Thankful for 2012

I am thankful, today, for the past 364 days.

Some were not very exciting. Some were a little more than I could handle. Some were filled with love and laughter. Some were filled with tears and questions. Some were tinged with anger. Some required ranting. Some were sheer silliness. Some were full of nothing but complete and utter dumbfoundedness.

All were filled with family. All were filled with prayer. All were met with a positive attitude.

Some of my friends had really rough years. Some of my friends trounced around without a care in the world. Some people made me terribly unhappy with slanted, skewed, and forced opines. Some folks shared what made them joyous.

All were filled with family. All were filled with prayer. All were met with a positive attitude.

Some days brought death and sadness. Some days brought birth and rejoicing. Some days brought more questions than answers (most in fact!). Some days did not have enough hours (most in fact!). Some days dragged on forever.

All were filled with family. All were filled with prayer. All were met with a positive attitude.

The year is what you make it. You can let it wash over you and YOU become the filter. Leave the joy and the laughter and the celebrations and the rejoicing and the love. Let the anger, hatred, ranting, troubles, pains, hurt, and questions spiral down the drain of life while making you stronger.

I do hope that your 2012 was not as terrible as you may recall. Sometimes we focus far too long on the things that hurt us most. Choose, instead, to focus on the positive!

As we ring in 2013, I pray that you are met with joy and laughter, celebrations and rejoicing, and health and love. Be well. Be safe. Be happy!

Fill your days with family. Fill your days with prayer. Fill your days with a positive attitude.

Happy New Year!

Full steam ahead . . .

Today, I give thanks for a year well spent!

There were parts that were not happy. There were parts that were hurtful and depressing and full of tears. There were also parts filled with joyous celebration and love and laughter.

Tomorrow is promised to no one. Live today for all it's worth. Give of yourself 100%. No matter what you're doing . . . have at it . . . full steam ahead.

I'm certain I've made mistakes. I'm sure I have bungled a few decisions. I've made missteps and bad choices. I've also done terrific things and accomplished wondrous tasks and changed course and altered my path.

C'est la vie!

I have a few goals for 2013. I have visions and aspirations. More than anything else, I pray for a family that stays together and connected. I pray for health and wellness. And the riches I pray for have nothing to do with money.

I hope that your 2013 is whatever you need it to be. Choose your path, follow it, but don't be afraid to alter your course. That's part of the fun and excitement of breathing!

Full steam ahead . . .

Thankful for my glasses . . .

Today I am thankful for what some call my 'rose-colored' glasses.

I have been exposed to some seriously nasty things. I have seen my share and then some of horrific tragedies . . . 9/11, Columbine, liars, Newtown, floods, cheaters, hurricanes, Susan Smith, storms, sick children, abuse in many forms, pain, neglect, death. I have felt EACH incident at the core of my being.

I have also seen birth, life, joy, celebration, happiness, dreams come true, health, and miracles.

I honestly think that most of the above is true for most individuals. It is what you do to process those things and move forward that create YOUR world.

Some folks may think I see the world through rose-colored glasses. I choose to believe I see what is good and right and blessed in the world. There will ALWAYS be evil. There will always be those who cheat, rob, steal, lie, kill, abuse, bully, and demean. You cannot avoid them. You simply move beyond them and love what is left.

I can recall spending nights in the hospital with my son while listening to parents wailing as their child leaves this world for the next. Those sounds will never leave me. They will haunt my eardrums for eternity. But I have also seen the miracles of healthy children who survive the unthinkable and go on to lead fabulously fulfilling lives. I choose to focus on those miracles while using that spark of pain to push me forward to make the world a little better. However I am able!

Today, I urge you to change your spectacles. Yes, the world is full of hurt. It is also full of the overcoming of it. Change your view point and the world is a whole new place.

Come and see what I see . . .

Gray Matters

Today, I am thankful for my brain.

It allows me creativity, incite, intelligence (although some question that), personality, thought, decisions, determination, and opinions. My little bucket o' gray matter is mine. It is what makes me different from every other person in the universe. It makes me special. It makes me unique. It gives me the flavor that some either love or hate.

Although I may not be technically trained in matters, I am schooled in life. I have come to learn that that is sometimes much more necessary to get through it than to know about imaginary numbers or memorizing historical dates. To realize the value of another person far outweighs any degree one can receive.

I hope that you enjoy your brain. It is your opportunity to share yourself with the world. It is your gift. In doing so, however, remember that I only have enough room in my head for my brain. Please don't try to shove yours in there with mine. Respect my space as I respect yours.

Have a brainy sort of Thursday. Make good choices and do good things!

Tick Tick Tick

I am continuing my thankfulness blogging until the end of the year. It just seems appropriate as we begin to reflect back on a very full year and forward in hopes of a beautiful 2013.

I am thankful today for time . . .

