As you get older birthdays become less about the years counted and more about the blessings received. This year, I'm giving thanks to all the wonderful people in my life. Those who have shaped it, added to it, and blessed me by sharing my time on earth.
I'll start off with my husband, who is one awesome individual. For forty-two years he's stood by me, cherished me, fought with me, and loved me. We've had our ups and downs and I have discovered that the secret to a long marriage is recognition of each other as individuals. It isn't always easy, but nothing worth having ever is.
Next, of course, are my kids. Shannon, Denny, and Ryan. They are all spectacular individuals. No parent could be more proud. They each brought me spouses that are more my children than in laws. Jamie and Nathalia are wonderful mothers, each unique in their own special way. And Scott? What can I say? Other than thank you for being such a wonderful husband to my daughter.
Then there's the grandkids, Jacob, Jack, Noah, Joshua, Katelynn, Dylan, and Ally. What an amazing brood, each endowed with special gifts and talents. They bring joy to my life and I do not know what I would do without them. They are my playmates. We swim, fish, hike, and laugh together. God, how I love them.
To my nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and NOW great great, maybe a niece or nephew, we are becoming too numerous to count. When we get together at Thanksgiving and Christmas and during the summer at the lake, it is a mass of humanity filled with love and thankfulness. We are so fortunate to have kept our families close. I love each one of you dearly. Thank you for being in my life.
To Karen Lebo Carroll, my sister-in-law of over forty-two years. You stand by me, take care of me when I am ill, laugh with me, cry with me, and beat me at Rummy. We need to do some chips and cream cheese soon. She gave me a book entitled Sisters for my birthday. I cried when I got home. She is more a sister to me than anyone I know.
To my mother-in-law, Audrey Carroll. Without her I would not be the person I am today. She raised me from the time I was fifteen. She tried to 'buy' me from my mother so I would have a home. She is a wise woman with so many outstanding accomplishments I could not list them here. She is my rock. The advice giver, the healer, the shoulder to cry upon.
To MaryLou Johnson Commendatore and Debi Marzoline. My sisters. My friends. We fight and argue, but you are in my heart. I love you well. And I miss you. We need to do a girl thing soon. Oh, and I apologize for being snitty. Prednisone will do that to you. Makes you all uptight and miserable. Emotional, too.
To Diane Hunt Porter: She died at the age of thirty-two from breast cancer. I am and continue to be honored that she called me the morning of the day she died. My spiritual health was of more concern to her than her own life. If you can see this, I love you. It took me time to get where I am, but I can say now, that yes, I've accepted Christ as my personal savior. He is even more than that to me. He is my friend. I am so grateful He put you into my life. I miss you.
To my author friends, too numerous to count, your unselfish giving of your time, your encouragement, your friendship, means so much to me. Thank you for being there for me when I needed you.
I even have Facebook friends and Twitter friends. They make me laugh, cry, and without exception they keep me company when I am sick. Thank you for being there. You add diversity to my life, challenge me, make me think, even when I don't want to.
There are so many of my friends and family gone now. Terry, Bobby, my mom and dad, Pete, Anne, and more. All these people blessed my life. Anne with her humor, Terry with his--well he's Terry. I love him and we all miss him very very much. Life has not been the same since you left.
I am grateful that after thirty-two years of suffering with Crohn's I am finally able to admit I have this disease in public. It took me a long time to get there. So for the parties I missed, the fun times we had when I had to leave early, and the last minute cancellations, now you know why. Even my closest friends didn't know, but as it got worse, and hospitalizations became more frequent, I had to be honest--with them and myself.
There are so many young people with this disease and they need encouragement. Now I can extend a helping hand to them. God bless my Crohnie friends and keep the faith for a cure.
Comments are closed because this is about you and not about me. All of you have added a richness to my life that is incomprehensible and I thank you for it.
God bless all of you.
I'll start off with my husband, who is one awesome individual. For forty-two years he's stood by me, cherished me, fought with me, and loved me. We've had our ups and downs and I have discovered that the secret to a long marriage is recognition of each other as individuals. It isn't always easy, but nothing worth having ever is.
Next, of course, are my kids. Shannon, Denny, and Ryan. They are all spectacular individuals. No parent could be more proud. They each brought me spouses that are more my children than in laws. Jamie and Nathalia are wonderful mothers, each unique in their own special way. And Scott? What can I say? Other than thank you for being such a wonderful husband to my daughter.
Then there's the grandkids, Jacob, Jack, Noah, Joshua, Katelynn, Dylan, and Ally. What an amazing brood, each endowed with special gifts and talents. They bring joy to my life and I do not know what I would do without them. They are my playmates. We swim, fish, hike, and laugh together. God, how I love them.
To my nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and NOW great great, maybe a niece or nephew, we are becoming too numerous to count. When we get together at Thanksgiving and Christmas and during the summer at the lake, it is a mass of humanity filled with love and thankfulness. We are so fortunate to have kept our families close. I love each one of you dearly. Thank you for being in my life.
To Karen Lebo Carroll, my sister-in-law of over forty-two years. You stand by me, take care of me when I am ill, laugh with me, cry with me, and beat me at Rummy. We need to do some chips and cream cheese soon. She gave me a book entitled Sisters for my birthday. I cried when I got home. She is more a sister to me than anyone I know.
To my mother-in-law, Audrey Carroll. Without her I would not be the person I am today. She raised me from the time I was fifteen. She tried to 'buy' me from my mother so I would have a home. She is a wise woman with so many outstanding accomplishments I could not list them here. She is my rock. The advice giver, the healer, the shoulder to cry upon.
To MaryLou Johnson Commendatore and Debi Marzoline. My sisters. My friends. We fight and argue, but you are in my heart. I love you well. And I miss you. We need to do a girl thing soon. Oh, and I apologize for being snitty. Prednisone will do that to you. Makes you all uptight and miserable. Emotional, too.
To Diane Hunt Porter: She died at the age of thirty-two from breast cancer. I am and continue to be honored that she called me the morning of the day she died. My spiritual health was of more concern to her than her own life. If you can see this, I love you. It took me time to get where I am, but I can say now, that yes, I've accepted Christ as my personal savior. He is even more than that to me. He is my friend. I am so grateful He put you into my life. I miss you.
To my author friends, too numerous to count, your unselfish giving of your time, your encouragement, your friendship, means so much to me. Thank you for being there for me when I needed you.
I even have Facebook friends and Twitter friends. They make me laugh, cry, and without exception they keep me company when I am sick. Thank you for being there. You add diversity to my life, challenge me, make me think, even when I don't want to.
There are so many of my friends and family gone now. Terry, Bobby, my mom and dad, Pete, Anne, and more. All these people blessed my life. Anne with her humor, Terry with his--well he's Terry. I love him and we all miss him very very much. Life has not been the same since you left.
I am grateful that after thirty-two years of suffering with Crohn's I am finally able to admit I have this disease in public. It took me a long time to get there. So for the parties I missed, the fun times we had when I had to leave early, and the last minute cancellations, now you know why. Even my closest friends didn't know, but as it got worse, and hospitalizations became more frequent, I had to be honest--with them and myself.
There are so many young people with this disease and they need encouragement. Now I can extend a helping hand to them. God bless my Crohnie friends and keep the faith for a cure.
Comments are closed because this is about you and not about me. All of you have added a richness to my life that is incomprehensible and I thank you for it.
God bless all of you.
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