Family, Life and Love. Three powerful words, amazingly beautiful together but scary and horrifying as well. We all have this beautiful vision of what family is. Either we are born into the family that everyone wants or a family that needs a lot of stitching, bandages and healing time. Family is what it is. It’s not always about love but when it comes down to it…it should be. The individuals that make up a family are grown with love.

Life is as it sounds. It’s waking up everyday living, breathing and being.

We all have family issues, hiccups and heartaches but we also have happiness, cheek aching laughter and tender embraces of hope filled dreams.

Love always tries to be the stronger word. It sees the good in all the bad. The hope in all of the sadness, pain and fear and the faith that things can always be better than what we allow. Sadly, the fights, the tears and fear cause the family side to override the love that is desperately trying to blanket all our hearts.

See no matter how much you love. How much you miss someone. No matter how much you wish you were able to get past all the pain and heartache that someone(s) in your family has caused there’s always that thin needle piercing your love filled heart crippling it for even longer. Causing the healing to be delayed and/or put off until closure is presented in some way. You try to find that closure on your own but sometimes all that’s needed is to face it. To confront the person(s) so that together you can find closure and therefore move on.

In some cases moving on is forced and problems, misdoings, misunderstandings get swept away for the moment until all the dust that lies beneath collects and the inevitable explosions erupt. This is when you relive the pain and then it intensifies in a way that there is no turning back. You become lost and forgiving is a word in the far unattainable distance.

Before we let it get that far. Before the family bond breaks apart piece by piece. Family member by family member until there’s no family at all. Just a tree made up of frail lifeless dead branches we should try to let love fill that pain first.

Inside we all want that tree to be alive and thriving. To stretch towards the sun and fill with arms (branches) that hug, and hold life and love in. Even if we don’t want to admit it we wish for our tree to be filled with love of branches. Leaves of hope, the strength of family and life from the foundation that brings it all together.

As you get older you notice the stares in the mirror get longer. You realize that time is taken a toll on you, not only on your body but all over your face. Each stare gets longer and each line more pronounced. You try to manage a smile but with quivering lips it’s not always easy. Then you are hit with the realization that there are many younger, more prettier and more youthful running about and your chest begins to cave in and you slouch where you once were standing tall. This is when the questions begin. Does he notice them? Am I still beautiful on the outside as he once thought? Do I still cause his heart to skip a beat knowing he will see me after a long day at work? Or do others around him keep his interest and his heart fluttering?

He’s surrounded by the world and I’m surrounded by errands, interactions with little people and those that care for them. Have I lost that touch? Did I lose my sparkle? Your heart feels heavy but it’s time to step away from that mirror and dress those two miracles calling out to you. You slowly make your way to them, giving the smiles and hugs they come to expect and love, and once again you are out the door to begin the same day on a different date.

What happened to that person before the kids? The life with the high paying job and a kick ass yearly bonus? This is my life now, right?

Let’s back up a bit and try this again. LOOK at my life…two amazing kids, a beautiful home surrounded by family. Yes, it’s not always easy and boy is it stressful but it’s my life. It’s my journey and the path that gets me where I need to be.

Do I have insecurities and fears? Yes, I do but I’ve come to learn that it’s ok. It’s up to me to always focus on the good and find the positive. But in the meantime find myself and don’t get lost in the fear and others around me.

Although, it gets harder some days I try to look less at the lines that surround my face, the extra something that hangs on my body and let the dust that dulls my sparkle blow away. Sometimes I need to give myself a little shake or a pat to help me shine but all the in between stuff is still there, the only difference is now I understand, it’s ok. When I lose that and the day comes when I feel it’s not ok, I will just remember this. Here and now and I hope that’s enough.