Christmas day was spectacular! I adore my role as mom and wife. I got to play both to the extreme yesterday. Normally hubby makes Christmas breakfast. Yesterday, I relieved him of his duties and made some apple cinnamon, coconut pancakes (in remembrance of our Jamaican anniversary trip). They were super delicious and the kids and even the dog ate 'em up!

Then it was time for stockings. The dog knows which one is his and he just loved his squeakey monkey. The kids had various treats, the obligatory Pez dispenser (which always makes us laugh), giant candy cane sticks (which the dog thought were good fetching tools), and scratch off tickets (to keep gamblin' grandma in our thoughts!).

Then present time. My babies got a majority of things they requested and I even got to spoil hubby a little. He so very much deserves it with all the hard work and time he puts into his job. The dog enjoyed his treats and helped to tear up wrapping paper and boxes. He's very good at that. I was blessed with angels and starfish and Giants gear and Bulls gear and lots of household treats. I was moved to tears several times with different items. All good tears though. I'm kind of a mush!

Then it was time to cook. I chased everyone into the living room and I began my beloved task of cooking Christmas turkey. I so enjoy making dinner for my family and listening to them play games and watching them rummage through all of their gifts and treats. It just makes a mother's heart soar.

Dinner was scrumptious and then it was game time. They had already exhausted Othello and Mancala so it was time for some family Apples to Apples. It was a time of many laughs and much sarcasm. (You expected something else from this family?) Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!

Time to walk the dog and then time for a family movie! We, for the first time, actually went to the theater on Christmas day. Since the boy is such a film buff, we caught the newest Tarantino film. It surely did not disappoint. It was vintage Tarantino! We quoted it all the way back to Deanna's apartment and said a sad goodbye to a beautiful day.

Time is fleeting. Make it mean something. Fill those ticks with memories and love and family and friends. My time, yesterday, was full! I wish you the same every day!

Full of Thanks

Merry Christmas! What a glorious, wonderful day!

With adult children, the early mornings are a thing of the past, but not for me! I am always awake early and that is fine. It is this quiet, peaceful time that I am blessed to reflect and enjoy the happenings of a yesterday, a year, and a life full of things to be thankful for!

The top ten reasons to be thankful this morning:

I am awake and enjoying Christmas morning! Thankful item #1.
My two beautiful children are sleeping just feet away. Thankful item #2.
My absolutely amazing husband is sleeping just feet away in the other direction. Thankful item #3.
My fuzzy old grey-haired pooch is balled up just behind me. Thankful item #4.
I got texts from most of my brothers yesterday and even a few of my beloved nieces and nephews. Thankful item #5.
I am certain that my mom, my favorite Christmas angel, is watching over me today and always. Thankful item #6.
I am blessed to have spent yesterday with family and friends and a wee little precious infant. Thankful item #7.
I am blessed to have some of the most spectacular friends in all of the world. Thankful item #8.
I will soon begin the delightful task of making apple/cinnamon/coconut pancakes. Thankful item #9.
Today is a day to celebrate Jesus Christ - and all the many blessings He showers down upon us. Thankful item #10.

I pray that today is a day full of blessings for you and yours. If you are not near family . . . go make one, call them, skype them, whatever makes you less alone. You are never alone with the joy of God in your heart!

Be richly blessed and have a very Merry Christmas everyone!

Traditional Thanks!

I am thankful today for traditions! Those timeless wonders that pass from generation to generation or the loving silliness that starts and doesn't end! It's all good and it's all magical!

When I was younger, Christmas Eve was a time for the children to go to bed while the parents went to midnight mass. We'd trudge our way upstairs knowing that once that living room door was shut, there was no going back.

We'd wake up super early on Christmas day and the excitement was palpable! Only issue was that the house rule was you could not open that living room door until everyone in the house was awake. That really didn't take too long with seven kids! Still, the only trace of Christmas was the stocking on that dadgum living room door. Family breakfast was a must prior to going into the living room. We were allowed to open our stockings, but until breakfast was done . . . the door remained closed. What a thrill every year when we were finally able to plow our way in there to see what Santa had left!

I remember one year when our grandmother gave us all some sort of fabric. The first person thought it was a towel and it was tossed aside like new socks. The second person said, "No, I think it is a table cloth," and laid it out on the coffee table. By the third person, we were laughing hysterically as each of us had to come up with a different use. There were turbins, capes, and all sorts of other silliness. Ahhhhh, I remember it well!

Now . . . with a family all my own . . . even though the kids are 19 and 21, they will be home tonight and Victor will sit with them on the couch and read The Night Before Christmas. They will then be forced to go to bed so Santa can visit. In the morning, maybe even a little more cruel than my upbringing as we have no living room door, they must wait until everyone is awake and family breakfast is consumed before touching any presents under the tree. Prior to breakfast, they can open the goodies in their stockings . . . almost always to include a Pez dispenser. Not sure when that started, or why, but I think they'd be lost without it!

