People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Friday, June 5, 2009
A Generous Brother
Recently, W found something he thought MK would just love to have. For a mere 79.99 plus tax he wanted her to have a Tink Cafe'.
I explained it was not her birthday, Christmas or just give MK-a-gift day. It was a big gift and we could put it on a list to think about for another time. He may have felt where that was going so he immediately said he would pay for it and wanted to buy it for her. So very sweet. While the girls have banks for coins, he has has an old coffee can that he likes. Now that he is aware he can spend his own money he saves but it has been a while since he has had a large amount. Still, he wanted to count it out. He had over ten dollars and wanted to give all he had but we were not going to spend another $70 plus for the cafe'.
While he was disappointed about not having enough money right now to get it for MK he said he will just keep saving. Why would he want to give it all for his sister when he could save for something for himself, I asked. "Because I love her", he said... and he really does and that goes for A too.
I explained it was not her birthday, Christmas or just give MK-a-gift day. It was a big gift and we could put it on a list to think about for another time. He may have felt where that was going so he immediately said he would pay for it and wanted to buy it for her. So very sweet. While the girls have banks for coins, he has has an old coffee can that he likes. Now that he is aware he can spend his own money he saves but it has been a while since he has had a large amount. Still, he wanted to count it out. He had over ten dollars and wanted to give all he had but we were not going to spend another $70 plus for the cafe'.
While he was disappointed about not having enough money right now to get it for MK he said he will just keep saving. Why would he want to give it all for his sister when he could save for something for himself, I asked. "Because I love her", he said... and he really does and that goes for A too.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
It Won't Be Like This For Long
I wanted to share a song that I heard for the first time several weeks ago. Of course while I am all nostalgic about A's 11th year and really how quickly time is flying by for all three of our children it just makes me cry.
*Edited to Add: Guys, I just added a video to this blog! Seriously, it is easy and if you have time, (not like my fine example here), I imagine those close to you (especially ME) would love to see your pictures, videos and read your thoughts and it is EASIER than you think.
*Edited to Add: Guys, I just added a video to this blog! Seriously, it is easy and if you have time, (not like my fine example here), I imagine those close to you (especially ME) would love to see your pictures, videos and read your thoughts and it is EASIER than you think.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
A Special Name
Today, my father-in-law, who I affectionately named "Pop", has a birthday to celebrate! After D and I were married I wanted to call his mom and dad something other than by their first or last names. I grew up where people called adult friends and neighbors by their last names like Mr. or Mrs. Smith (for example).
After we were married, I found that in D's community they called friends and neighbors Mr. or Mrs. and their first name. While I could pull that off for people that D had already named from his growing up years, for his parents it was a clean slate. I thought about it. A LOT.
Once we moved to D's home state, I remember calling his dad from work because I had just discovered what I wanted to call him and I wanted to ask him if it was okay. He liked it and I was thrilled.
Putting his name into use was harder because I had yet found something to call his mom. I did ask her and she said I could call her Mrs. and her first name like everyone else. That was really hard for me since she wasn't a neighbor or friend like everyone else. I was always on a quest to find something she would like though. I thought I would find a name for her but I didn't get to before she went to be with Jesus. I do still think about it though.
It had been a while since I had talked to D's dad about his name so he asked me if I was going to use it and I told him I wanted to so I put aside my plan of having names at the same time for his mom and dad and was able to call him Pop. Up until then, I really avoided calling them anything because I wanted it to be right the first time and not have to be undone. Tricky, I know. All those years. How did we even communicate? I would call, they would answer and I would just start talking. :) If we were in the same room, I just looked at them when I talked to them or needed to get their attention. It worked somehow.
Now, I have been calling him Pop for eight years and I am the only one who does. It is special and he is special to me.
After we were married, I found that in D's community they called friends and neighbors Mr. or Mrs. and their first name. While I could pull that off for people that D had already named from his growing up years, for his parents it was a clean slate. I thought about it. A LOT.
Once we moved to D's home state, I remember calling his dad from work because I had just discovered what I wanted to call him and I wanted to ask him if it was okay. He liked it and I was thrilled.
