Celebrate II

Celebrate life!

We took this photo a few weeks ago as we toasted the birthday and life of my late Father-in-Law Marvin. It was a way for us to celebrate a good life. 

We try to celebrate life every chance we get. It doesn't have to be a big celebration.  It can be a shot and a toast.  It can be a game of cards with friends.  It can be a glass of wine on the couch after a long day. 

We do try to make sure milestones are celebrated well as a family. Birthdays always involve cake and a party of some kind.  Graduations and Holidays are the same.  We are blessed with family and friends and we love any excuse for a party.  

Deane and I often find ourselves being the ones who make the celebration happen. Sometimes that's a burden, but mostly it's fun.  We have simply decided that we will make life happen rather than sit back and wait for it to happen.

So grab life and celebrate! 

How do you celebrate?

Powers

A good friend of mine made this photo for me shortly after my motorcycle accident.  She had it printed poster sized and it was in my hospital room for the duration. It gave me inspiration and made me laugh.

I have no real super powers, except maybe when it comes to jigsaw puzzles, I'm really good at those. What I do have is the power of those around me.

A few years ago I needed it in spades.

I will never be able to explain the feelings that come to mind when I think back on those times.  You may think this is crazy, but most of them are positive.

Don't get me wrong, it was (is) painful and sucked beyond measure in many ways, but it also brought out the very best in many people close to me. I have fond memories of those interactions and the friendships that were formed.

Adversity has the power to show you your strengths and weaknesses.  It also shows you those of the people around you.  I had so many strong people around me, helping me at every turn. It was amazing. I have so much to live for. I had so much love and support, and still do.  

My powers come from all of you.

Thank you!

Wait

Good things come to those who wait.

I hate to wait.

I'm not as bad at waiting as Deane is, but it is definitely not my favorite thing.

I'd rather get, or go, or do, or rest.

Wait means something is coming but is not yet here. That is so hard for me!

I can handle waiting if I know what is coming.

Wait and you will get your reward.

What happens when the reward isn't what you thought it would be?  Was it worth the wait?

Is waiting what Faith is?  Faith is believing.  Faith is knowing that something is. 

Are they the same? They don't feel the same to me.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Place

Place can mean so many things.  

You can be put in your place. 

Things can be out of place.

We all seem to want a place of our own.

I have lived in this place for 21 years, longer by 19 years than any place else.

This is the place I love to come back to.

This is the place I feel safe.

This is my place.

This is home.

This is where I belong.

Remember

Few things make us remember like photos.  One look at a photo and a flood of information comes pouring out at us.  Where we were, who we were with how we felt, what we were wearing, what the weather was like, etc.

Photos are very important to me and have been for a long time.  I love taking photos of others, I"m not so thrilled to have others take photos of me.  I really like looking at them and remembering all of those stories that go with them.

For a long time I've loved scrapbooking.  It's been a long time since I've done any.

I let scrapbooking become a chore.  I put pressure on myself to deliver a product on a deadline.  Don't get me wrong, it was still a work of love, but I let it become work and not love.

I need to fix this.  I am the only one who can fix this.  I will fix this.  It just takes time.

I have a new scrapbook room waiting to be pulled together in my basement.  Once I no longer see my breath when I go down there I will get started.

I may need a gentle push in that direction...

Path

Being the nerds that we are, we've been watching a Sci-Fi show called Helix.  This season features a cult living in an Abbey style building on an island.  They keep talking about how everyone has to follow their own path.  The cult members use that line as an excuse not to get involved with each other's lives.  I think that's pretty telling.

Everyone should follow their own path, that much is true.  However, I don't believe we should do it alone.  I think it is important to get, and especially to give, help along the way.

I would have lost my path long ago if no one had helped me.

If we were really meant to go it alone families would not be necessary.  I believe that families are necessary.  Whether they are families born of blood, friendship, or both doesn't matter.  Those of us who have help to walk our paths, have surer footing than those of us who try to go it alone.

It has been my experience that helping others along their path teaches me much about where to take my own.

The hardest part is asking for help when you need it.

Find your footing. Take the help that is offered to you.  Offer help whenever you can. Follow your heart. Stay true to your path.

Covenant

The first covenant I ever entered into was my marriage.

I vowed to love, honor, and cherish this man until death do us part.

It was the best commitment I ever made.

This first covenant has lead me to enter into several others.  It lead to the baptisms of first our son, then our daughter, and finally, myself.  

Next came the baptism of my Godson and my being able to be his Godmother.  

It lead to our renewing our wedding vows, not once, not twice, but three times (yes, there's a whole other story there).

Covenants are not to be entered into lightly.  They are powerful and life changing. 

Sometimes, they are life saving.

What covenants have you entered into?