After breakfast, we head into the living room and we take turns opening gifts ~ slowly and appreciatively! It is a day full of faith and festivities. I adore it! Just ask any of my 150+ Santas. They celebrate with me every year!

Today . . . share with me YOUR traditions and I hope they buoy your spirits and your holidays. Cherish them.

Be safe. Be well. Have a blessed Christmas Eve. Enjoy it all!

Thanks for the riches!

God grant you the light in Christmas, which is faith

God grant you the warmth of Christmas, which is love

God grant you the belief in Christmas, which is truth

God grant you the all of Christmas, which is Christ!


I am thankful for all that God blesses me with on a daily basis. I humbly accept these gifts and offer them on to others. We must begin to share 'our' wealth, not the wealth of this world, for things to improve and change.

Have a blessed weekend and be thankful for all that you possess! You are wealthy beyond your understanding!

Thankful for My Angel

As I was busily trying to accomplish all of my tasks on yesterday's to-do list, I found myself massively missing my mom. Oh how I wish she were here for Christmas. How I wish I could sing a carol with her, play a duet on the piano with her, go shopping with her, play scrabble or boggle with her, or just simply sit beside her and enjoy her wonderful company again.

I ran around in circles, like I always do. I had to pick up a charity check for the hospital. I came home to find a wonderful friend in the driveway with more toys to mash in my truck to take to the hospital. I called my daughter to make sure she was going to attend the hospital holiday function with me. She confirmed and asked if her beau could also come. The more the merrier, and I got changed to head to St. Pete. I listened and hummed and sang along to the Christmas songs - sometimes melody and sometimes harmony. I got to my daughter's apartment and out came Chris Kringle. Her beau is growing a little beard and with longer hair, his blonde mop has turned a strawberry tinted color and he looks just like Chris Kringle on the BurgerMeister Meisterberger version. We went to the event and saw a few friends, went upstairs and visited with our absolute favorite media folks, and then went to the hospital to unload an entire giant bin (six feet tall by three to four feet wide) of toys for kids at All Children's Hospital. We visited some parts of the hospital and then I took my daughter and Chris . . . um, er, I mean Nick home. Then I started my forty minute trek home.

As I was driving, buoyed by the events of the afternoon and the good that we had done, it dawned on me ~ because I'm just a little thick-headed ~ that my Christmas wish was right in front of me the whole day.

A $300 donation check, a truckload of gifts for sick kids and their families, friends and family, Christmas carols, and nothing but good stuff going on. Of course my mom is here!

What other Angel could summon up all those wonderful things to put in my day? What other Angel would watch over me and have me occasionally take the harmony part? What other Angel guides me along a path that is adorned with the most abundant blessings of great friends and incredible family and wonderful people and events? The Angel who has ALWAYS watched over me!

Mom

Love you. Miss you. Thanks for being with me.

Thankful for Generosity

I write almost daily about the positive effects of what your good deeds have in the world. I urge you constantly to pay your blessings forward. I ask you to think about those less fortunate and to do what you are able to do to assist them. No deed is too small. No effort is too trivial.

Last night, I was humbled beyond words to be the recipient of all those things.

I was invited to a holiday party hosted by the North Pinellas Regional Chamber of Commerce at Basque Restaurant on US 19 in Clearwater. The venue was beautiful, the food was absolutely scrumptious, the folks were a wonderful bunch. The part that truly tugged the old heart strings was that the only entry fee to the party, was a toy donation for the children of All Children's Hospital.

Jane and Barbara were my cohorts. Hubby came, even though he was not feeling well, and I spent the evening with old friends and making new friends. And the toy pile grew.

I had to speak (NOT my favorite thing to do) about what we, as the All Children's Hospital Guild North Pinellas Branch, do for the hospital. I spoke of my experience there with my own children. It brings tears to my eyes to recall the years we spent back and forth to this amazing facility. And the toy pile grew.

There were raffles and auctions and a 50/50 and decadently delectable desserts and more friends to meet. And the toy pile grew.

At the end of the evening, the hospital was blessed with my Pathfinder stuffed to the gills with toys for children at the hospital. The Guild Branch also received a little over $400 in auction funds. There are more toys to pick up today from a poor soul who was caught at work at couldn't make it last night.

I am in awe of the generosity of every day folks . . . the angels I encountered last night. I heard several stories of families who had been positively effected by All Children's Hospital. It was an incredibly inspiring evening and having been on the receiving end of the pay-it-forward system, I will be touting its benefits all the more.

Thank you SO much to all of you, for your kindness, your generosity, your support, and your friendship. You are a blessing!

Thank You!

Thankful that the caged bird sings

Today . . . I am thankful that the caged bird sings.

