This week my sweet companion, my precious dog, was hit and killed by a car.
Wednesday morning while I was getting ready for work, my neighbors called to say that Taylor had been hit by a car. She was alive but hurt. Cameron and I rushed to her side, she was wrapped in a towel laying in the street bleeding and broken. We got her to the nearest vet and they began treating her immediately. They found a dislocated elbow, broken ankle, 3 broken and 1 hyper-extended rib, internal hemorrhaging and head trauma. They gave her fluids and stabilized her. The plan was that they would keep her stable and monitor her for 24 hours. Cameron and I continued to work like normal.
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
What's Your Secret - Interview with a Happily Married Couple
*Disclaimer - this interview never actually happened. I was inspired to write this blog post and felt the best way to do so was in an interview format. However, I do not know the couple in the photo, nor have I ever interviewed them.*
When you look at this picture, what do you see? A perfect marriage? A life of joy and love? I am sure they would be glad to hear that. I am positive that they would smile at each other like teenagers with a secret. They probably would not remark or argue with your assessment. And to be fair, I am sure they are happy and have only fond and happy memories to point to a perfect marriage. However, a perfect marriage doesn't mean rainbows and sunshine every day.
Let's pretend for a moment that they are going to take the time to let us in on their secrets.
(Commence fictitious interview)
Me: What a lucky couple you are, to live such a long, happy life together without problem.
Martha: Child, we aren't lucky, we're blessed. Blessed to have the strength, faith and will to fight for love. You think we've never seen conflict; believe we've never been hurt or did the hurting. You are mistaken, Child.
George: My Dear, we've seen the dark valleys same as anyone else. We're not above problems or immune from heartache. We didn't always believe we would make it here. You see, there were times when the anger spilled out, when the tears flowed down our cheeks; times when I wasn't so sure I even wanted to stand by my Martha anymore.
Martha: Now, Child, don't look at me like I'm some sad victim here. Honey, there were plenty of times in the last 60 years when I would have helped Ol' George pack up his things. Times when I didn't want to fix the broken, thought about tossing it out and just being done. That's how it's done nowadays.
Me: So, what's the secret? How did you get through those times? How are you standing her now with 60 years of marriage behind you?
George: Easy. We made a vow before God. We were committed from Day 1. We were just like any other young couple, starry eyed and blind.
Martha: We believed we would never disagree, that we would never see a struggle. We thought with love as true as ours, nothing could happen to cause us to falter. There would be no waves in our peaceful waters of true love.
George: And we were wrong.
Martha: Oh so wrong.
*I believe this may just be the moment the picture was captured, that moment when they have been through so much and are sharing their wisdom with you. They find that spark, that something that causes the girlish giggles to erupt from her and the sweet chuckle of years of friendship and love.*
Me: I just don't get it. Hundreds of thousands of people make that same vow, same promise, but they can't make it through the valleys. Your troubles just must not have been as bad as theirs.
Martha: We, neither one, ever had an affair. But we both wondered just what it would be like to have someone new, to go back to that "honeymoon phase" with someone new. Someone you were still discovering. A place where newness hadn't worn off and everyday was filled with learning more about your spouse.
George: I went through a spell where I would rather just be at work, so as not to have to be home, stuck in a routine with a wife and children. I craved the days of youth. The carefree days when everything is new and fresh.
Me: But you never gave in? You never decided it was just too hard?
Martha: Honey, anything worth having is definitely worth fighting for. There were nights when I would fall asleep not liking who I was. Nights when I just didn't want to be a wife anymore. In those moments God would give me a memory. A rich, beautiful memory of those first years. The day I married my forever love, my soul mate, my sweetheart. The day we moved into our first home. The day I told him he was going to be a father. Oh the memories, sweet precious gifts that they are.
George: Darlin', I can't say that I never thought about throwing it all away. I did think about it, but I could never picture my life without my Martha. Whenever I pictured the future, she was just always in it. There's just something to be said for making a commitment form your heart. You can't break a promise when God is your witness.
Me: But about when you grew and changed? What about when your interests changed and you could barely imagine being friends with him or her, much less lovers?
Martha: Child, you seem to think love is a shallow, on the surface kind of thing. That it is dependent on interests, looks and feelings. Love is the deepest emotion there is. It's the very fiber of our soul. There is no other emotion that God declared Himself to be. When He said, "I am Love," I sure don't think He meant as long as both like gardening and baseball.
George: When God stitches two hearts together in marriage, it's for forever. Plain and simple. Whether you both want to sit on the porch at 5am with a cup of coffee has no bearing on God's plan. Grow, adapt and discover each other.
Martha: And stop thinking you are the first wife to cry, the first couple to argue. The problem nowadays is that you don't see relationship problems worked out. You see failed marriages. You see disposable marriages. You see couples throw in the towel at the first upset. People bouncing from person to person just to stay in the honeymoon forever. But, when you're as old as we are and you're all alone or married to a person you don't know and you share no memories with, you'll just be sad.
