only thing that will be there when all else deserts us...how could we ever think of deserting Him..?! -He lives to give us His all.

With Sandy

"Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away." -It describes it perfectly.

I'm beyond lucky to have such a friend as you!

Love your life..as it is

Today I read, in the pages of a book called "Love your Life" :

"Not everything needs to be perfect before we start enjoying life."

It seemed to be written for me, just for me. But I know it can make a difference in the way you look at life too, the way you live it and how much you enjoy it.
Mental note: Write that quote on your forehead...oh right, you won't see it that way lovely dork. True, true..must come up with a better plan. -nods-
...It'd be nice if I could remember it with each smile.
I could write it on the forefront of my mind. -smiles-

Happy Birthday Ali!

Dearest Ali,
Thank you for existing.
Thank you for bringing your kids to Earth, for mothering them, loving them like only you can and fighting for them.
Thank you for being as wonderful as you are.
Thank you for all your smiles and hugs, for your interest, words of advice and reassuring looks.
Thank you for your gifts of love.
Even through the smallest things I could see in you a real fighter, a no-giving up person, full of love, someone admirable!
You mean lots to me!
I know you're a busy woman and you probably won't see this till way after you've settled in your new home and things stabilize a little. I just want you to know that I love and pray for you and I miss you and your children like crazy!
I also miss Nate, that's for sure :P
Have a Happy Birthday! I wish you the best year, the desires of your heart met, the victories you need won, and love to overflowing!
with love, Steph.

P.S. Send kisses to the cuties.