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Sunday, February 14, 2010

Lessons of Love, Life and Thoughts to Ponder...

I was going through old emails today and I came across a few gems that I haven't thought about in a long time.


LESSONS OF LOVE AND LIFE

1. I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you. 
 2. No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry. 
 3. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. 
4. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart. 
5. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them. 
6. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile. 
7. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. 
8. Don't waste your time on a man/woman, who isn't willing to waste their time on you. 
9. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be grateful. 
10. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened. 
11. There's always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust next time around. 
12. Make yourself a better person and know who you are before you try and know someone else and expect them to know you.
13. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to. 


**REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON. **



FIVE GREAT LESSONS ABOUT DEALING WITH PEOPLE
1 - Most Important Lesson
During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one:
"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.

Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello'."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned that her name was Dorothy.

2 - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain
One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm.   Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.  Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in the conflict-filled 1960s.  The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry but wrote down his address and thanked him.

Seven days went by, and a knock came on the man's door.   To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.   A note was attached. It read:

"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others. Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole."

3- Third Important Lesson- Remember Those Who Serve
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.
"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. 

The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies.

You see, he couldn't have the sundae because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson - The Obstacle in Our Path
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.   Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.  Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road.

After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand.

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital,   I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease.

Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.

The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.   I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her."

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks.   Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?"

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

You see, after all, understanding and attitude are everything.

**Remember: "Work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt, & Dance like you do when nobody's watching." **

I'VE LEARNED ...
I have received this email a few different times in the last few years and every time I read it I love it more. So I decided to share it.. Hope ya'll enjoy too !!


I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows. I've learned..... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day. I've learned..... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world. =P I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right. I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child. I've learned .... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way. I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with. I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand. I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult. I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for. 
I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class. I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular. 
I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved. I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts. I've learned..... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you. I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds. I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am. I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile. I've learned..... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them. I've learned ... That life is tough, but I am tougher.
I've learned... That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss. I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere. 
I've learned..... That I wish I could have told my Granddad that I love him one more time before he passed away. I've learned .... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them. I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. I've learned..... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life. I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it. I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.



Some of these Lessons I have learned and some have yet to be learned. 


My favorite two are:  

truly believe that small daily happenings are what make life spectacular


And oh how I know & believe that:
L
ife is tough, but I am tougher!!!



Thursday, February 11, 2010

Year 33 ... so far so good

Last year, I really wasn't in the mood to celebrate my birthday. I was grateful that Sean had made it through his emergency surgery and I rediscovered what awesome extended family and friends I have in the Denver metro area. My grandmother was the oldest of 7 brothers and sisters and the majority of all of their families still live in the Denver Metro area which was truly a blessing last year. Being a true Irish Catholic family my Grandmother had 4 children, mom's God-father Great Uncle Joe and his wife have 10, Great Uncle Gene (may he rest in peace) and his wife had 5, Great Uncle Mel and his wife had 5, Great Uncle Jim and his wife had 1 and then there are mom's twin aunts - Aunt Judy and her husband have 4 children and Aunt Jeanne and her husband (may he rest in peace) had 5 children. I think that's right. Anyway mom has a lot of wonderful family who kept her company during his surgery and while we waited for him to recover. They helped us sort through his insurance paperwork and keep Delaney entertained during the long hours at the hospital. Most of all they keep us feeling loved, supported and hopeful even during the darkest of times. They took turns checking in on Sean when we couldn't be there and bringing us snacks and sitting with him so we could alternate out and stretch our legs. During the nurses shift change we had to be outside the ward anyway and everyone took turns stopping by the hospital to check in and offer support.

Sean's townhouse was just a few miles east of the hospital, and it provided a great resting place for the first few weeks he was in the hospital. We would sleep or take breaks there when needed and Delaney had great time playing on Uncle Sean's stairs and with the collection of toys he keep for her visits. He was still in the process of unpacking and settling in with all of his belongings from his years of bachelorhood in the Air Force, so when we determined it would be best to let go of his townhouse, it made packing him up slightly easier. The aunts, uncles and cousins all pitched in and it was done within a matter of hours. I sat with him at the hospital while everyone packed him up. We drove the moving truck home that night and a crew of mom and dad's friends and co-workers from Rusinak Real Estate all came on Sunday and shifted all of Sean's things into our storage sheds out back and our basement within a few hours. I took Delaney out for the day and when we got back it was done.