George: That's right, people don't take marriage vows seriously anymore. That commitment wasn't a fair weather promise. You will see the valleys and you will have the struggles; it's all about how you get through them. Committed and faithful or flippant and weak.
Me: Wow, you guys have totally changed my view on marriage. I guess it's silly and immature for me to think it's all green grass and roses. I look forward to the day when someone sees me and my spouse celebrating years together and imagine we've never had a struggle. I sure hope I can pass on the wisdom you've shared with me.
In summary, every struggle, every valley and every hard time in your relationship is not signalling the end. It's just a test to see how important that vow you made really is. Will you pass the test? It's totally up to you and your spouse. Keep your marriage strong by praying for your spouse daily. Pray for wisdom to catch problems when they're small and to handle them in love. Remember God witnessed the vow you made, keep it, plain and simple.
God Bless and Much Love,
Melissa
When you look at this picture, what do you see? A perfect marriage? A life of joy and love? I am sure they would be glad to hear that. I am positive that they would smile at each other like teenagers with a secret. They probably would not remark or argue with your assessment. And to be fair, I am sure they are happy and have only fond and happy memories to point to a perfect marriage. However, a perfect marriage doesn't mean rainbows and sunshine every day.
Let's pretend for a moment that they are going to take the time to let us in on their secrets.
(Commence fictitious interview)
Me: What a lucky couple you are, to live such a long, happy life together without problem.
Martha: Child, we aren't lucky, we're blessed. Blessed to have the strength, faith and will to fight for love. You think we've never seen conflict; believe we've never been hurt or did the hurting. You are mistaken, Child.
George: My Dear, we've seen the dark valleys same as anyone else. We're not above problems or immune from heartache. We didn't always believe we would make it here. You see, there were times when the anger spilled out, when the tears flowed down our cheeks; times when I wasn't so sure I even wanted to stand by my Martha anymore.
Martha: Now, Child, don't look at me like I'm some sad victim here. Honey, there were plenty of times in the last 60 years when I would have helped Ol' George pack up his things. Times when I didn't want to fix the broken, thought about tossing it out and just being done. That's how it's done nowadays.
Me: So, what's the secret? How did you get through those times? How are you standing her now with 60 years of marriage behind you?
George: Easy. We made a vow before God. We were committed from Day 1. We were just like any other young couple, starry eyed and blind.
Martha: We believed we would never disagree, that we would never see a struggle. We thought with love as true as ours, nothing could happen to cause us to falter. There would be no waves in our peaceful waters of true love.
George: And we were wrong.
Martha: Oh so wrong.
*I believe this may just be the moment the picture was captured, that moment when they have been through so much and are sharing their wisdom with you. They find that spark, that something that causes the girlish giggles to erupt from her and the sweet chuckle of years of friendship and love.*
Me: I just don't get it. Hundreds of thousands of people make that same vow, same promise, but they can't make it through the valleys. Your troubles just must not have been as bad as theirs.
Martha: We, neither one, ever had an affair. But we both wondered just what it would be like to have someone new, to go back to that "honeymoon phase" with someone new. Someone you were still discovering. A place where newness hadn't worn off and everyday was filled with learning more about your spouse.
George: I went through a spell where I would rather just be at work, so as not to have to be home, stuck in a routine with a wife and children. I craved the days of youth. The carefree days when everything is new and fresh.
Me: But you never gave in? You never decided it was just too hard?
Martha: Honey, anything worth having is definitely worth fighting for. There were nights when I would fall asleep not liking who I was. Nights when I just didn't want to be a wife anymore. In those moments God would give me a memory. A rich, beautiful memory of those first years. The day I married my forever love, my soul mate, my sweetheart. The day we moved into our first home. The day I told him he was going to be a father. Oh the memories, sweet precious gifts that they are.
George: Darlin', I can't say that I never thought about throwing it all away. I did think about it, but I could never picture my life without my Martha. Whenever I pictured the future, she was just always in it. There's just something to be said for making a commitment form your heart. You can't break a promise when God is your witness.
Me: But about when you grew and changed? What about when your interests changed and you could barely imagine being friends with him or her, much less lovers?
Martha: Child, you seem to think love is a shallow, on the surface kind of thing. That it is dependent on interests, looks and feelings. Love is the deepest emotion there is. It's the very fiber of our soul. There is no other emotion that God declared Himself to be. When He said, "I am Love," I sure don't think He meant as long as both like gardening and baseball.
George: When God stitches two hearts together in marriage, it's for forever. Plain and simple. Whether you both want to sit on the porch at 5am with a cup of coffee has no bearing on God's plan. Grow, adapt and discover each other.