This may mean many things to many people. To mean, it brings me directly to a poem I wrote when my most amazing mother passed away. A set of lines from that tribute states:

She encouraged each of us to pursue our wildest dreams,
Never doubted our abilities, instead assisted in our schemes

I grew up in a house where using our imagination was occasionally our only avenue of entertainment. We did not have a lot of money and so we found alternate ways to have fun which included actually playing outside (what?), creating games, putting on plays and skits, going on constant adventures in the woods or across the tracks or by the river, playing music, and letting our fantasies run free.

As a result, many in my family are amazingly creative. Most of my brothers are carpenters/builders. That alone is a creative-man's field. We are poets, writers, musicians, idea people. We are not bound by things that are 'probable'. Rather, we exceed those boundaries by sheer and simple thought.

If one does not exercise their body, the body becomes flabby, shapeless, and ill. If one does not exercise their imagination . . . the outcome is the same.

Although I was not able to offer my children the incessant opportunities in music that I would have liked, I allowed them to wander wherever they chose in their creative realms. I am in awe of what a little freedom and possibility can produce. They amaze me . . . continuously!

The bird sings not because it is free to do so . . . it sings because it loves its song. No matter how you try to harness something, its real passions and productivity will come through in the end.

I am thankful that the caged bird sings. It's a beautiful song that the world would be robbed of if the captor got his way.

Sing!

Thankful for Ch-Angels

Today, I am thankful for the Ch-Angels in this world!

I have written about the Ch-Angels in my life. Those folks who have made major impacts upon my psyche and moral code and basic outlook on life. Those folks who have taught me, guided me, sustained me, supported me, and loved me . . . to the moon and back . . . and made a world of difference.

Today, however, I write of the worldly Ch-Angels! The heroes of the every day.

The people who teach. The people who heal. The people who guard. The people who keep us safe. The military. The first responders. Those charged with herding the sheep to a much better grazing land!

They are here, walking among us, wings unfurled each day doing nothing more than the task they have chosen as a daily chore. They take of their own time, finances, efforts, and emotional welfare to nurture and protect us. They seek no retribution, no accolades, no awards, no fame. They exist to make the world a better place and they do an incredible job!

Sprinkled into those daily miracle makers are the make-a-choice Ch-Angels. These are the folks who rise to the occasion and become much more than they ever dreamed possible. These are the heroes that show up at accident scenes and lift cars to retrieve passengers, dive into icy waters to fetch the fallen, gather the children who flee from unfathomable horror, buy presents for children they will never know or see, those who go beyond their own realm ~ without thought or reason ~ to do the right thing for others.

We all have that Ch-Angel gene within us. Some just ooze with it. Some must have it coaxed out of them. Some are thrust into situations where it simply is their reaction. However it appears . . . I am thankful for it!

Thank you Ch-Angels! You make this world worth living in!

Thankful for blessings

Yesterday, I had the distinct pleasure of playing elf!

It began in the morning. I took out all the goodies I had made over the past week and began to make platters for folks. Chocolate presents, trees, bulbs, snowmen, snowflakes and more, rocky road and chocolate/peppermint fudge, chocolate-dipped rum balls, tiger cookies, snickerdoodles, peanut butter cookies, and chocolate/hazelnut/peanut butter pinwheel cookies.

With platters made, and a few presents wrapped, I started off in my sleigh for my elfin ways. My first stop was an incredibly close friend's house who, through no fault of her own, is tough to meet up with. We stay in touch, and even though she lives just a few short miles away, getting together is difficult due to our conflicting schedules. Yesterday's visit was perfection! Like we were never apart. Conversation just picked right up, information shared, hugs hugged and a beautiful little visit was had. She truly is an angel here on earth for me. She always has been . . . always will be.

Off to the mall for a goody delivery at work. I was also greeted with a tremendous amount of generosity with a tiny fundraiser I am having. Such wonderful blessings! Icing on the cake was the assistance of one fabulous sales associate who offered me her discount so my $43 holiday shirt cost me a whopping $10 and change! BONUS!

From there, I came home with all kinds of boundless energy and was able to assist hubby with our garage project. It took me several sweaty, head-banging hours but I made a huge dent so he could rest and try to get over a nasty cold. My endeavors paid off huge!

My third delivery was to a young man who used to live across the street. He and his girlfriend have an incredibly beautiful baby girl! I delivered a little treat platter to them and a gift to their princess. And then . . . the best gift of all . . . I stole that baby from grandma and got to hold her for a long while. Such a joy! The most precious of all gifts . . . the innocence of a tiny life . . . in my arms! Delicious!

I cannot afford presents for all the folks I'd like to buy for. Even if I could, that's not the point. I think the gift of my time and energies and care and love shoved into every cookie and morsel I make speaks volumes about my love for others.

We all know how to give the gift of a present, but it is more important to share the gifts that you were born with.

And in return . . . the hand of God reaches down and blesses you!

Ch-Angels Galore

We don't know names, nor exact ages, nor ethnicities, nor sexes and it doesn't matter.
Yesterday saw a mass-entrance of Ch-Angels into the Kingdom of Heaven!