Today I’m reminded just how wonderful it feels to have someone that truly knows YOU for YOU and loves you anyway. I’m reminded just how precious and beautiful a life with a true friend means. We all have people we know, an acquaintance, someone we know in passing or meet along the way through a friend and although it’s nice to know, it’s nothing like the love and relationship of a true friend. One that touches your heart and soul and no matter what happens in between or the miles of distance that friend is a hearts friend. One that belongs there and can never go away. I’m lucky to experience and know what that means. You know who you are and if I don’t say it often or reach out to you as much as I’d like, please know that your love, support and life through the years are my greatest gifts. Please know that I don’t take our friendship for granted and during these last few days, I want you to know you are loved. Life is fragile and oh so short, never doubt for a moment that you were not thought about or prayed for because you are.
All those who say hi along the way and send a nice note, thank you.
May this day embrace you with love so strong it holds you and warms your soul. I have several angels up above that I miss dearly but I know I can see them in my memories, hold them in my heart and see them in my dreams. Sometimes I look up and just smile. I hope you smile today even though your heart may be breaking.

It’s been a day(s) filled with many emotions. I can’t understand how in one second you can be unbelievably happy and in the next the sadness you feel is like heat burning your chest from your heart crumbling. With each falling piece you feel the weight of life slipping and it’s hard to breathe. I felt that on and off today and much of last night. The in between, I was reminded of how beautiful life is. My sister cousin got married today and her wedding reminded me of the happiness that remains. Although we feel sadness and feel like our hope is slipping away there is something like today that tells me to keep the faith. Watching her smile, laugh, dance and just look absolutely beautiful in her dress pulled at my cheeks and helped me raise them in celebration of life. She was starting a new journey as husband and wife and we were there to witness the kind beauty.
Although I lost someone dear to me, I was reminded of all the amazing times I had with her and felt pretty damn lucky to be able to hold on to those memories. That doesn’t mean there’s not a void and sadness, it means that I will try my hardest to fill it with the happiness we shared.
Being surrounded by family was just what I needed.
Happy 37th Birthday today up in Heaven to my dear friend of strength, courage, life and love. The stars are shining brighter tonight. 

Do you know when there’s a little toilet paper left on the roll and you slightly touch it and it just unravels and keeps falling until it’s at the end and has to just stop?

If you watch that happen it looks like the toilet paper just gave up. Yeah, that feeling.

I finally listened to all the advice given by my friends and husband about switching my twins from 3 ½ days a week to 3 full days a week at school. As difficult as it was for me to make the decision it was harder for me to drop them off that first day. I knew it was the better choice for them as it will help prepare them for Pre K next year but it didn’t make the decision easier.

Now fast forward a bit. The kids are totally enjoying the change in their schedule and things are finally falling into place allowing me to feel more at ease and less guilty with the decision UNTIL you hear all those questions.

When someone hears that you decided to put your kids in school full time even though it’s 3 days and not the full week the flood of questions start flowing. One of my favorites is: what will you do with all that free time?

In the beginning I allowed the questions to drown me with guilt and confusion but as time passes I try to hold my head above water and feel the days one at a time.

That question along with many other similar questions said in a tone of disapproval and disgust made me want to crawl under a rock and hide. I had to physically force myself from shrinking where I stood. When the questions are asked by people who aren’t parents it doesn’t get to me as much as the moms that ask with disgust in their voice and disappointment on their face. It takes everything I have in me not to lash out.

For those parents that feel that I am not doing my part, let me tell you this.

On the days that my kids are in school for a few extra hours I can complete all the laundry instead of having to wash the same load over and over because I left the load to tend to the kids causing the washed clothes to sit in the washer and begin to smell like mildew.

I am able to go grocery shopping with enough room in my shopping cart to buy all the things I need to without crushing one of the kids or holding back on everything I need because there is no room.

I am able to tend to the house the way my heart enjoys so that I can take that deep breath in and smell the pure cleanness that is taken from me because as soon as I clean one area the other side is as messy and dirty as the area I just cleaned. I can take a moment to enjoy all the hard work I was allowed to work straight through without interruptions.

I can pay the bills without staying up late to make sure it is all done without error. I can make all the calls I need to take care of all the outstanding chores that the house requires down to repairs, electric, and maintenance without screaming in the background making it difficult to hear and communicate.

