The anniversary of the passing of a tremendous woman.......

Today marks 16 years since Mother Teresa died.  It hardly seems that long ago to me.  I remember that week, because Princess Diana lost her life just days before in that horrific accident.  I was a huge fan of hers (actually, still am of her sons) -- and then the news that Mother Teresa had died struck.  It was an interesting week, to say the least.

She was a magnificent person.  Although I am sure I would have never had the chance to meet her, I wish I would have.  One always wonders when you hear such marvelous things about someone you have never met -- are they REALLY like that?  Did she really not have even one eensy weensy mean bone in her body?  From all accounts, the answer to that is no!

A few weeks ago, someone shared with me this story of Dr. Lombardi, who took care of Mother Teresa at a point in her life when she was critically ill (not immedicately prior to her death, at least in this story).  If you haven't heard it, please take a listen:  Mission to India.  It's a great story of how someone's life can be changed by just a phone call.

I remember thinking when Mother Teresa died how interesting it was that her and Princess Diana died so close together.  They were hardly the best of friends, but they did have some great photo opportunities together, and did some work together.  I am hopeful that they were able to encourage each other.

Thinking back to Mother Teresa makes me think of some of her famous quotes.  If you know me, you know that I love her quotes.  One of my favorites has always been:

"Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile."

I found a compilation of several of her best known quotes.  What is your favorite?

 "A life not lived for others is not a life."

"Each one of them is Jesus in disguise."

"God doesn't require us to succeed; He only requires that you try."

"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples."

"I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask, 'How many good things have you done in your life?' rather he will ask, 'How much love did you put into what you did?'"

"I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things."

"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much."

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.

"If we pray, we will believe; If we believe, we will love; If we love, we will serve."

"If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are."

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

"I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world."

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."

"Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it."

"Live simply so others may simply live."

"Peace begins with a smile."

"The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway."

"What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family."

"When you don't have anything, then you have everything."

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."

"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat."

"Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies."

"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love."

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one."

"It is a kingly act to assist the fallen."

"Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love."

"Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand."

"One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody."

"We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love."

Please share your favorites with me.

May she rest in peace.

Mixed emotions.....

Well, it's that time of year again....time to move the kids back to college.  This year, I said kids -- with an "s".......my first time moving two back!!!  And, of course, they are both going back early for band camp, which means....I get one less week with them!

Friday we move Emily to Ashland University, where she will embark on her college career with an intended double major in English and Creative Writing.  She is so excited she can't stand it, so I am, too!  (Until I get there and it's time to leave -- but I'm going to attempt to leave Krybaby Kaiser back at home this time and be a big girl!).

Saturday, it's Sarah's turn to move into her apartment at the University of Dayton, where she will be a junior majoring in Communications.  She is excited for different reasons -- she has a whole other set of friends at school that she can't wait to see again -- and I'm sure she's ready to get out from under her parent's thumbs!!!

I've been reflecting a whole lot the past couple of weeks about this moving up -- and out -- process.  It's not anything new to me -- and it's certainly what I want for our children, to be ready to  move on and figure out who they are and what they want to be.  I've had lots of people ask me how to do it -- how to move them out and be happy for them.

The first thing I tell everyone is that on the day you move them out, it seems at first glance like you will never see them again -- but let me tell you, that isn't the truth!  They will be home -- and bring their laundry, and friends, and in the summer, their "stuff"!!!  So, that's not the sad part.....

To me, the sad part is that on that day, when they move out -- your family dynamic changes -- forever.  No longer does that person "live" in your home -- even when they are home for the summer, things are still different!  So, each time another person moves, I feel a little piece of me go with them.

I try not to worry too much about them -- I hope and pray that we have raised responsible kids who make good choices.  I can't worry about their every move -- I would go crazy(ier!).  I just try to "let go and let God"!  Another thought is that our jobs as parents is to first give our kids roots, then give them wings and let them soar!

Jim and I have totally relied on prayer to get us through when Sarah, and now Emily, are at school.  I have found this beautiful prayer and read it often.  I would like to share it with you, in case you are preparing to send one (or more!) of your kids off to school.  I hope it brings you comfort!

A Parent’s Prayer When Children are Leaving Home

Gracious God,

you blessed me

with the gift of my child

and entrusted me

with his/her care.

