Celebrate Life, Celebrate YOU!

Lesson 1:

I saw a music video the other day that really made me stop and think. What caught me, was the image of a child. It made me think about how impressionable words can be, especially when we are young. It made me think of words that were said to me when I was little. Words that, even though I am 'grown-up,' have stuck with me.

This is not a blog to make you feel bad or bring up old resentments. It is, however; a blog to bring awareness to the tongue. The tongue is one of the strongest muscles in the body. It is strong enough to damage a heart or spirit. Before -you react and speak before you think- remember the tongue is a mighty tool.

Lesson 2:  

Even though there have been words said to me that hurt my self esteem and confidence. Those words also gave me inner strength and courage to prove those people wrong!! See, all those words don't matter after you find yourself.

I am proud to that I can say that I celebrate life and I celebrate ME!

I'm clapping for myself!!!

Ok, I am sure you want to know what the video is and see the little girl who pulled at my heart strings.

Enjoy!

Dorothy was RIGHT!!

Relocating is fun and exciting!!! New places to go and people to meet. What about the things that we leave behind? Family, friends, pets, places- etc?

Almost 5 years ago, I made the choice to move to Cincinnati, OH for school. I am four hours from "home." I get it four hours, isn't that far- right? Wrong!!

I will never forget the day I moved. My parents were in Germany and I thought it would be easier. I say this because I thought there would be no 'sad and sappy' goodbye. I was completely wrong. It was so hard to move. As I was pulling out of the driveway, I see my two sisters, Carlos and Taz- standing in the window. (Carlos and Taz were the family dogs.Carlos was more of 'my dog' and I really wanted to bring him with me.) The tears started coming uncontrollably. Even though I was sad, I felt I was making the mature decision to grow up.

For the first two years, I didn't have a reliable car...so I rode the Greyhound home. Then I added a sweet little Chihuahua, Romeo, to my household. He was everything I could have ever hoped for in a little buddy. Unfortunately, now I had to come up with an alternative method of getting home- because Romeo couldn't pass as a ''service dog." The costs started piling up- as I became acquainted with Enterprise Rental Car. Four hours on a greyhound is painful. Four hours driving by yourself is almost equally as painful! Finally arriving home to the unconditional love of 6 people and 2 dogs- made it ALL worth it!!!

What's missing? If I lived closer to home, I would hear that unexpected knock on the door, a friendly face on the other side, eagerly anticipating the sound of the door unlocking. Expected guests are fun and dandy, however there is something really special about an unexpected guest!!

Summer is a very hard time for me to deal with because all of my siblings are home from school. Now in 2012, things haven't gotten easier- just different. Lonnie is a licensed teacher and looking for full-time employment. Geoff finished school, has two jobs and plans on getting married in less than a year. Samantha will be a senior in college this fall. She has lived in her own 'off campus' apartment for over a year. She spent a month and a half of her summer vacation in South Dakota, studying geology. Rosemary completed her first year of college and she is home for the summer. She will spend the last month of her summer vacation in Germany. 

Point of the matter- we are all growing up!! Being the oldest of five, puts me in a weird position, because I still feel like I need to be the older/protective sister. Does that instinct ever go away?  I don't know where the future will land all of us...but I can only hope that four hours is the longest we will be away from each other and "home base." BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!