What is it about carvings in wood professing true love that makes my heart melt. I often wonder about the people who etched their names in history. How old were they? Are they still together? Do they ever come back and visit their special place? No one knows for sure what the future holds but when I see trees, or benches such as this, I see hope and love and commitment and passion. And I like it!
Carving names into trees
Poem by Dino Poetry
I built my house on
memory lane, because it was
the safest place
I had ever known.
You carved our names in the
tree there when I was just
a boy, I remember.
I love that place
because it never left me
and whenever I felt scared
or alone
I would walk its beaten path
with you and it would
take away all my pain.
I grew strong on
memory lane, and my
children will grow there
too.
And when they are afraid
in the night,
I will carry them there
like I was carried.
We will sing every song
there,
and read every book.
We will laugh there,
and jump there.
And when we feel alive
we will celebrate there.
We will skin knees there,
and heal there.
And when we cry there,
there will always be
a shoulder.
Your shoulder.
My shoulder.
Today I will walk to
our names
on our tree
on memory lane and carve
something else,
"Thank you."
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Day 30
Stress. Anxiety. Frustration. Negative. All words that played a part in my day today. I rarely get this way. It takes just one thing to put it all in perspective and I get out of my "funk."
I do some of my best thinking while driving. Just my luck I was driving to PSU today. Up until the second I got into the car my head was spinning and I was stressed. The drive to Penn State has to be one of favorite drives. Once you hit 322 it is God at what he does best! Beautiful rolling mountains that seen to never stop with clouds so close I feel like I could reach out and touch one! So I packed the car including my best driving buddy, Juno, and off we went.
I do some of my best thinking while driving. Just my luck I was driving to PSU today. Up until the second I got into the car my head was spinning and I was stressed. The drive to Penn State has to be one of favorite drives. Once you hit 322 it is God at what he does best! Beautiful rolling mountains that seen to never stop with clouds so close I feel like I could reach out and touch one! So I packed the car including my best driving buddy, Juno, and off we went.
2 1/2 hours later and I have forgotten why I was so upset in the first place (well sorta), but it doesn't bother near as much as it did before. It gave me time to think, clear my head, and focus on the positive!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Day 29
Ever have one of those days when you just should've stayed in bed?
Talk about kick me while I'm down! Things happen in 3's and I got mine all in one day!
Today's post is gonna be short and sweet cause I off to bed... trying to dream today away...
Tomorrow's a new day, right?
Talk about kick me while I'm down! Things happen in 3's and I got mine all in one day!
Today's post is gonna be short and sweet cause I off to bed... trying to dream today away...
Tomorrow's a new day, right?
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Day 28
Ryan: pronounced RYE-an. It is of Irish origin, and the meaning of Ryan is "little king".
In my own definition of Ryan, I believe it is synonymous with fighter, hero, victor, and all around superstar!
Today I had a chance to hang out with one of my best friends and her son, Ryan. I was so impressed with Ryan today! At 2 1/2 years old, Ryan may not have written his name on the board but he sure did identify every letter when his mom wrote them! He had a great time drawing on the board but it was even more fun to erase things! As we walked down the steps he counted them! He could tell me body parts, colors, numbers, letters, etc. And while he was playing, the most adorable little voice would not stop talking!
These things may not sound like a big deal but 2 1/2 years ago we weren't sure if he would be able to do these things... we weren't even sure he'd be around. You would never know that Ryan was a preemie. He was born at 30 weeks at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Ryan spent his first 35 days there and he never gave up. Not only was it rough for him but for his mommy and daddy too.
Spending time with him today shows the resilient nature of children. As proud of him as I was today I was even prouder of his mommy! It was due to her love and support, along with daddy and friends and family, that helped Ryan become the "little king" he is today.
In my own definition of Ryan, I believe it is synonymous with fighter, hero, victor, and all around superstar!
Today I had a chance to hang out with one of my best friends and her son, Ryan. I was so impressed with Ryan today! At 2 1/2 years old, Ryan may not have written his name on the board but he sure did identify every letter when his mom wrote them! He had a great time drawing on the board but it was even more fun to erase things! As we walked down the steps he counted them! He could tell me body parts, colors, numbers, letters, etc. And while he was playing, the most adorable little voice would not stop talking!
These things may not sound like a big deal but 2 1/2 years ago we weren't sure if he would be able to do these things... we weren't even sure he'd be around. You would never know that Ryan was a preemie. He was born at 30 weeks at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Ryan spent his first 35 days there and he never gave up. Not only was it rough for him but for his mommy and daddy too.
Spending time with him today shows the resilient nature of children. As proud of him as I was today I was even prouder of his mommy! It was due to her love and support, along with daddy and friends and family, that helped Ryan become the "little king" he is today.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Day 27
Don't be known as a taker, be a giver. - Bobby Funk
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Matthew 7:12
I have been reminded of this my whole life. Always help people in need. Treat people the way you wish to be treated.
I will never have enough money that I can give to an organization to REALLY make a difference but what I do have is time. Time to do the leg work and labor that an organization may need.
A big part of my life is volunteerism. I joined The Junior League of Lancaster about 2 years ago and have been very active volunteering for many worthwhile organizations. Guadenzia was the first organization I got my hands dirty with while in the League. We organized a party for the Women and Children Guadenzia services. We collected purses and each woman had a brand new (and in many cases a brand name) purse. Something as simple as a purse was just another confidence booster for these woman trying to better themselves and become a contributing member of society.
Aaron's Acres is another non-profit organization that I am very active with. One Sunday a month during the school year I volunteer with their respite school year program. This past year I decided to bring a long with me a troubled student from my school. It was amazing to see his hard shell disappear when he was working with the children. Aaron's Acres is an amazing organization that thrives on support of MANY volunteers.