Now he/she leaves this home

and begins a new life

apart from me.

Surround him/her

with good people

and watch over him/her each day.

And let him/her know that I will always be near

whenever he/she may need me.

Heal any hurts we may harbor with one another

and forgive our failings as we learn

to be in a new kind of relationship with each other.

And when the sight of his/her empty room

pierces my heart with sadness,

may I find comfort in knowing that my child is your child too,

filled with your grace and sheltered by your love. Amen. 

(By Diana Macalintal)

Transitions are hard on everyone - but it is comforting to know that God loves your children even more than you do, and He hears your prayers.   May He bless all of you preparing to send your kids off.  Let me know if you would like us to add you to our prayer list!

Words to live by.....

Sorry I have been AWOL a bit.....trying to get back in the swing of things after vacation!  Alas, here is a little tidbit to tide you over....

Rise above the pain! You are bigger than your circumstances or your life situation. Your life is not defined by your relationship status, your current job, your bank account, or anything that you have or have not done in the past. Don't listen to any person or automatic negative thoughts that may have conditioned you to think of yourself or your life as a failure.

Don’t ever choose a permanent solution for a temporary problem. You have people who need you and who are counting on you. There is always another day and another way. Rise above the pain, and know that deep inside of you there is another person waiting to break through. You have the ability to rebuild, regroup, recover, and revive!! Breathe life into your dream. Know that you can live a meaningful and purposeful life. You are an unrepeatable miracle, and your dream can live... despite what you feel and inspite of what you're going through right now! You have something special...you have GREATNESS within you!
― Les Brown

Upcoming Event: Saturday March 9 2013!

Hello!  Long time, no post -- I'm so sorry!  I've been off with my honey on our dream vacation -- to Hawaii!!!  I'm happy to report we had a blast -- here's a sneak peek photo -- and are back to normal.  :)

(That's from our helicopter tour, which was totally awesome!)

I promise a post about this soon, but first.....I must tell you I am very excited to announce I have a big speaking engagement this weekend!!!  I will be speaking for the Magnificat of Lima Group at the Old Barn Out Back.  I remember when Sharree asked me several months ago, I mentioned it would be right after our vacation, but somehow, it has still snuck up on me!

Registration begins at 9:30 am, with breakfast shortly after.  I think I'm up around 11 am to speak.  Pre-registration is not necessary, although I'm sure they would love to have a count prior to the day.  If you click on the Upcoming Events tab on top, I've added the brochure so you can view and print it.  It has all the details!

If you're planning to come, let me know -- so I can look for you and also so I can be sure to NOT tell any stories about you.  If you aren't there, I can't make that promise........

Hope to see you Saturday!

She did it!

Remember when you were young, and dating someone, and people always said to you, "Remember, you not only marry the person, you marry their family as well!"  I remember hearing that often.  And probably didn't go out with some people a second or third time because of that fact :).  However, I have to say that when I met Jim, and then his family, I didn't think I would have a problem.  And, for the most part, I've been right!  (Well, there's still the little issue of my mother-in-law feeding my children Little Debbies for breakfast, which they still remember and hope she does whenever they see her at breakfast!)

Other than that, I have been so blessed.  Jim's family is so awesome. Over the years, we have had some really high highs (weddings, babies, etc.) and we have also had our share of sadness....but we have always come through with flying colors and probably a little better off because of it.

The past 2 years have been a little harder than most, as Jim's mom, Linda, has experienced some health problems.  If I remember correctly, it all started with a little hitch in her hip that she wanted to get fixed.  Well, one thing led to another, and she ended up getting her heart worked on, her thyroid worked on, her hip fixed (finally!) and, probably the scariest part, discovered breast cancer when all of that was over.

She has been through chemo (and actually has several more months of the "easier" kind (if there is such a thing)) and radiation.  A week ago, we celebrated her graduation from chemo with a lunch out.  Her daughter Jenny, sister in law Jean, sister Connie, a couple of other friends and I went to lunch to celebrate this momentous occasion.  As I sat at that lunch and looked around the table, it was an extraordinary moment to me.  She was sitting amidst people she had been around most of her life, celebrating her life!  There were balloons and flowers and of course a little wine to celebrate with.

