To wish . . .

Although I tend to be a people-pleaser, I am also working on learning to do things for me. It has taken many, many years, but I am learning that what I want matters and what I think matters and the things I believe in matter, too. We are each invaluable just the way we are and have plenty to share, to add, and to offer to spice up the world.

I spent a good portion of my youth, I think as most adolescents do, wishing I looked like this model, or wrote like that person, or did gymnastics like that athlete, or played piano like this musician, or a million other things. As I grew older, I wished I had this job, or wished I lived somewhere else, or traveled in different circles. The thought was that the grass was always greener somewhere else.

It took me a long time, two children, serious illnesses, and several deaths to realize that I am EXACTLY who I'm supposed to be, living where I'm supposed to live, with the folks I'm supposed to be with. I have talents to be shared, gifts to be given, and lots of love to lavish on the folks that deserve it.

"To wish you were someone else is to waste the person you are."    ~ Sven Goran Eriksson

I might trust too easily, cry too easily, and be hurt too easily. I also fight like hell, am tough as nails, and am as loyal as they come. I clean up pretty well, but would just as readily be throwing around the football in the mud. I am passionate, poetic, philanthropic, and poignant. I am silly, sappy, sweet, and sugary. I am determined, dependable, devoted, and driven. Without me, some lives would be a little less lively. Just as without you, my life would be a little less full.

Be you! Adore yourself. Admire yourself. Accommodate yourself! Accept yourself!

Don't waste the person you are . . .

My Darling

There is a Ch-Angel that I have been blessed to know for many, many years. She is a joy and a pleasure to speak to, to hug, to listen to, and to simply coexist with. She's a real Darling!

This Ch-Angel came into my life at God's perfect choosing! When I needed a little spiritual handrail, my son needed a friend, and my daughter needed some extra support ~ there was my Darling Ch-Angel! She just wrapped you up in a giant hug, listened to you . . . really listened, consoled, advised, and sometimes just ate graham crackers and apple sauce! She's a true woman of God, offering His word in regular conversation, to offer ease, comfort, praise, and rejoicing!

For nearly a decade, my Darling Ch-Angel has been by my side, through thick and thin, trials and triumphs, judgement and jubilation. After my husband and brothers, she was the first person I called after my mom passed away. She offered me, through her own tears, quiet solace and peace with my loss. She is just a graceful piece of my heart that I know is a constant - even if a little time and a little space may come between our meetings and conversations.

I know my Darling Ch-Angel will always be with me. I am so very blessed by this. I wish you could know her and, if you do, you're nodding in agreement with everything I've written. God bless you, my Darling Ch-Angel! Thank you for being you!

Heal

The wounds we receive throughout our lifetimes can be of various sorts. They can be physical and obvious, or they can be much deeper and unseen. The latter are harder to carry and can take eons to heal. There comes a point in the healing process, though, when you must face that fear, that pain, that angst to actually move beyond it. Finding the right time, though, is the key.

We all have these wounds. Someone who has hurt us, betrayed us, or defiled us. Some event that has truly skewed our views, our beliefs, or shaped our character. Yesterday, I witnessed the proverbial 'tearing off the band aid' WAY before its time. I did not mean to cause harm. I merely wanted to have this person take that baby step toward moving beyond the scarred psyche. It was not the right want at the right time.

We have to pay very close attention to the needs of other people. It is wonderful to try to help, to try to assist others, to bridge a gap or create a better sense of self in someone else. It is not a task, though, that you can force on ANY person. That first step needs to be their own. You need to walk beside them, unfaltering in your support and love, and be consistent.

Know, though, that when you offer yourself completely to the aid of another, you are truly doing yourself a tremendous amount of good as well. When you touch another's heart, you cannot help but heal an aching part of your own. So, today, tread gently toward a greater good - for another . . . and for yourself! Be well! Heal your neighbor ~ heal yourself!

Sing!

There was a friend of mine who recently was, as politely as possible, questioning God and religion. He wanted to understand faith, even though he is an atheist. As sad as I find that, and I will keep him in my prayers, to 'explain' God, faith, and religion is like trying to nail jello to a tree, or catch a two-year old after a candy bar, or to hold on to the wind.

If I might make him just a little more confused . . . a little Victor Hugo snippet should offer some very keen insight into faith for ya!