I can have some time to actually take care of me. Yes, I said it “ME” so that I am refreshed and happy all over again which helps with my patience and comfort control. This is an important one that took me a very long time to get to and actually do. This is the time when I can get back to me as a person.

I can go on and on but I’m sure many of you understand.

So to all those people that feel it is their place to judge another person I say to you, no one here can judge. In my eyes and heart the one person that can judge me is God.

We are all trying to do the best we can. I know I am my worst critic and I try so hard to be the best mom I can be. All I can do is love my children unconditionally. Help them along the way and always let them know I am here. Hope that they feel loved and supported always. I am far from the best mom but I’m the only mom I know how to be.

So the next time that person gives you that look and goes off on all the time you have just take a deep breath in, let it out slowly and remember who you are, all that you do every day, all that you accomplished to get to where you are now and just smile. Everyone is battling something and maybe that person is just jealous of all that you have or just amazed at all that you do and just doesn’t know how to say it.

Chin up, enjoy your life and remember good or bad there is something more that will always bring that smile in your heart. At least that’s what I believe.

“When the words can’t truly express what is felt within your heart. When the shaky smile on your face is filled with pain that you hope will pass. When the fear that tomorrow will hold the emptiness that you are pushing away today. That is when you reach deep down inside with all the strength you have to lift that voice of hope and fill the heart with love to carry you once again.”

“Quando le parole non possono davvero esprimere ciò che si sente dentro il tuo cuore. Quando il sorriso tremante sul viso è pieno di dolore che si spera passerà. Quando la paura che domani si terrà il vuoto che si sta spingendo via oggi. Questo è quando si arriva in fondo dentro con tutta la forza che devi alzare quella voce di speranza e di riempire il cuore con amore per portare ancora una volta.”

Perhaps my emotions are all over the place or maybe it’s just the fact that I watched a Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela but this heart is achy, happy, sad, disappointed and in a moment of a life truly lived. Seeing all the struggles, the gain, the loss, the hope and faith. Yes, HOPE of something greater than one person but together found the strength that comes with peace as a whole. 
The struggles some small and others so great that carries the weight of a country is a struggle no matter the size. Try to always remember you are not alone going through something, there are many others that deal with their own struggles. The smiles that are present in vision isn’t always present in heart so speak wisely with care and love in your heart. I know for me it’s a constant reminder as my thoughts can wander but my heart and love will always remain.

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” Nelson Mandela

Sometimes when you feel yourself slipping into a funk you try desperately to reach for that hand that knows just what to do but as close as you feel to it, the distance eats up at you making you feel further away. You look around at the amazing life you took part in creating but no matter the beauty, love and sounds of laughter, the fear that you buried so deep within you always tries to pull you back to that place. It takes everything in you to push it down.

Where is that hand?

When you were young you planned stages in your life. You drew out a timeline. When you would marry. The age you would have your first child, second and so on. You painted this picture in your head of the life you knew you wanted. But as you got older the years passed and your timeline seemed to change. You weren’t where you always planned you would be. You began to worry and pushed yourself in decisions you wouldn’t normally make but did so because of panic and fear. Things began falling apart and the heart breaks hurt so much more. Your energy was falling and your heart was weakening all because you weren’t making the unrealistic timeline you created for yourself. This is when the stages of disappointment played into your life. Starting with regret, fear, uncertainty which was followed by feeling like you were not meant to be loved, happy or wanted.

You convinced yourself that you did something wrong and this caused you to second guess every decision moving forward. I’m sure there are several other emotions I can mention but I believe the message is conveyed here. You reached a point where all you could do is let go. Let go of the heavy weight you’ve been carrying and just be.

Allow yourself to live each day as the gift it is. Allow yourself to love YOU again. To be the person you buried deep down inside and believe in yourself once more. Once you are able to get “you” back you are ready to move forward. To live with love in your heart. It helped me begin a new journey. One with an open mind, heart and arms. Ready to fill all with life.

I know the realization to get to that point is a challenge but once you are here you realize you have your entire life to start living again.

I know I do. I wish the same for all of you!