Martha: And stop thinking you are the first wife to cry, the first couple to argue. The problem nowadays is that you don't see relationship problems worked out. You see failed marriages. You see disposable marriages. You see couples throw in the towel at the first upset. People bouncing from person to person just to stay in the honeymoon forever. But, when you're as old as we are and you're all alone or married to a person you don't know and you share no memories with, you'll just be sad.
George: That's right, people don't take marriage vows seriously anymore. That commitment wasn't a fair weather promise. You will see the valleys and you will have the struggles; it's all about how you get through them. Committed and faithful or flippant and weak.
Me: Wow, you guys have totally changed my view on marriage. I guess it's silly and immature for me to think it's all green grass and roses. I look forward to the day when someone sees me and my spouse celebrating years together and imagine we've never had a struggle. I sure hope I can pass on the wisdom you've shared with me.
In summary, every struggle, every valley and every hard time in your relationship is not signalling the end. It's just a test to see how important that vow you made really is. Will you pass the test? It's totally up to you and your spouse. Keep your marriage strong by praying for your spouse daily. Pray for wisdom to catch problems when they're small and to handle them in love. Remember God witnessed the vow you made, keep it, plain and simple.
God Bless and Much Love,
Melissa
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Be the Change
Great quote. Like, for real, AMAZING QUOTE.
So why aren't we living in a better world?
Because we sit by and we let others do the good works, make the right choices and just smile and be happy for them. Or worse, judge them.
The people that are seriously changing the world aren't doing it for their friends, they aren't doing it for an innumerable amount of likes on Facebook or hearts on Instagram. The people changing the world are doing it for the world. The people changing the world don't judge, don't sit back and silently make fun or talk behind your back. The people changing the world are moving so quickly and sometimes so quietly, they've come, changed and gone before you even learned their name.
I have a few friends I think will change the world. One is a mom that has changed my beliefs on everything from breastfeeding (in public, GASP!) to leading me to actually consider an alternative to an induced, hospital, "painless" childbirth - should we choose to have another tiny - no, we aren't pregnant.
I've been thinking a lot about these things recently. Then, last night at the restaurant I manage, I was approached by a server. Their guests asked to pay for the table next to them. I spoke to the guests and explained how it would work. The lady then explained that her father was also a vet and the elderly gentleman wearing a veteran's ball cap reminded her of him. I asked the guests if they'd like to approach the man and tell him what they're doing or if they'd like me to say anything or deliver any type of message. They smiled and said no thanks. Upon their leaving, I got to deliver the news to the couple. The man, bless his heart, was hard of hearing so his wife explained it all to him. She was so touched she held my hand and cried for a few seconds. They kept looking around as though they might see the couple that graciously paid for their dinner. They asked me to tell them thank you if I was ever to see them again. In this industry, even if I do, I may not recognize them. But I will be watching for them every shift for the foreseeable future.
Just being on the outside of the good deed felt incredible.
But I'm not going to stop there. I may not be able to afford to buy dinner for strangers or
set up homeless shelters. But what I can do is SOMETHING.
I can be the change I want to see.
I can positively affect the lives of those around me.
I can make people smile.
I can hold a door.
I can wave to my neighbor.
I can lend assistance to a person struggling to load groceries into the car.
I can do... SOMETHING.
I encourage you to watch this video. It touched me to the core.
DO SOMETHING. BE SOMETHING.
-God Belss,
Rachael
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Perfection: A Sappy Father's Day Post
When I think about my dad, perfect is not a word that comes to mind. Now down't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of my daddy and I love the absolute crap out of him. But he's not perfect. He might even admit that to you ;)
You know who is perfect, though? My baby's daddy. I call him that because he isn't a perfect husband, a perfect friend, a perfect employee, etc. He's a perfect daddy. And many people may not see him that way. But our son does. And that's what matters most. He's the most caring, loving, sympathetic, empathetic, hands on, and all these other words that mean, he's a good damn father.
He supports me and my "new" career. He spends more time with our son because of it and he doesn't complain at all. He's basically a single father on the weekends but instead of moaning about not having time with friends, he cherishes the time he has with our son. He sends me countless snap chats and videos that warm my heart and make me feel like I am sharing in their joy.
I may not have a perfect life, but right now, in my sons eyes, he does. ♥
You know who is perfect, though? My baby's daddy. I call him that because he isn't a perfect husband, a perfect friend, a perfect employee, etc. He's a perfect daddy. And many people may not see him that way. But our son does. And that's what matters most. He's the most caring, loving, sympathetic, empathetic, hands on, and all these other words that mean, he's a good damn father.
He supports me and my "new" career. He spends more time with our son because of it and he doesn't complain at all. He's basically a single father on the weekends but instead of moaning about not having time with friends, he cherishes the time he has with our son. He sends me countless snap chats and videos that warm my heart and make me feel like I am sharing in their joy.
I may not have a perfect life, but right now, in my sons eyes, he does. ♥
Happy Father's Day!!
-Rachael
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