I will not speak to gun control, or medical services, or social agendas -  that kind of makes my stomach turn. I don't understand how folks can go there after such a calamitous event. Our focus should be entirely upon those babies, the staff, their families, and how to help this community cope with such a horrific and hateful tragedy.

I believe God himself sat at the Pearly Gates and welcomed those tiny, innocent people into His Home. His open arms draped in the warmest of fabrics offering a safe haven to what they had just gone through. I believe their acceptance was immediate, warm, and beaming. Those of us left here, have only time and tears to try to comprehend the incomprehendable.

We must, if nothing else, not focus our attention on control, or medications, or systems; but rather on love. Tomorrow is promised to no one. Where evil stalks, sadness remains. Don't let this monumental loss be turned into something it should not be. It is a loss. A tragic, senseless, terrifying loss. Unexplainable and indefinable! A moment that will be etched in the hearts of minds of millions of people.

Pray for those families who have suffered the unthinkable. Pray for the families of the staff. Pray for one another. Pray!

And if your comments do not reflect the real focus on this catastrophe, the children lost, then please keep your comments to yourself!

Today

Today is National Believe Day!

Oh boy! One of my favorites!

I believe!

I believe in treating people with respect. I believe in encouraging others. I believe in making a difference. I believe in paying it forward. I believe in caring and sharing. I believe in wishes and dreams. I believe in self respect and self reliance. I believe in stopping harmful cycles and creating a warm and cozy home. I believe in health and happiness. I believe that wealth does not always come in the form of paper bills and pocket change. I believe that some friends make the best family members. I believe that the children really are our future. I believe that life is precious. I believe that sometimes the cause is worth the fight - so fight like hell! I believe we have within us the strength, the fortitude, and the opportunity to make ourselves and our world better. I believe in love! I believe in forgiveness, not necessarily forgetting. I believe my spouse is my best friend and hope yours is too. I believe my mother hears me and watches over me every day! I believe my children are two of the most amazing people on this planet. I believe in honesty and sincerity. I believe that liars are sad people. I believe that miracles happen every day!

I believe God is an awesome God!

I believe I'll wish you a Merry Christmas and wish, for you also, the joy and peace that this season is meant to bring.

I am thankful for all the things I believe in.
I am thankful for you!

Tenaciously Thankful!

Today, I am thankful for tenacity!

I could, and might, write a book about all the mountains I've climbed. Chapters of hardships, hurdles, and haunting happenings that have infected portions of my life. I could write for days about broken hearts and tainted trusts. I could pour myself into pages of powerful paralytic periods. They all happened. They all hurt. They all were devastating.

But . . .

I am no longer there. A person could spend eternity looking back, forlornly at their past. In doing so, they miss the present and the opportunity to enhance their future. I cannot change my past. I cannot alter things that have already occurred.

I can, however, choose to learn lessons from those awful times. I can take the tattered remains of what happened and build a better tomorrow.

Tenacity is defined as:  holding or grasping firmly; retentive; stubborn or persistent; holding together firmly; tough or cohesive.

I am all those things. I hold on to the promise of better things, the general good in most folks, the notion that I can accomplish what I put my mind to; and the idea that I deserve all of those things!

Today, I hope you lay down your baggage from the past. Move ahead toward dreams and goals. The future is yours. Set a course and stick to it . . . with the tenaciousness that exists in each of us!

You can do it!

Touch A Life

I've written of sight and hearing and today . . . it's all about touch!

I feel bad for the germophobes. Those poor folks who cannot even shake a hand or give a hug in fear of what might occur. I, personally, would rather contract pneumonia than not have human contact!

Touch is so vital . . .

The softness of a newborn baby, the feel of warm sand beneath your feet, the enormity of a hug, the gentle caress of fresh air upon your face. To feel things is to experience life!

The warmth of a child in your arms, the bristly snuggling into hubby's furry chest, the security of a critter to pet, warm ocean waters, cool mountain streams, rough tree bark, prickly thick grass, the sun on your body, a good book in your hands, tickling the ivories, tackling a receiver, the safety of your hand in the hand of someone you trust.

Touch conveys so many things to so many people.

However you can today . . . touch a life!

The Sound of Silence

Ah, yes! That is one of my favorite sounds! The sound of nothing . . . simple, pure silence! It's a beautiful thing!

I also adore lapping waves, morning birds chirping, crackling fires, music of just about every sort, baby's cooing, and children's laughter.

I cherish the car alarm beeping so I know my son is home.

I love the song my phone plays telling me my daughter is calling.

I love the rhythmic sounds of my husband's breathing as he lays sleeping beside me.

I'm not so much a fan of the dadgum chickens that live across the street.

Enjoy the sounds around you. If you indulge for just a moment, you will find yourself relaxing and enjoying life and what thrives within it, just a little bit more!

Do You See What I See?

Today, I am thankful for sight!