Through Junior League I was hooked up with Girls on the Run. This is a character building program for young girls via a 10 wk course and actual physical running and training for a 5K. I have had first hand experience of how this program can change a girl's life for the better!
There are many more organizations that are doing good in our community that depend on volunteers to keep them running. No amount of money can replace time given, a hug given, encouragement given, etc.
Everyone needs to do their part in giving back to their community. You should be thankful for the gifts you have been given in your life and hope that if need be, someone is around giving of their time to you.
*This picture is taken at Loxley's, a restaurant in Lancaster. At the bottom of every check there are 3 organizations of the month for customers to choose from to have 5% of their bill donated to. Thank you Loxley's for giving back to your community!
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Matthew 7:12
I have been reminded of this my whole life. Always help people in need. Treat people the way you wish to be treated.
I will never have enough money that I can give to an organization to REALLY make a difference but what I do have is time. Time to do the leg work and labor that an organization may need.
A big part of my life is volunteerism. I joined The Junior League of Lancaster about 2 years ago and have been very active volunteering for many worthwhile organizations. Guadenzia was the first organization I got my hands dirty with while in the League. We organized a party for the Women and Children Guadenzia services. We collected purses and each woman had a brand new (and in many cases a brand name) purse. Something as simple as a purse was just another confidence booster for these woman trying to better themselves and become a contributing member of society.
Aaron's Acres is another non-profit organization that I am very active with. One Sunday a month during the school year I volunteer with their respite school year program. This past year I decided to bring a long with me a troubled student from my school. It was amazing to see his hard shell disappear when he was working with the children. Aaron's Acres is an amazing organization that thrives on support of MANY volunteers.
Through Junior League I was hooked up with Girls on the Run. This is a character building program for young girls via a 10 wk course and actual physical running and training for a 5K. I have had first hand experience of how this program can change a girl's life for the better!
There are many more organizations that are doing good in our community that depend on volunteers to keep them running. No amount of money can replace time given, a hug given, encouragement given, etc.
Everyone needs to do their part in giving back to their community. You should be thankful for the gifts you have been given in your life and hope that if need be, someone is around giving of their time to you.
*This picture is taken at Loxley's, a restaurant in Lancaster. At the bottom of every check there are 3 organizations of the month for customers to choose from to have 5% of their bill donated to. Thank you Loxley's for giving back to your community!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Day 26
People can learn so much from animals. Tonight at the dog park I was reminded of the simplicity of getting along with one another. Why is it so hard for some people? It's not so hard for dogs...
When a new dog comes into the park, the other dogs run over and sniff the new dog from head to butt. They question who this new dog is coming into their area. Once the sniffing is over they start to play softly as if to test this new dog. Once they see that the new dog is there for the same reason (to run and play) they accept the dog and go on with their play time. All different dogs from all walks of life coming together with a common goal of running, chasing balls, chasing one another, sniffing butts, etc. If people were only as accepting and drama free...
Can't we all just get along?
“The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.” Emily Dickinson
Can't we all just get along?
“The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.” Emily Dickinson
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Day 25
I had the best ME day today! I had plans to go to a cookout but the rain kinda spoiled that so at 12:30pm I found myself with nothing to do. I decided to finish cleaning out my closet. It was one of those cleanings where I literally took everything out and piled it all over my room and then slowly went through things and put things in place.
What is it about clothing that makes it sooooo hard to get rid of? I know the rule, "If you haven't worn it in a year, get rid of it." THAT'S CRAP!!!!
As I was going through my clothes I had several different costume changes. I went from my pj's to an orange Virginia Tech t-shirt, a flowered flowy skirt, a pink bandanna, and a wrist band. (I looked damn sexy) Every piece I was wearing had some kind of significance to me. Each piece was comforting as I put it on. (None of them went in to the Goodwill pile!) Then came the bridesmaid dresses, one of which I wore 1 month before my surgery. I keep that as a reminder... I put it on and was amazed that I could have fit another person in it. I'll never wear it again but for some reason I can't let it go. After the bridesmaid dresses came my favorite sweatshirt. (yes, the AC so cranked so high I was comfortable in a sweatshirt.) And with each piece after came memories, some good bad, some bad. People always say that things are replaceable because you'll always have your memories... I've always been a pack rat. I can't get rid of anything! Maybe it is for security reasons or maybe it is just to keep the memories fresh and out in the open! Whichever the reason, overall I had a very enjoyable afternoon with all my stuff all by myself!
(Especially since most things eventually made their way BACK into the closet!)
What is it about clothing that makes it sooooo hard to get rid of? I know the rule, "If you haven't worn it in a year, get rid of it." THAT'S CRAP!!!!
As I was going through my clothes I had several different costume changes. I went from my pj's to an orange Virginia Tech t-shirt, a flowered flowy skirt, a pink bandanna, and a wrist band. (I looked damn sexy) Every piece I was wearing had some kind of significance to me. Each piece was comforting as I put it on. (None of them went in to the Goodwill pile!) Then came the bridesmaid dresses, one of which I wore 1 month before my surgery. I keep that as a reminder... I put it on and was amazed that I could have fit another person in it. I'll never wear it again but for some reason I can't let it go. After the bridesmaid dresses came my favorite sweatshirt. (yes, the AC so cranked so high I was comfortable in a sweatshirt.) And with each piece after came memories, some good bad, some bad. People always say that things are replaceable because you'll always have your memories... I've always been a pack rat. I can't get rid of anything! Maybe it is for security reasons or maybe it is just to keep the memories fresh and out in the open! Whichever the reason, overall I had a very enjoyable afternoon with all my stuff all by myself!
(Especially since most things eventually made their way BACK into the closet!)
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