Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret,you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Audience Participation Please!
Out of the following items, which 5 would you be willing to live without if you HAD to.
1. Computer
2. High Speed Internet
3. Land Line Phone
4. Air Conditioning
5. Clothes Dryer
6. Cell Phone
7. TV
8. Car
9. Microwave
10. Cable or Satellite TV
Now share!! Which ones did you pick?
I could live without (if I HAD to) the microwave, a clothes dryer (in Australia we hung all our clothes on a line to dry), a land line phone (don't even get me started on that again!), cable or satellite tv and the plain 'ol regular tv.
It's kinda hard to imagine life without all of those things since we are so use to having each of them at our disposal....but I know I could do it if I had to.
1. Computer
2. High Speed Internet
3. Land Line Phone
4. Air Conditioning
5. Clothes Dryer
6. Cell Phone
7. TV
8. Car
9. Microwave
10. Cable or Satellite TV
Now share!! Which ones did you pick?
I could live without (if I HAD to) the microwave, a clothes dryer (in Australia we hung all our clothes on a line to dry), a land line phone (don't even get me started on that again!), cable or satellite tv and the plain 'ol regular tv.
It's kinda hard to imagine life without all of those things since we are so use to having each of them at our disposal....but I know I could do it if I had to.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Clarification
I had a friend say they were worried about me and Johnny after reading my last post and I thought to myself, "Why in the world would that make her worried about us?" And then I re-read my post and realized some of you may think that I posted that song because I am in the depths of despair with a broken heart.
BUT GOOD NEWS!
Johnny and I are just as obsessed with each other as we were last month and probably even more crazy, madly in love than we were when we got married :) Are you done throwing up yet?! We couldn't be happier....well....actually...I would be a whole heck of a lot happier if he lived in our home with me and NOT in Iraq, but that's beside the point.
The reason I love that song is because I feel like there are so many people in my life right now who ARE hurting and who aren't able to see the light at the end of the marriage-trouble-tunnel. And my heart breaks for them. I was hoping that the song may give them an ounce of hope so that they could continue to fight for a strong and lasting marriage. Johnny and I fight for our marriage every day, because I don't want to take the chance to "take a day off" and give the enemy a chance to creep in. The divorce rate is steadily rising and quite frankly, I don't want to end up a statistic.
And I just really liked the song...that's all! :)
So, just in case you were wondering, there's no need to worry about us! I'll nauseate you with pictures from R&R soon!
BUT GOOD NEWS!
Johnny and I are just as obsessed with each other as we were last month and probably even more crazy, madly in love than we were when we got married :) Are you done throwing up yet?! We couldn't be happier....well....actually...I would be a whole heck of a lot happier if he lived in our home with me and NOT in Iraq, but that's beside the point.
The reason I love that song is because I feel like there are so many people in my life right now who ARE hurting and who aren't able to see the light at the end of the marriage-trouble-tunnel. And my heart breaks for them. I was hoping that the song may give them an ounce of hope so that they could continue to fight for a strong and lasting marriage. Johnny and I fight for our marriage every day, because I don't want to take the chance to "take a day off" and give the enemy a chance to creep in. The divorce rate is steadily rising and quite frankly, I don't want to end up a statistic.
And I just really liked the song...that's all! :)
So, just in case you were wondering, there's no need to worry about us! I'll nauseate you with pictures from R&R soon!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Love is Not a Fight by Warren Barfield
I am currently loving this song that's been playing on the Christian radio station lately. It's from the movie Fireproof and if you haven't seen the movie yet, it really does have a powerful message. The acting is a little weak...so just keep that in mind going into it, but the impact of the movie left me in tears! And there is this incredible devotion/ 40-day marriage challenge that you can pick up at your local Christian book store that I know will bestow blessings upon blessings on both you and your spouse. Whether your marriage is amazing or you are completely out of hope, I hope you enjoy this song. And don't give up. Nothing is impossible for God.
Go HERE to listen to the song.