Putting his name into use was harder because I had yet found something to call his mom. I did ask her and she said I could call her Mrs. and her first name like everyone else. That was really hard for me since she wasn't a neighbor or friend like everyone else. I was always on a quest to find something she would like though. I thought I would find a name for her but I didn't get to before she went to be with Jesus. I do still think about it though.
It had been a while since I had talked to D's dad about his name so he asked me if I was going to use it and I told him I wanted to so I put aside my plan of having names at the same time for his mom and dad and was able to call him Pop. Up until then, I really avoided calling them anything because I wanted it to be right the first time and not have to be undone. Tricky, I know. All those years. How did we even communicate? I would call, they would answer and I would just start talking. :) If we were in the same room, I just looked at them when I talked to them or needed to get their attention. It worked somehow.
Now, I have been calling him Pop for eight years and I am the only one who does. It is special and he is special to me.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, POP! I love you ~ Sondra
Plugged or Unplugged?
I have wanted to update this little blog for months. I know of other people who have blogs and update them faithfully but "unplug" for a break. I guess I could say I was unplugged but that just screams LAZY to me and I have been anything but lazy recently. It also seems rude to just drop off the cyber face of the earth without saying goodbye for a while. I have worked more at home in the last few months, besides my usual schedule, and it really has just seemed busier with all the kids.
If you know me well you know it is all about order. There was a 11-year-old girl's interview, a slideshow for that sweet girl's 12th birthday, spring activities, programs, awards and all kinds of things you may or may not have wanted to know all about for the last few months. On this day, the 31st of May, I could not bear to not have an entry for this month.
I cannot recapture all those moments that I did not get to mention here but I will try to highlight some of those events because it is about ORDER. I have not even downloaded pictures from my camera since I posted on this blog last!
There is not really an end in sight on the busy schedules but I want to officially say I am definitely not unplugged and will be back SOON!
If you know me well you know it is all about order. There was a 11-year-old girl's interview, a slideshow for that sweet girl's 12th birthday, spring activities, programs, awards and all kinds of things you may or may not have wanted to know all about for the last few months. On this day, the 31st of May, I could not bear to not have an entry for this month.
I cannot recapture all those moments that I did not get to mention here but I will try to highlight some of those events because it is about ORDER. I have not even downloaded pictures from my camera since I posted on this blog last!
There is not really an end in sight on the busy schedules but I want to officially say I am definitely not unplugged and will be back SOON!
Monday, February 23, 2009
A Special Birthday
This weekend we celebrated D's birthday... kind of. He likes things a bit low-key so we obliged this time. The rest of us love a celebration and we are hoping we can have a few highlights during his birthday week. WEEK?!, you ask? Well yes, we cannot just stop at a day. One day just didn't seem like enough. A birthday week was designed to let the celebrated one make lots of choices during their birthday week. Since A has a birthday week coming up next week she wants to make sure he enjoys his.
On his birthday, I overheard D telling someone on the phone that he was going backward one year now instead of up so he is going with 39. Genius! Why didn't I think of that two months ago? It is never too late so I will join him and we can both be 39.
Last summer we celebrated 15 years of marriage and through these years he remains the same. Steady and solid is a great way to describe him. He is generous and loving. He loves us and takes care of us well. He would rather spend his free time with his family than doing something on his own without us. He doesn't have to... he wants to. He inspires me to be a better person and I only hope I can give back as much to him as he does for me every. single. day.
Happy Birthday, D!
On his birthday, I overheard D telling someone on the phone that he was going backward one year now instead of up so he is going with 39. Genius! Why didn't I think of that two months ago? It is never too late so I will join him and we can both be 39.
Last summer we celebrated 15 years of marriage and through these years he remains the same. Steady and solid is a great way to describe him. He is generous and loving. He loves us and takes care of us well. He would rather spend his free time with his family than doing something on his own without us. He doesn't have to... he wants to. He inspires me to be a better person and I only hope I can give back as much to him as he does for me every. single. day.
Happy Birthday, D!
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