I had the most distinct pleasure of a visit from my oldest brother, Cal, over the weekend. It was a short visit but just jam packed with all sorts of fun and laughter. We discussed, at one point, what we see in life.

We've both been through a lot. Heck, my whole family has. But every one of us has come to see life differently. We're not different than any other family . . . or people, in general, for that matter. Cal and I, though, choose to see the positive; the good; the opportunities; the open doors. We choose to leave the drama, the hurt, the ugliness out of our line of vision. It is there. We are wary of it. But we choose to side step it, much like horse poop at a dude ranch!

I see trees of green, red roses, too. I see 'em bloom, for me and for you.
I see skies of blue, clouds of white, bright blessed days, dark sacred nights.
The colors of a rainbow, so pretty in the sky. Are also on the faces of the people going by.
I see friends shaking hands, saying, "How do you do?" they're really saying, "I love you!"

I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places . . .

The first time, ever I saw your face . . .

I keep my eyes wide open all the time . . .

Do you see what I see, way up in the sky little lamb?
Do you see what I see? A star, a star, dancing in the night with a tail a big as a kite.

What do you choose to see?

I have seen spectacular mountains, incredible animals, beautiful valleys, the colors of a glorious fall, dolphins at play in calm waters, open skies.

I have seen birth, growth, laughter, joy, brilliance, triumph, and the passing from this life into what lies beyond.

I have seen miracles!

Do you see what I see?

Fantasmagorical!

Today, I am thankful for days like yesterday!

I woke up WAY too early ~ about 2:45 am. I was a little excited about All Children's Hospital's 5th Annual Radiothon. I may have napped for another 30 to 40 minutes between then and when the alarm went off at 6 am, but then I hit the floor running!

I was fine at Radiothon until I listened to Oliver's story. Oliver is a friend of mine with OI (Osteogenesis Imperfecta) or Brittle Bone disease. He is three years old and has had numerous leg breaks and surgeries. He is also one of the cutest, sweetest, and most darling little boys you'd ever want to meet! Shortly after hearing his story, with a lump in my throat and tears welling, my buddy Ann delivered an email about a mom whose daughter has the same disease my son has. That was all it took. The tears were freely flowing. Thank goodness the phone rang and I could focus on the task at hand . . . except . . . As I thanked the caller and was hanging up, he asked if he could leave a message on his donation. I told him, "Of course you can!" He then said, "Tell Oliver to stay strong and keep up the fight." And I was over the edge. It was at that very moment that Stephanie grabbed me to go have Mike Alstott sign my Radiothon shirt for my son. Oh joy! I get to meet Mike Alstott looking like a slobbery mess. Mike happily and eagerly signed the shirt and we were chatting a little bit when Stephanie reappeared with a camera man for a photo opp. Super! The picture actually turned out rather nice! And in hugging my Ann Miller goodbye, after a rather emotionally draining shift, I just couldn't turn off the waterworks. There is just something so genuine and loving and caring about this woman. It's like she's the sister I never knew growing up. She's the best friend I SHOULD have met thirty years ago but am thrilled to have crossed paths with when I did. She oozes such compassion and love and friendship and comfort. She gets me. It was a truly magical morning!

Then off to visit my daughter for a brief moment. She wants to decorate her apartment but times are tough. So, mom brought Christmas for her. I did a little grocery shopping, got a pine-scented candle, and picked out a northern pine Christmas Tree to help make her home festive. She cried. I cried some more. It was very tiring . . . and very worth it! She decorated the tree with sand dollars she was given from her recently passed grandma/grandfather's house. It's beautiful . . . like her!

Then home to eat because I was starving! I run into my son who is just waking up at near noon! He VERY much loves his Radiothon treat! I am thrilled to offer him this little goody. He's a fantastic young man! No crying here - except in the retelling of the story of the morning!

And then . . . hubby is off! What a special bonus! We spent the rest of the day Christmas shopping and having dinner out on the town. There was laughter and hand holding and walking in quiet wonder looking at Christmas lights and store fronts. What a beautifully magnificent day.

I am thankful for days like yesterday. It was fantasmagorical!

Crocodile or not

Today, I am thankful for tears!

Tears come for all sorts of reasons.

The obvious reason like when you stub your toe in the middle of the night and whilst hopping around you fall over your dog. Yup . . . that'll do it!

The pain of loss - a loved one, a pet, a friend, a job, or your trust.

Misunderstandings - which are one of the worst, because this is completely avoidable!

Chick-flicks - these sometimes will even drag the old salt sacks from the manliest of men!

Hallmark commercials - tugging the old heartstrings all the time. (Or is that just me?)

And then . . . there are happy tears, too!

Jubilation - the proposal, big news, and births!

Pride - when, perhaps, your children exceed your expectations. I've cried many of those!

Admiration - in the realm of respecting veterans and things of that nature.

Love - when the power of a simple sentiment so overwhelms you, that you are moved to leak!

