4urWorld

I was asked to give thanks at a recent family reunion and I couldn’t think of anything better to give thanks for than my Mom:

I think I speak for each and every person in this room.  We would like to give thanks to our mothers for all they have given us in life. I especially want to thank my Mother for teaching me to do what is right in life, to love each other as a family above all else.

My Mother, especially, has taught me not to let outside forces ever interfere with my family coming first.  As we have fought the many battle in our lives that we have, it was through the love and respect that our parents had for each other, and taught us to have for each other, that made an impact on my life.  Teaching us not only by their words, but their examples.

I only hope I can be as good of an example to my kids as my Mother has been to me.  I also hope that I can always live up to the expectations of my Mother, and to do what is right above all else, and put my family first.

We are all gathered here because of the love of our parents and their parents, and so forth.  We share a common bond that is only known in families who love and respect each other above all else.

Many of us here have lost our parents, children, sisters, and brothers and would give anything in the world to have even one more moment with them to tell them how much we love them.  I am one who is lucky enough to still have my Mother here.  I treasure every moment I can spend with her.

Time is something you can never get back, so in our busy lives we need to take time everyday to tell the ones we love how much they mean to us and to give them, as they have given to us, the gift of our time, because at the end of the day all that matters is our family.

Thank you all, and above all I want to thank my Mother, I love her more than life itself, she has given unselfishly, she has put her family above all else and if ever there were an angel on earth it is my Mother.

I love you Mom

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I Just have to share, my Sister is a great Graphic Designer and this is her site showcasing her awesome work.  I Love You Kim, and I am so proud of you.

Please take a look at http://www.mygraphfix.com/mygraphfix/mygraphfix.html

You Go Girl !!

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YES YES YES, AND MOST DEFINITLEY YES !!!

There is no doubt in my mind that all the sleepless nights, all the teething, all the fit throwing, the terrible two ages, the days they are excited about finding a grasshopper or bringing frogs home in there pockets are only the beginning of the joys of parenthood.

Later on in their lives, the sleepless night aren’t because you they are crying or just don’t want to sleep, it is because you are waiting up for them to come home in the wee hours of the morning. The terrible twos are similar to the teenage years where they are discovering their independence as you adults. Grasshoppers and frogs turn into awkward young boyfriends or girlfriends, they decide to bring home.

As your children grow into young adults things change. The worries change, the patience you have with them change. Their need for your love, understanding, and guidance never changes.

I have gone through so many different stages with my children. It goes from them looking up to you, to them being embarrassed by you. It goes from them telling you how much they love you, to them telling you “I hate you”. Never, ever let these words get to you, they do love you. I promise.

I have had my moments where I had to show them some tough love. But you have to stick to your beliefs and not let them rule the household. Set limits and stick by them, but always keep an open mind, and let a few things slide every now and then. Don’t sweat the small stuff, always have an open ear and listen to their words, and opinions.

Parenthood is not an easy job, but it is the most important job in the world. There have been times where the thought has crossed my mind, “Oh I am just a mom, and I haven’t done anything important in my life”.

My Daughter made a statement to me this weekend, which filled my heart with the most heartwarming feeling; I have felt in a long time. My Husband and I went to visit my Daughter at college. She wanted to show us where she was working at an internship job, we went to eat, and then she took us to her college art department to show us her projects she has worked so hard on, that were displayed in the showcase in the art department. She had two projects that made the showcase. I was so proud of her, I knew how much work she had put into them. On the way back to her house, she made the comment “I am so glad I have you guys to share this with, I am so lucky to have people who care about what I love to do.” she continued, ” I have a friend whose mother passed away a couple of years ago, and her father has a girlfriend now, that he is seeing, and he is consumed with her, and my friend doesn’t really have anyone to share her successes with”, ” I am so lucky to have you guys with whom I can show my success with, and know you guys are really proud of me.:

The tears poured down my checks, “This is what it is all about”, I thought to myself. No matter how many times we have disagreed or fought about minor things, it is all worth it. I have never felt so fulfilled about my role as a parent as I did this weekend.

Thank goodness for my three, totally different, children. They have all made me so proud of each and every one of them. They have all shown me their thanks for my role in their lives.

Never ever give up on your children. It is so worth believing in them and showing them you believe them. No matter how many times in their lives they may tell you that they “hate you”, they really love you. I promise!

So if ever in doubt about your decision whether to have children or not, my advice is: Most definitely Yes! It is the most trying but rewarding job you will EVER do.

I Love you Jacob, Ritchie, and Cari. Thank you all for making me the Mother I am, and “Thank you for being the Children, I am proud of and love so dearly. XOXOXO…….. You guys make life worth living.

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A Tale of Two Cities, a novel by Charles Dickens.  I remember this in high school.  I will always remember the opening words of the novel.  These words have stuck in my mind all through my life.

I really can’t remember exactly how the story went, I just remember it was about the French Revolution.  I feel that it may have some reference to how our history goes through times of destruction and resurrection.

Are we at the point of destruction again?  Does history repeat itself?  I have been told all my life the importance of knowing history is because it repeats itself, and that we can learn how to prevent the same mistakes from being made.

Is it like trying to teach our kids from our own mistakes?  We can tell them till we are blue in the face, don’t do this or that, but it seems they have to make their own mistakes, to learn.

During these hard times economically, I worry, I stress, and become very depressed.  I find it hard to not be anxious, as we try to make ends meet, as my oldest son tries to find a job as a recent college graduate.  I worry about my kids and their future.  At the same time I find myself worrying about my aging parents.  I find my life is consumed with negative thoughts.  “Where are the happy times?” I ask myself.

I realize that I need to embrace each and every moment with my parents, and know in my mind that I have raised three wonderfully smart and talented kids.  Things will be okay, because no matter what, we always have the love of family.  I need to stay strong.

My Family

Please get out and vote and start paying attention to what is going on in our world.  When things seem to be going good, we have a tendency take it for granted. When things go wrong we start to blame others, and wonder “how did this happen?”  We all need to work together to make this world a better place.

“These are the best of times, these are the worst of times”

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