I really wanted to write today about this remarkable woman who has raised such a great family (and a husband, too!) and is loved by so many.  So often we center ourselves around the painful part of cancer (many times, it's our only option), but today we celebrate a woman who faced her trial head on, rarely complaining and looking radiantly beautiful through the experience.

If I could have seen in the future when I was dating Jim into this beautiful family he is a part of, I would have thanked people for the lovely warning to be welcomed among them.  Linda, the trooper who fought her way through, and the rest who were all there with her every step of the way.

Hugs to you, Linda!

Oh, the memories......

I had a fun day at work yesterday.  Well, every day is fun -- but this one was extra special.  We had a client come in our office that I  had not met before.  Dan was busy finishing a few things up before he met with him, so I started chatting with him and his wife (imagine that!).

I noted right away that he was wearing a War Veterans ball cap and made a mental note to ask him what was he fought in.  We were discussing if they would like coffee while they waited when they explained to me they had just taken their "break" at home before they came.  (They stop what they are doing and come together to have coffee or some other liquid refreshment together!)

He started talking about how it saddens him that he is getting old enough that he needs to take these breaks. He mentioned that when he was in the Korean War, he would be out and about for hours and hours and hours and never once stop.  (Mental note checked off.)

He went on to say that when he worked for Sidney Electric and Area Energy that he would work 9-10-11 hour days without batting an eye -- he would be tired when he got home, but he could handle it.

Whoa!  I exclaimed -- you worked for Sidney Electric AND you were in the Korean War?  You have to have known my daddy, Harold Goettemoeller.  Did you?

Immediately, a smile crossed his face.  "Oh, yes, I knew your dad.  Very well.  The old cuss!"

We proceeded to spend the next 5 or 10 minutes talking about Dad and his ornry ways at work.  I mentioned to him that I have been having strong urges lately to "fix" signs (Dad was well known for "improving" signs to add things that were funny) -- and he chuckled all over again.  He spoke of how he and dad used to spar over tractors (Dad was a to-the-bone John Deere guy -- nothing else; this man was an International Harvester guy.)  He mentioned that he told Dad one time that he had a John Deere lawn mower and Dad said that he had come over to the John Deere side.  The guy responded that he hadn't but.....John Deere was good at making lawn mowers but nothing bigger!  LOL

I've been smiling since that conversation.  I hope that gentleman has, too.

I've noticed that many times when people speak of my parents, a smile crosses their face.

I'm trying to live my life so that when I'm gone, the same thing happens.  I hope I'm on the right path!

A totally Mommy post!

As you are aware, our oldest daughter is away at college at the University of Dayton.  Sarah's a sophomore there, so we are getting used to her being away from home.  However, every mother will tell you that when your child is sick, you want to take care of them.  And, I'm pretty sure they want to be taken care of.

So, imagine my conundrum earlier this week when Sarah texted me and said she didn't feel well.  Then felt like she had a fever.  Couldn't sleep.  Slept a lot!  Had a sore throat.  Nothing tasted good.  Ugh!  It's only the second week of classes, so she needed to be there and couldn't come home to rest.

I tried to advise from afar as long as I could.  Until last night.  I got a text from her stating her neck hurt.  Uh oh, I thought.  My thoughts immediately went to meningitis, but I backed off.  Thankfully.  I backed off to -- "how is your throat today?  Have you looked at it?"  My response from her was that it hurt and -- a picture of her throat!!!

I won't gross you out and post the picture, but let it suffice to say that every hint my pediatrician ever gave me for how to diagnose strep throat was in that particular photo!  I blew it up to look at it really good and said, "call the doctor.  You have strep throat!"

So she made an appointment for this morning.  I told her to tell the nurse that story -- it would make her chuckle.  She did and the nurse laughed and told her to tell me to get my tonsils out if I have seen strep that often!  LOL  They did a rapid strep test and wah-la -- she has strep.

If only I could prescribe meds.........

Please don't send me your photos to diagnose your illnesses!  I'm very faint at heart when it comes to that stuff -- kind of like I really could only change my own kids' poopy diapers -- no other.  I'll stick with diagnosing my own!

Get better soon, Sarah!