BTW - I've added a music playlist down at the very bottom of this page, so be sure to pause it if you click on that link to listen to the song. It's also at the bottom in my playlist if you'd rather not click the link to watch the music video to go along with it on YouTube :)
And below are the lyrics....
Love is not a place
To come and go as we please
It's a house we answer in
Then commit to never leave
So lock the door behind you
Throw away the key
We'll work it out together
Let it bring us to our knees
Chorus:
Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for
To some, love is a word
That they can fall into
But when they're falling out
Keeping that word is hard to do
Chorus:
Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for
Love will come to save us
If we'll only call
He will ask nothing from us
But demand we give our all
Chorus:
Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for
I will fight for you
Would you fight for me?
It's worth fighting for
Go HERE to listen to the song.
BTW - I've added a music playlist down at the very bottom of this page, so be sure to pause it if you click on that link to listen to the song. It's also at the bottom in my playlist if you'd rather not click the link to watch the music video to go along with it on YouTube :)
And below are the lyrics....
Love is not a place
To come and go as we please
It's a house we answer in
Then commit to never leave
So lock the door behind you
Throw away the key
We'll work it out together
Let it bring us to our knees
Chorus:
Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for
To some, love is a word
That they can fall into
But when they're falling out
Keeping that word is hard to do
Chorus:
Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for
Love will come to save us
If we'll only call
He will ask nothing from us
But demand we give our all
Chorus:
Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for
I will fight for you
Would you fight for me?
It's worth fighting for
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tell me I'm not the only one....
My exterminator is coming tomorrow morning. I spent the evening cleaning my house. FOR MY EXTERMINATOR. I don't even really like him....he is kind of rude. I have actually canceled appointments before with my bug man if I didn't have time to make my bed and do the dishes. Am I crazy and just really OCD? Or are you like this too?
On another completely different note...Johnny is back in Iraq and I am slowly (yet so much quicker than the first time he left) getting back into the swing of things, my productivity level is finally rising again and I'm working on getting rid of the several pounds I put on in just a mere 14 days. I'll update you on our fabulous two-week hibernation and our miserable good-bye soon. Just hang in there with me. It has been a roller coaster of emotions for this chick. :)
On another completely different note...Johnny is back in Iraq and I am slowly (yet so much quicker than the first time he left) getting back into the swing of things, my productivity level is finally rising again and I'm working on getting rid of the several pounds I put on in just a mere 14 days. I'll update you on our fabulous two-week hibernation and our miserable good-bye soon. Just hang in there with me. It has been a roller coaster of emotions for this chick. :)
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Land-Line Phones
Hi. What you are about to read could come across as bitter and/or annoyed and/or ridiculous. I'm just warning you.
When my sweet husband and I bought our first home, he wanted to make sure we had an alarm system to keep me [somewhat] protected while he was away. Well, one of the MAJOR components to getting this new alarm system set up, was a land-line. I HATE LAND-LINES. Not to mention your average person doesn't use a land-line anymore because cell phones are now literally attached to people's ears. We don't need a land-line, we don't use a land-line and I certainly didn't want to pay $30 extra a month for something I had no use for. Guess who lost that battle. Me.
The "great deal" of $35.99 a month quickly jumped to $61.99 because the only reason we were paying for that stupid land-line was for the alarm system. Dumb.
I don't even know the number to own house phone. I am dead serious! I happened to be home one day and it rang. That phone NEVER rings. I mean N-E-V-E-R-R-I-N-G-S. It actually kind of frightened me when it rang because I had no clue where it was coming from. So I answered it and the woman said, "Is Betty there?" Umm, unless you are affectionately referring to me as Betty Crocker, no, no Betty here. Then she asked, "Is this 912-893-6789" (or something like that) and I just said, "No it isn't." BUT I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT OUR NUMBER IS!!!! The number she said could have very well been our number, but I couldn't even tell you a single digit that's in it. So ridiculous.