Since my birthday is January 31st, the day before Sean's on February 1st, it didn't seem right to celebrate my birthday if he couldn't celebrate his. Logically, my head told me that was even more of a reason to celebrate my birthday because I could. But my heart just wasn't in it. My aunts, uncles and cousins brought Sean a big balloon bouquet, grasshopper cookies and picture of Sean with Delaney from a few weeks before his surgery. The frame was inscribed Family and was of the 2 of them sitting on the stairs at our annual family Christmas celebration. I love that picture. I treasure the pictures I have of Delaney with her Uncle Sean before his surgery. He still lights up around his "D" it's just different now.

It's funny, I started this blog intending to write about how I celebrated my birthday this year, and instead I'm reflecting on the events of last. I have learned that God has a plan for all of us, and reveals it on his timeline not ours. 2009 is a blur for the most part but the lessons I learned are not. Life's too short to have a bad attitude and hold onto negative feelings. Hold onto the lessons the negative taught us and learn from them but not the negativity. Life is too precious and tomorrow is not promised to hold onto it. One very important thing we have control of everyday is our attitude and how we speak to/about, treat, interact with others. Its a little thing that can make a big impact on everyone around us. I'm still working on showing and telling all my friends and family how grateful and blessed I am to have them in my life. Not dwelling on stress and setbacks but working through it and keeping a positive mindset for the big picture. I am also working on living by the "Do or Do Not. There is no try" motto. I am a work in progress and I realize that. One of my favorite quotes from James Dean is "Dream as if you'll live forever, Live as if you'll die tomorrow".

Perhaps I need to take a more in depth look at one of Delaney's new favorite shows Phineas and Ferb on the Disney channel. My cousin Judy's son Timmy turned her onto it and she loves it. The premise is simple 2 brothers from a blended family try to make the most of everyday during their summer vacation. Each morning they figure out what they are going to do for that day and using a lot of imagination the outrageous adventures begin with their friends in tow. Their older sister Candace's goal in life is to catch them in one of their fanciful adventures and report it to their mother. When she's not being distracted by her own school girl crush on a boy in her grade. Well... I can definitely appreciate the making the most of each day premis.

And on that note I will close with - Carpe diem and to all a good night.

Sean's Updates 60 thru 63... Lil Sis has been slacking

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

#63 Update February 10th, 2010

Sean has had a great break through. He has been on the computer playing a memory game called Amazing Adventure. Paulette found it for us, it requires you to find various objects in a picture that are listed at the bottom of the page. He is becoming quite good at it. He also remembers if he has seen a television program we had taped for him. Before he could watch it over and over, now after he has seen it he remembers and then decides if he wants to watch it again. Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day. Thanks for your continued support and prayers they are still working. All our warmth and prayers.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

#62 Update February 2, 2010

Sean's birthday was quiet as he was running a fever due to his cold. Paulette ordered him a cheesecake from one of the local Delis which he loved. It was almost 3 inches thick, he had 2 pieces before dinner. We didn't go out since he was running a fever. We will go out for steak (which is what he wanted) sometime this week when he is not running a fever. We are looking into various gym type facilities to continue his strength training. He likes working out, short distance walking for now maybe he can run again someday, we'll think positive. Yeah, he is 38. Thanks for your birthday wishes as well as your prayers.

Monday, January 25, 2010

#61 Update January 25th 2010

Sean is able to shower & wash his hair by himself now. Steady progress and improvement. He dresses himself , needs some help tying his shoes and can feed himself a lot better than before. He hasn't been himself this last week, he is more tired than usual and has been a little dizzy. No fever or cold just not himself, no complaints just wants to sleep, so we let him sleep and are keeping a close eye on him. The hematologist got his tests back and they were all normal, so we still have no idea what caused the blood to thicken and clot like it did.
Thanks for keeping him in your thoughts and prayers he still needs them.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

#60 Update January 9th, 2010

The holidays were quiet, reflective and wonderful. Sean enjoyed the snow but not the cold. He got some new snow boots that REI had on sale just his size, he really likes them. We are looking forward to moving forward even more this year. Sean is still making progress which is the blessing. He really enjoyed seeing Great Aunts & Uncles and cousins at Christmas. Thank you to those of you that made the effort to talk to him, it meant a lot. Remembering back to last Christmas and comparing it to this one was hard. Each day is a gift and so are your loved ones. Hopefully on the 19th we will have some answers from the Hematologist as to why and what caused the blood clots.