Tears are cleansing and empowering all at the same time. They do not show weakness or lack of character. Quite the opposite. They show strength in one's ability to emit emotion and the fortitude to truly be who you are!

My name is Lynette Carol Rider Marinello and I am a crier! There is no twelve-step program for recovery. I don't WANT to recover. I enjoy having a heart and emotion and a soul. I expose them freely. I cry over silly things and meaningful things.

I cry because I care!

The best medicine

I am thankful for laughter!

The great, big, guffawing belly laugh after a great joke, or video, or escapade.
The non-stop giggles after you've done something completely stupid and you just can't stop laughing at yourself.
The snort laugh because you simply cannot catch your breath.
The crying laugh from pure anxiety or pure euphoria.
The nervous laugh brought on by insecurities, but a great ice-breaker.
The cackle laugh . . . which really kind of frightens me.
And my absolutely favorite . . .
The laughter of babies and children!

It is just the purest form of innocence out there and if those cuddle-worthy chuckles don't create a happy place in your heart . . . you're in desperate need of therapy!

Today . . . I am thankful for laughter.
Get out there . . . chuckle, guffaw, snort, cry, cackle, giggle, or just enjoy the laughter of others.
It does a body good!

Hands

As I laid in bed this morning, I was hoping for a little inspiration for my daily blog. It was then that my hubby reached over, I thought he was sleeping, and grabbed my hand. With fingers intertwined, he said, "I like when you're here."

OK . . . so . . .

I am thankful for hands!

There are working hands . . . those that get dirty and grimy and calloused and gnarled. Those hands that know they've put in a hard day's work and have not been idle.

There are shaking hands . . . the good, sturdy, manly handshakes! Not those dead fish, girly soft handshakes. I'm talking about the ones that convey your word, your ability, and your service.

There are talented hands . . . those hands that work magic with a paint brush, a keyboard, an instrument, a camera, a blank canvas. The hands that create meaningful beauty to share with others.

There are emotional hands . . . the hands that are used to ooze the emotions of the heart. The writer's hands, the poet's hands, the screen writer's hands, the lyricist's hands.

There are caring hands . . . those hands that belong to those gifted angels we call nurses and doctors and caregivers. The hands that work the miracles of health and healing.

There are the loving hands . . . the hands of the parent. The hands that cradle the infant, coddle the toddler, encourage the child, guide the adolescent, support the young adult, and are a constant in the lives of their child.

There are the praying hands . . . the hands that have learned to let go of the steering wheel and leave it to a higher source. The hands that are strong enough to ask for help, to implore proper guidance, and a servant's humbleness.

There are helping hands . . . those hands that disregard their own wants and desires and do the right thing by others. They offer themselves without hesitation. They exist to provide for others.

And there are the holding hands . . . like this morning! The hands that convey the words that need not be spoken. The intertwining of fingers that symbolize the intertwining of so very much more.

I am thankful for all those hands!

Thankful for Dreams . . .

Yesterday's post was in regard to All Children's Hospital. Today, I am sharing my thanks for The Children's Dream Fund. The CDF is very much like Make-A-Wish only it is focused primarily on central Florida. They grant dreams to critically and terminally ill children. They have stolen my heart!

On Miles' very first hospital stay for an infusion, we were visited by a representative from the Children's Dream Fund. They had been directed to us through the hospital, I believe (another kudos to them!). The representative told Miles - she spoke to him (not me!) - that whatever his little heart could dream up, they would work as hard as they could to make it come true. They offered him examples of past dreams granted: new computers, shopping sprees, giant playsets, trips to anywhere, cruises, meeting celebrities, a new bike, anything!

So, Miles politely asked if he could think about it. She immediately smiled and told him, "Of course." I'll come see you again on your next hospital visit."

What you need to know is that Miles' particular disease kept him very immobile. Not out of choice, but it attacked his muscles leaving him very, very weak. When we had been getting steroid infusions at the outpatient center, he had very few options to keep himself entertained. There was a plethora of movies, but it was viewed by everyone, so the choice needed to be mutual. He could do homework. Ew! Or . . . he could read. He chose the latter.

When we again visited ACH, the representative came - as she promised. She asked Miles if he had come up with a dream and if it was HIS dream alone. He replied, "Yes!" I really had no idea what he had come up. She asked to know what he wanted and he said, quite matter-of-factly, "I would like my own library!" The Children's Dream Fund rep just absolutely beamed. This was a new one for her!

Just a few short weeks later, after Miles designed his bookshelf along with laminate colors and even getting to make a wishlist of books, we were blessed with a visit by the CDF fairy! He received a beautiful bookshelf, 5' tall and 8' long, built by Ruhl Entertprises, funded by The Palm Harbor Junior Women's Club and filled by Barnes and Noble. It was an extraordinary gift which allowed Miles to escape into whatever story he was reading and away from treatments, poking, prodding, and infusions. What a gift these Dream Fund folks are.