I am definitely a little bitter about the land-line. But I am thankful for our alarm system. There have been many nights since Johnny has been gone that I have heard some weird noises but was reassured that if it was someone breaking into my home our alarm would have already woken up the entire neighborhood.
When my sweet husband and I bought our first home, he wanted to make sure we had an alarm system to keep me [somewhat] protected while he was away. Well, one of the MAJOR components to getting this new alarm system set up, was a land-line. I HATE LAND-LINES. Not to mention your average person doesn't use a land-line anymore because cell phones are now literally attached to people's ears. We don't need a land-line, we don't use a land-line and I certainly didn't want to pay $30 extra a month for something I had no use for. Guess who lost that battle. Me.
The "great deal" of $35.99 a month quickly jumped to $61.99 because the only reason we were paying for that stupid land-line was for the alarm system. Dumb.
I don't even know the number to own house phone. I am dead serious! I happened to be home one day and it rang. That phone NEVER rings. I mean N-E-V-E-R-R-I-N-G-S. It actually kind of frightened me when it rang because I had no clue where it was coming from. So I answered it and the woman said, "Is Betty there?" Umm, unless you are affectionately referring to me as Betty Crocker, no, no Betty here. Then she asked, "Is this 912-893-6789" (or something like that) and I just said, "No it isn't." BUT I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT OUR NUMBER IS!!!! The number she said could have very well been our number, but I couldn't even tell you a single digit that's in it. So ridiculous.
I am definitely a little bitter about the land-line. But I am thankful for our alarm system. There have been many nights since Johnny has been gone that I have heard some weird noises but was reassured that if it was someone breaking into my home our alarm would have already woken up the entire neighborhood.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
AAAHHHHHH......
That is a sigh of relief and complete and utter happiness. Johnny arrived home after traveling for 61 hours on Saturday afternoon. I was a total wreck, cleaning everything in sight and so anxious I couldn't stand still to save my life! My parents were there, Johnny's parents were there and his sister, brother-in-law and our two little nieces (one of which Johnny had never met!).
I have to admit I was a little nervous for our reunion and how it would be between us after being apart for six months, but now that he's home I have no clue what in the world I was worried about. It is literally like he never left! We are having a blast together and there was no adjustment period needed. It has truly reassured me that when he goes back to Iraq in two weeks that we will be fine and I know we'll be able to make it through the next 6 months.
Enjoy the several hundred pictures I've posted. My friend Chelsea is an amazing photographer and graciously agreed to come to the airport to take pictures for me. I am so thankful she was there and able to capture our sweet reunion on film :) THANKS CHELSEA!!
(Don't forget you can click on the picture to enlarge it.)
PS - As I'm sitting upstairs in the office writing this post and I can hear Johnny downstairs watching TV and laughing, and man oh man, how it makes my heart smile. I love having him home again. Life is exactly how it should be again.
I couldn't stand still! Looking for him amidst all the people!
There he is!!
Johnny and Elena...she warmed right up to him again!
Johnny and our sweet new little niece, Samantha Pepper
I have to admit I was a little nervous for our reunion and how it would be between us after being apart for six months, but now that he's home I have no clue what in the world I was worried about. It is literally like he never left! We are having a blast together and there was no adjustment period needed. It has truly reassured me that when he goes back to Iraq in two weeks that we will be fine and I know we'll be able to make it through the next 6 months.
Enjoy the several hundred pictures I've posted. My friend Chelsea is an amazing photographer and graciously agreed to come to the airport to take pictures for me. I am so thankful she was there and able to capture our sweet reunion on film :) THANKS CHELSEA!!
(Don't forget you can click on the picture to enlarge it.)
PS - As I'm sitting upstairs in the office writing this post and I can hear Johnny downstairs watching TV and laughing, and man oh man, how it makes my heart smile. I love having him home again. Life is exactly how it should be again.
I couldn't stand still! Looking for him amidst all the people!
There he is!!
Johnny and Elena...she warmed right up to him again!
Johnny and our sweet new little niece, Samantha Pepper
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