Category: Gratitude

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Thirty Days of Thanks, Day Two

Today, I am thankful for having a husband that is my best friend … my soulmate.

This evening we had gone to a funeral home for a family friend who had passed away. This particular family friend’s wife had passed on a few years earlier. His adult son, shared with us a story that had me just about in tears.

This family friend and his wife had known each other since first grade back in the Philippines. After his wife had passed away, he found journals that his wife had kept from what would be considered their “high school” years. The journals were written in English and were mostly “train of thought”-like entries. However, there were several entries that talked about her future husband; about how it seemed as if their teachers would always match them up together, and how eventually their friends would do the same. One entry, his son read aloud, talked about how his mom confessed that she had a soft spot in her heart for his dad, but wasn’t sure if he felt the same way.

After this family friend’s wife passed away, he and his son made it a project to type up all of her entries and bind it into a book. His son had said it was therapeutic for his dad because he missed his wife so much. His son would say he’d glow during the entries that talked about him and get angry when the entries focused on some of her other “suitors.” But no matter, this family friend typed up everything that his wife had written. He was that devoted to her.

This story really touched me. It just reminded how lucky I am to have a husband that is devoted to me as well. It reminds me that I’m lucky to have someone that I can call my best friend; someone I can say is my soulmate.

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Thirty Days of Thanks, Day One

So I’ve been thinking about this blog lately. And how I haven’t been writing on it lately. Then I saw a friend on Facebook ask if anyone was going to do the 30 Days of Thanks. So I thought to myself that this would be a good way for me to get back into writing. At least I hope.

Today I am thankful for a restful night’s sleep. So restful, that I was actually able to remember a pleasant dream that involved my Dad.

Call me strange, but I always thought that dreams about loved ones that have passed on are ways of communicating with each other. Now, I wish I can remember exactly what Dad said to me in my dream … but I know it was something soothing and happy.

So that’s what I’m thankful for today.

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Blog O’Versary

Four years. That’s how long I’ve been blogging.

It doesn’t seem like it’s been that many years. In that span of time, I’ve come to terms with my inability to have children. And Hubby & I have come to the decision to live child-free after infertility.

Wow, writing that last paragraph appears as if I’ve reduced the past four years into two simple sentences. Except I have 423 posts that say otherwise.

So either I’m too wordy … or I have a lot of issues.

I’m betting on the latter.

Anyway, I figured the best way for me to celebrate my 4th Blog O’Versary (my little ode to St. Patty’s Day) is to do that (in)famous “Meme of Four.”

Of course there are variations of this particular meme, so since it’s my blogoversary … I decided to pick the ones I wanted to answer. So without further ado …

~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~

Four Jobs I’ve Had

  • Whopper-Maker for “The King” (and I’m not talking about Elvis, either)
  • Broke Music Store Employee, who spent most of her paycheck on things called “tapes” and “records.”
  • Rockin’ Teacher’s Assistant at my University
  • Registered Nurse working for the “dreaded” HMO (actually, it was a rewarding job … )

.

Four places I’ve lived
(Yeah, this one was easy)

  • Metro Detroit
  • Metro Detroit
  • Chicago
  • Metro Detroit

.

Four shows I like to watch
(I have many, but these are my current faves)

  • Glee
  • The Good Wife
  • Criminal Minds
  • Fringe

.

Four movies I can watch over and over

  • 10 Things I Hate About You
  • Love, Actually
  • Notting Hill
  • Goonies

.

Four things I get cross about

  • Texting while driving
  • Selfish, self-centered people
  • Uninformed and ignorant statements
  • The lack of problem-solving skills in the world today

.

Four words/phrases I use a lot

  • Seriously?
  • Y’all (I blame it on all the time I’ve spent in the South for work lately)
  • Naughty!
  • Sorry …

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Four websites I visit daily

  • Facebook (admittedly addicted)
  • New York Times
  • Amazon (I like to “window” shop)
  • Multiple Blogs

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Four things I am looking forward to

  • Our 15th Wedding Anniversary (in August)
  • Traveling the world with Hubby (someday)
  • Retirement (maybe someday)
  • Growing old with Hubby (definitely … )

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Four things I’ve learned from the past

  • There are things in this world that are waaay beyond our control …
    no matter what science or medicine can provide
  • It really does take a huge leap of faith in order to move forward from loss
  • As Mick says, “You can’t always get what you want”
  • FAMILY:
    • can include every single aunt, uncle, and cousin you’ve become close to
    • It can also include those people that have touched your life in some way or another
    • AND most importantly, it can also mean just Hubby and me

.

Four things I want to do before I die

  • Spend a month traveling Europe
  • Write a novel and publish it
  • Move to the Pacific Northwest
  • Spend an entire week somewhere on any tropical beach, reading and soaking up the sun

.

~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~

Thank you to all who’ve still kept me on your blog reader. Even though I haven’t been the best of bloggers lately. Your words and your support (both here on my blog and on Facebook) mean the world to me … and have certainly been my light during those times of darkness. You guys rock!

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Leap of Faith

Darling Hubby,

Fourteen years ago, I gave my heart over to you completely. Which makes no sense, because I’m sure you won my heart over the first moment I climbed into that canoe with you on your sixteenth birthday. Of course, I refused to listen to my heart that day and kept you at arm’s length for two years after that fateful moment.

But once I took that leap of faith (and kissed you first ), I knew that you’d be the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. Fourteen years ago today, we sealed our love with our marriage vows … and despite the ups and downs in life we’ve had, I wouldn’t trade any moment of it. I would hold your hand and take every leap of faith with you, over and over again.

Happy Anniversary, Hubby!

Love Moves in Mysterious Ways
(music and lyrics by Julia Fordham)

Who’d have thought
 this is how the pieces fit?
You and I
 shouldn’t even try making sense of it
I forgot how we ever came this far
I believe we had reasons
 but I don’t know what they are
So blame it on my heart, oh

Love moves in mysterious ways
It’s always so surprising
 when love appears over the horizon
I’ll love you for the rest of my days
But still, it’s a mystery 
of how you ever came to me
Which only proves
Love moves in mysterious ways

Heaven knows
 love is just a chance we take
We make plans 
but then love demands a leap of faith
So hold me close
 and never let me go
‘Cause even though we think we know 
which way the river flows
That’s not the way love goes, no

Love moves in mysterious ways
It’s always so surprising
 when love appears over the horizon
I’ll love you for the rest of my days
But still, it’s a mystery 
of how you ever came to me
Which only proves
Love moves in mysterious ways

Like the ticking of the clock
 two hearts beat as one
But I’ll never understand
 the ways it’s done

Love moves in mysterious ways
It’s always so surprising
 when love appears over the horizon
I’ll love you for the rest of my days
But still, it’s a mystery 
of how you ever came to me
Which only proves
Love moves in mysterious ways

As performed by Filipino singer, Nina