Carter's Passing

Several years ago when we were teenagers, a friend and I discussed what would be the appropriate action if we found out we were expecting a child that would have something wrong... Or that we would end up losing... My friend said that no matter what she would have the child because it would be given for a reason... and I, at the time, was hesitant on that matter and said I would really have to think about it... 

I thought of this conversation recently because This dear friend just buried her 8 year old son on Friday because he developed cancer. I think back on that conversation and see that yes... No matter what.. He came to her because he had so much to give in a little while. His smile, courage and life  strengthened others... What a blessing he was to her. 

When I heard of his passing and thinking of his mother.. it took my mind to Hannah... She knew that though Samuel was her child.. He wasn't really hers... He belonged to God... And she understood that fully and willingly gave him... How amazing to have that strength and faith. 

May you hug your children tighter and love them with all you have... Time is brief, time is like the wind... It passes so quickly.  

Carter

As I think of Carter tonight.. A million thoughts go thru my mind... Though it's been awhile since I have seen him and his family, He has bravely fought cancer for 2 years and now treatments have ended.  I think of his little life and it causes me to consider my own life.  Sometimes I think these things happen to help us realize the brevity of this life and how to be courageous as Carter is... No one is promised tomorrow... We only have this one life.. So no matter what, hug your friends, family,and even  acquaintances... If you love someone, tell them no matter how hard it may be sometimes... If you feel you need to do something, go do it... Live life to the fullest with nothing but love and grace toward everyone! 

So before you worry about the things that are just for this life... Remember that the most important things are really living, laughing and loving with those you love and those who love you and Nothing else really matters.

Prayers and many thoughts go out to Carter and his family as they go through the rest of Carters journey by his side.  

So... Go live... Smile... Love... Laugh... Be happy... And be thankful for the difficult experiences of life that cause us to stop and ponder the meaning of life... 💙 

Silence

This morning I was on my way to work and I got to thinking about how I always have the radio on.  Then I got to thinking of how I really do always have something going… even at home I may have my laptop on playing music, or a DVD and sometimes I am not paying attention to it at all, it is just for the noise.  

I decided today to drive to work with no radio and no noise.  It was amazing how deafening the silence was.  I even noticed things I had never noticed before.  I felt like I was starting my day out better than ever before.  

We often fill our minds with so much noise and chaos that we can’t even think ourselves… and not only think but it also affects how our sensory areas are connected.  I feel that because my ears heard nothing that my other sensory areas were heightened. I was able to see things differently, hear things that I hadn’t before, and my egg burrito even tasted better! J  

I have discovered that yes… music is great and awesome in its time and place, but take time to really listen to the silence and it will blow your mind… the first time you do it you will probably feel very awkward because it is almost like it is so foreign to have your other senses heightened.  This is an amazing thing though…. Even if it starts at just 30 minutes in the morning and evening…. Just to be silent….

What would you say.....

What would you say if you could say it all over again? What would you do if you could do it all over again? 

We all have moments in our lives that we look back on and think "I wish I had never said that" or "I wish I would have said that" or even "I wish I could have said that differently."  We all sometimes do or say things without thinking them thru completely.  I have also heard many people say, "if I had done things differently I wouldn't be where I am today."   

I think personally an individual can really get themselves down when thinking of all the things they could have done differently in their lives... But the FACT of the matter is...there is no way to rewrite the past... We have to keep moving forward... Or we lose track of who we even are... 

Life is full of so many obstacles already that we face while moving forward... Don't cloud them even more by looking in the rear view mirror.... Stay focused on the present and use past faults to teach you and help you grow in the here and now... 

Don't Miss Out

Over my 10+ years the healthcare field, something that i have often seen is how the younger generation often avoids the elderly generation.  I have seen so many lonely faces in places I have worked... the adult children will come yet rarely will you ever see young adult grandchildren.  It truly is a sad thing to witness.  I speak from experience, as my Grandmother passed away in 2002.  I was 21 at the time she passed and a few weeks before her death I was home visiting and my mother asked me if I would go with her to see Grandma (As my mother went nearly daily to see my Grandmother) and I stated that I would go see her the next time I was in visiting.  That chance never came, as my Grandmother passed and I never had the opportunity to speak with her again or receive one of her giant bear hugs that lasted forever...

There is a british film called, "Mrs. Palphrey at the Claremont" and it is one of my favorites.  It is about an elderly woman who moves to London and she calls and calls her grandson and he never came to see her and she one day meets a young stranger on the street who befriends her and shows her nothing by kindness.  He becomes her stand-in grandson.  It was sad when for so long her real grandson ignored her... and a stranger showed her utmost respect.

Never lose the opportunity to spend time with your all your Grandparents... they are full of so much love and wisdom... though they will often never feel wise... they have experienced life to its extent.  And not only your grandparents, but any elderly person... you never know when you could make a wonderful change in another's life.  Perhaps someone doesn't have anyone who comes to see them, or rarely comes to see them, and you could be that difference to make someone's heart so happy.   One never knows when the opportunity will pass and believe me, you never want to experience regret... because it will catch up with you one day and you will regret not spending more time with those who needed you most. 

So don't miss out on the best generation... don't miss out on all the love...

World Aids Day: Dec 1, 2012

Some people have asked me in the past, why I post from time to time things about AIDS.  My reason is that I feel people are still very uninformed about HIV/AIDS and some still treat those who are affected with distance and fear. 

I want people to be aware of how you can contract the virus and how you can prevent it.  The reason that I want people to be aware is because I have seen visually the deaths of some who have had AIDS and it is something I would never want anyone else to ever have to experience seeing or having. 

We have came so far today with out medications and are making radical improvements in the treatment of the virus.  MANY people in Africa and the US, as well as other countries,  have already received the ARV pill and over just a few months they are healthier looking and also this pill prevents mothers from passing it to their children!  This is a major step in radicating AIDS.

I just want to say to others... Don't be afraid...be informed! 

http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/how-you-get-hiv-aids/

The End is Better than the Beginning

This time of year I start to get very excited about the fall... It is the best time of year!  The smell in the crisp air, the colors of the leaves and plants changing, camp fires, and cocoa make it all worth while. 
But it also makes me think of the end of a journey too... something that comes to us all... Do you notice how bright and vibrant the leaves are before they die?  I believe that is how a lot of people are before they pass on... I believe we get better and better as time goes on in our lives and we become more vibrant... It may not seem so physically... but deep within our souls we are strong.  We read that the end of ones journey is better than in the beginning... 
Be sure to fill your journey with love and compassion and you will find so much strength within yourselves to do and be better... There are a lot of things in this life that can try to drag us down, and many people let life do that to them... but life is really what you make of it!  I mean if all you had was the air in your lungs... you could still find the strength within to be happy... Things are just things... I look around sometimes and wonder how we have become so superficial and commercialized... This life was meant to be lived in a positive way... make it that way... no matter what you have... make the best of it and you will find that you will get better and better....
So strive to be vibrant... sweeter... stronger... and when the time comes that you break away from the life you knew (as leaves do) you won't regret it... Make your life count!  <3