Be like the bird that, halting on its flight, awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings . . . knowing that she hath wings.

Make life beautiful!

What a fabulous Sunday! It is such a good, warm-fuzzy to be a part of something amazing and something that is truly larger than one's self. In less than twelve hours, All Children's Hospital, its Foundation, Media folks, volunteers, and generous donors of Tampa Bay and around the country raised over $3.7 million dollars. That is a feat that speaks volumes about the institution I am so very passionate about! What a joy to have helped to raise just an infinitesimal portion of that, to watch while hubby and son sat on the phone banks and took those donor calls, and to linger afterward and mingle with old friends who seem much more like family.

From there, we went and spent a long, lazy lunch with my daughter. She's just a splendid individual who is not only gorgeous on the outside, but stunning on the inside. It makes a momma proud to see her child content. Sleepy, but content! Then home again, where the son takes over lawn duties for an injured dad. It just was a day to beam about so very many things!

If you were lucky enough to catch any of the telethon stories, or to have an enjoyed a Sunday like I had, please know how blessed you are. Life is always put in much better perspective after 'telethon weekend'. We learn that 'Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.' (John W. Gardner). We are certain to make mistakes, fudge a few lines, maybe even go off the page a time or two, but if you find a way to incorporate all those little mishaps into the big picture, the mural of your life becomes a much more interesting and poignant piece of art!

Draw freely, my friends! Make life beautiful!

An Honor & Privilege

Seven years ago, this very weekend, Miles was a 'featured story' on the All Children's Hospital Telethon. It was two years after treatment had started and, we were still having our ups and downs but we were a determined unit with an entire hospital rooting us on!

His life-threatening auto-immune disease attacked his muscles as though they were a virus. This caused severe weakness in his legs, arms, etc., and if left untreated could eventually attack his lungs, swallowing, and heart.

I cannot thank All Children's enough for what they have done for my kids! Not only did they fix my son, and 'straighten out' my daughter (who battled with Scoliosis for over a year), but they fixed myself and my husband, too. They stood beside us through every treatment and explained every procedure so us normal folk could comprehend it. They consoled and sometimes even cried with us at set backs. And, boy howdy, did they rally with us over every tiny victory! We weren't numbers or 'cattle patients', like in some facilities. They knew exactly what Miles would want for lunch, had his IV start procedure down to a science ~ one to poke, one to rub his feet, one to set his head phones to the right song, and one to coax him through relaxing. As a mom, I could sometimes not even get next to him to be a supportive part of the process. And that was OK, because he had four 'other' moms taking charge!

They taught my kids to speak, to advocate, to step out of their comfort zones, to freely be philanthropic, and to teach others to do the same. All Children's taught me to do the same! We've been to congress, spoke in front of large groups, given testimony, and they've allowed us to pursue passions we might not have ever pursued. Miles started a library for the kids at the hospital. Deanna offered up her artwork on-air and at a guild event to raise funds. I have penned two children's books with proceeds returning to the hospital and Dream Fund and also shared specifically written poetry. And Victor . . . they've kept him even-keeled, denied him his 'John Q' moment on more than one occasion, and helped him in his public speaking as well.

It has definitely been a journey! Although it did not come without its bumps and bruises, tears and troubles, grief and gashes . . . I would not trade it for anything! It has been a true honor and privilege to be a part of reciprocating to such an amazing facility that has truly done wondrous things for myself and my family. It has been humbling and yet enlightening! There has been at least one Marinello present at the telethon every year since Miles' first appearance, and it would be no sweeter an opportunity than to continue that tradition for a long, long time.

Phone in your pledges, or make them on-line. Channel 8 locally or www.allkids.org.
Thank you all, for being the biggest support team ever! Love you all!

Expect the Unexpected!

There once was a farmer who took a young miss,
In back of the barn where he gave her a . . .
Lecture on horses and chickens and eggs,
And told her that she had such beautiful . . .
Manners that suited a girl of her charms.
A girl that he wanted to take in his . . .
Washing and ironing and then if she did,
They could get married and raise lots of . . .
Sweet Violets!!!

And old tune that I always found very silly. My kids loved it when they were little cause they always jumped at the obvious and were confused and amused by the actual words. Makes me smile to sing it and makes even more sense when you realize that you should always expect the unexpected!