Walk In Love

 When is doubt walk in love
 it will bring joy
 and take away the pain
 of the world
 Friendship cures most

Sisterly Love

I love the relationship of my kids. They get on each other's nerves but love each other anyway...I love this picture because Cara loves her sisters, even though she voices her opinion on a regular basis with them. They love her. Sister love is forever....just like close friendships!

The Power of Friendship

Emma was so sad in the hospital. She wanted to be home with her sisters. When they told us she would have to stay one more night, she was so sad, she cried herself to sleep. Then, some friends from soccer came by to see her. This cheered her up. Then, her bestfriend ever, Kayla, came to see her. Kayla's mom let Kayla stay with Emma while they went to their Good Friday service. Emma lit up! She actually smiled and she didn't smile much because of the surgery. Kayla stayed and even offered to spend the night to keep Emma cheerful! Kayla didn't really spend the night but the friendship and the kind thoughts made Emma so happy.

Never underestimate the power of friendship. The power of time. It lifted my sweet childs spirits so much.

The picture is a little blurry because I took it with my cell. There is a before friends pic and an after friends pic...:)

Thanks Kadi

I was feeling like I needed a new start sort of. I don't feel like the same person as last week. I am not going to blindly trust people. I am not going to always assume people have my best interst at heart. They do not.

With that said, I am thinking I am so blessed to have so many friends. I have been in tears today from all of the sweet messages (and surprises) I have received. I am totally overwhelmed by it. I will always be there for everyone who has been there for me. Always.

The snow has been so pretty. It reminds me of God's grace and how his pure love covers us. He is constantly teaching me lessons. I don't always like them but I always come out a stronger person.

Always look for the lesson....sometimes, we have to look past the hurt but it is there.

True Colors sung by Cyndi Lauper

I love the words to this song. I listen to them when I am sad. Something about the words makes me feel better.

"you with the sad eyes

don't be discouraged

Oh I realize

it is hard to take courage

in a world full of people

you can lose sight of it all

and the darkness inside

you makes you feel so small

but I see your true colors

shining through"

Sometimes I Wonder

Sometimes I wonder

if I write too much

give away too much

emotion

it is easier for me to write

than to speak about

feelings in person (my close friends know this)

but it is never too much

if it helps one person

if it makes someone

feel less alone

because that is what I am

meant to do

I've been so blessed

by little angel friends

who encourage

I hope to pass along the blessings

with writing, painting and friendship

I am so excited to see what

the new year will bring!!!

For Debby who never gives up on anyone!!!

Embrace Change

If everyone could

step back and see

things

from others

perspective

it would lead

to more people

walking on the

peace path

arrogance leads

to soul disturbance

humility leads to

JOY

friendship

there should be no one

walking on the path alone

We can all be there for each other

we can be angel friends

lift up some one today

who needs it

love and true friendship

will be returned like

an encouraging circle

sometimes all it takes is a smile

Thanks all my friends!! I am so blessed!! I am so thankful for my online friends too who have become so much more than "online" friends to me!!!

Debby, your strength continues to amaze me even after all these years!!!

emerging colors

I had to pull back
Can't you see
I had to pull back to find me
I couldn't try to be someone else
to conform to others standards
to find an identity that is true to me
I had to sit alone and "be"
and soon my colors emerged

the Forgiveness of Friends

As many of you know, I have been through a lot of changes in the past 12 months. There is always a beginning. The first little ripple of change, this is where the ripple started for me, a few months before I even called the Supernanny show (which I will talk about more on Jo's site).

Starting in January 2007, I became a co-leader of a womans 12 step program. I have always wanted to help women and I thought this would be a great way to start.

Things went great for a while, then the stress of leading a group with someone else started to creep in. We started to disagree a little bit on how things were going, how we were leading, and who knows what else.

I don't even remember how it happened or who sent the first email but Jenny ended up offending me (it is not hard to offend someone with little self confidence, someone who had grown numb to their own life). I am ashamed to say, I wrote her back with a nasty email, I said mean things. It is such an easy way out, to say mean things and push send, instead of dealing with all the hurt feelings.

Jenny was angry to say the least. I felt a little bad so I sent an email that said "sorry, I emailed in anger". She didn't respond.

A few days past and I felt horrible. I had acted impulsively and said horrible things. I knew she would never want to talk to me again.

One day I was mopping my kitchen and someone knocked at the door. It was Jenny. She came in and gave me a hug. She said "can we talk"? We went upstairs to talk. I was amazed because I didn't sense any anger or blame in her voice or demeanor. She just looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "what you said really hurt me, do you really feel that way about me"? That moment, I realized someone actually cared enough about me to forgive me. Jenny and I talked and worked everything else. Her compassion and understanding amazed me.

Today, she is my closest friend. She has seen the worst in me and loved me anyway. She is aunt Jenny to my kids and I know she will always be there for them.

When I decide what to put on this blog, I try to think if what I am saying will help someone else. I am putting this story "out there" because it was the first "ripple" of change for me. I had become someone I didn't recognize. I had no life in my eyes at all, totally numb to life. I had the desire to help others but no self confidence. Jenny had shown me the value of unconditional friendship. It was easy for me to forgive but not easy to see how someone else could forgive me. That was the lack of confidence thing.

There is wayyyyyy more to my story. This is only the start. It had to have a beginning ripple.....

Hey, to all my other friends who have been along for my journey. I love you too!!