We are privileged to call them friends and we've been so touched we've given back to them on many occasions to pay-it-forward to help other sick children. Should you be looking for a charity or a way to really impact a life . . . go to www.childrensdreamfund.org and find out ways that you can make dreams come true.

We are thankful for The Children's Dream Fund! VERY MUCH SO!

Thankful? Quite!

About twelve years ago, my son was in the third grade. He was a very typical, crazy eight year old busy with school, friends, and after school activities. He liked taekwondo and basketball and swimming and football and budweiser commercials! For Christmas he received a basketball hoop for the driveway. We had to literally drag him inside for dinner. Day two . . . the shots were not very active and he seemed rather lethargic. Day three . . . we couldn't even get him to go outside. Day four . . . after laying on the floor to watch cartoons, he could not get back on his feet without pulling himself up on the coffee table. My 'Miles-a-minute' was miles from well.

Enter All Children's Hospital. After two months of misdiagnoses by our pediatrician, we were sent to All Children's Hospital. They knew immediately what was wrong with him and suggested a very aggressive treatment plan. He was diagnosed with dermatomyositis, an auto-immune disease where the body attacks its own muscles thinking them to be a virus. This is life-threatening and just a tad scary. All Children's Hospital to the rescue!

Treatment was frightening. Infusions. Shots. Poking. Prodding. And all of it FREQUENTLY! The hospital, however, made everything understandable to the entire family. They took great effort to ensure that all of us, including big sister, were included in treatment, decisions, and activities. We made life-long friends in that facility: Norma, Rosemary, Dr. Jones, Dr. Nickeson, Ann, Bill, Joel, Gary, Avril, Stephanie, Leslie, Michelle, DiDi, and many others. We would not have survived without them. And we continue to thrive because of the them.

Fast-forward nearly four years, Miles is much healthier. We planned a family cruise to celebrate. It was on that cruise that we notice Deanna, my daughter, was a tad bit crooked. Oy! Off the boat and back to All Children's Hospital. She was diagnosed with moderate, nearing ugly, scoliosis. This was a little scary as we all knew my niece had had two steel rods placed in her back to correct her scoliosis. Through All Children's guidance and tenacity, Deanna was spared surgery. She did have to wear a full-torso, hard plastic brace for nearly a year, but we were able to fend off excessive measures. No one would know, today, that she's crooked just by looking at her. She's absolutely stunning! And that is owed, in no small part, to All Children's Hospital.

I realize I'm a little gung ho about the facility. I'm certain that there are other fabulous children's hospitals out there, but . . . I can only speak to All Children's abilities to treat, not only the patient, but the entire family. We are better folks for having endured nearly seven years of interacting with them medically and we are exponentially blessed to continue to include them in our circle of friends!

I am MORE than thankful for All Children's Hospital. I hope you never need them, but know that if you end up there . . . you're in incredible hands! Thank you!

Thankful for Heroes

Today, I am thankful for heroes!

Yes, of course, I'm talking about Superman and Batman and the Lone Ranger and heroes like that. Those characters are who shapes our littlest of minds to want to do the right thing.

And yes, of course, I'm talking about Policemen and Firefighters and EMT's and folks like that. Those folks who probably watched a lot of Superman and Batman and the Lone Ranger as children. These folks give selflessly and continually and the good ones continue to do so, long after their shifts are over or they have hung up their badges, boots, and fancy rides.

However, the heroes that truly impact us, are the ones we meet each day!

My mom - who raised so many children, started successful businesses, helped so many, and loved to play while doing it all. My gymnastics coach as a youngen, who managed to deal with a myriad of teenage girls and their hormones and still created a very successful team. More than that, she helped to mold very successful people. My old trig teacher, who squeaked me through the final to graduate, but also became a friend and a confidant whom I treasured seeing every day and still communicate with. My English/Humanities teacher who played ball with my brother and my boyfriend and would let me leave class early when the boyfriend showed up outside the window. He let me experience a little freedom, but more importantly, he allowed me the freedom to grow as a writer. My 8th grade reading teacher whose class consisted of 'read a book, write a paper'. It was there that I fell in love with reading and even though we trashed your car, you still loved us and encouraged us to read, read, read!

How about those few sports stars that I've had the privilege of meeting who do such wonderful things for the community? Not because they are obligated, but because they are emotionally moved and driven to do so. Fund hospital wings. Fund dreams and wishes. Fund scholarships and the future hopes of high schoolers. Acknowledge good deeds and good samaritans.

Or how about those folks who rise above their obstacles. Handicaps and disabilities are just another bad hair day for them as they strive to achieve what any other person wants to achieve. There's no complaining. Only tenacity. Determination. They inspire and ignite those around them to simply be better people.

And my favorite heroes, of course, are my husband and my children. I am in awe of what they do, what they overcome, and what they dream. I am better because of them. I am driven by their persistence.

Today, find a hero, and thank them. The response will be priceless!