The road we are on is long. Layers of the onion for all to peel. I am so thankful to God and all of my friends and family who have been on this road with me. Being in school again and learning all about counseling has been a big part of healing for me. I'm not perfect, just different. It is so meaningful to me to be able to hold my hands out and say "how can I help you" to hurting people, instead of  "let me fix you" as I did in the past. Helping others without fixing is done in love. It took me almost half of a lifetime to learn this. Fixing always led to thinking I have to control, control is not done with love (although, I never realized this in the past). Love is hands open, control is hands closed.

 Thanks to everyone who has helped me on this journey, ya'll know who you are and I love you.  

Thinking

Sometimes I wonder exactly what the outcome of my life will have on others. I hope it is good. I hope my kids learn quickly what has taken me years to learn. I hope they are confident and don't have to go through some of the things I did.

All I (or any of us really) can really hope and pray is that by sharing my experiences and teaching my kids to be open and share, it will help others.

Life can make us feel alone. Really we aren't alone at all. God loves us and made us all unique and special. we are all needed in order to make this world a better place. artwork by Cara :)

The Gift of Flowers

There once was a garden where small flowers lived
They were happy and pretty
They wanted to give
They wondered aloud how their gifts were best used
They knew with their beauty they couldn't lose
They sat and watched as butterflies flew
and lighted on petals of orange and blue
the flowers were happy
but had more to give
they knew they were there to help others to live

Understanding

To be understood used to be so importand to me

now, being the one who understands

is more important...

to be able to reach

out and understand

is a gift

Understanding Others

I love Facebook. I love talking to people I haven't talked with since 3rd grade and I love sharing pictures with friends I see all the time.

One thing I have noticed is how alike so many of us are. When we go back and share memories from high school or elementary school, we realize we were all so insecure. All the people who seemed to have it all "together", were really scared to death like everyone else.

I have been encouraged by some of my friends ability to share their experiences with depression. The more we talk about it, the more it will help take the "stigma" away from it. So many people have suffered in silence from depression. Now, they are getting brave and speaking.

I didn't know joining Facebook would lead me down this road, but I am glad it did. It is my dream to help people who suffer and to offer encouragement without judgement. I am very blessed to have met others who feel exactly the same way. I think it is the start of a big circle of encouragement.

I am proof there is hope. I get excited everytime I hear another person share their VICTORY over depression.

Remember, no one is perfect, we all have struggles but we can all help each other to move forward!!!