Happy 4th of July!...

As I prayed myself to sleep last night, the last thing I remember praying about was our country - thinking about the 4th of July Bar-b-ques, parades, fireworks ... thinking that's not all we should be thinking about as we celebrate the 4th of July. We need to remember why we have a '4th of July,' and never take our freedoms for granted. I think I have in the past, but I don't want to be guilty of thinking that way anymore. We still need to take a stand to keep our freedom and to take the responsibility of our freedoms - both personal and national, seriously. And above all else pray for our country, for those who are in leadership positions, for those who serve in the military ... for us as citizens. Happy 4th of July and God Bless America!

One Sentence Journal...

How romantic... Candlelight, bubble bath, and rose petals. Ah-h-h...

One Sentence Journaling...

It's July 2, and I'm still scrapbooking the layouts for my in-laws' 50th wedding anniversary, which is what I was working on June 22! (I haven't gotten very far...)

I (still) choose you...

Yesterday, July 1, was my 2nd wedding anniversary (or 14th, if you're counting in doggie years - which we are because I want a 50th wedding anniversary! I'll still shoot for a 'real time' 50th, but I would be 104 ... so, you can see why we're counting in doggie years). Anyway, after a nice dinner out, exchanging cards and gifts, we read our wedding vows ... I think they actually meant more this time than two years ago at our wedding. Who really pays attention to what you're saying (and promising) during your wedding - you're too caught up in the moment, and everything that's going on, and everything that's coming ...

Part of our vows read:

You are vowing today to love each other for as long as you both live. This
love is more than a feeling, it is a decision. One of your playful sayings when
the other one does something in a different way than you would, is ... “I love
you anyway.” And that’s exactly it - when Ron has a bad day at work, and comes
home tired and grumpy, Deiga will love him anyway. When Deiga is stressed and
maybe not as perky as usual, Ron will love her anyway...It’s a commitment and
loyalty to each other that goes way beyond the warm, fuzzy feelings we call
love. This kind of love is beautifully described in 1 Corinthians 13 ... The
Message version reads this way:


Love never gives up. Love cares more
for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't
strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always
"me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of
others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of
truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best,
Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.

I think we both realized we haven't always done what we promised we would... and I know I made a commitment to myself that I would be more aware of living up to our vows on a daily basis. I, Deiga, choose you Ron to be my husband...

One Sentence Journal...

Like I need something else to do. Browsing my favorite blogs today, I found a link to "The Happiness Project." Well, you've got to check that, right? So, I did. I didn't have time to read the whole story about the project, but one 'happiness tool' caught my eye - the one sentence journal. I had already been thinking about changing my journaling habits, to be less venting and more capturing thoughts. Whatever is making me happy, or aware at that moment, on that day. I know I've already written a paragraph, but here's my one sentence journal entry today.

This morning before going to work, I gave Bon Jovi (the dog) a bath. Afterwards, he's just all frisky - running all over the place like a crazy dog. (Ok, that's 2 sentences, but it's OK)

Today...June 22,2009

Outside my window...city crews trimming trees.

I am thinking...about how to schedule my afternoon errands, and wishing I didn't have to do them.

I am thankful for... summer days I can spend at home, scrapbooking, reading, relaxing....

From the kitchen...brownies are baking in the oven, and they smell so good.

I am wearing...white jean shorts, navy blue sleeveless top and sandals.

I am creating...layouts for my in-law's 50th anniversary party in 2008.

Reflection...

Wow, I haven't posted to my blog in a long time. Too busy on facebook I guess! Anyway, this is a 'dear Eric' post I guess. When Eric was around 2 years old, I babysat him on Fridays. I brought him to work with me, he would play in the office most of the time. But around mid-morning we would go out to the grassy hill area and he would run around, sometimes play with his wagon, or whatever we brought that day - just a few minutes to get fresh air, get the wiggles out, etc. We would almost always walk up to the fence around the church property to see if there was any water in the drainage canal - usually there was, and even though it's a flood control canal in the middle of the city - there's still something peaceful and mesmerizing about flowing water...


That was 8 years ago. Now days, I still take a mid-morning break, only this time it's with Bon Jovi, my dog. We don't usually walk up the hill, but today I did ... and instantly, in a flash, I was standing there with two-year old Eric, hearing him say, "Look at the water, ma-Deiga." And I have to admit tears filled my eyes, and I could hardly bear the memory. I still have a plastic cell phone in my desk drawer that he played with back then, too ... and each time I open my desk drawer, the memories return. They never actually leave. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about Rick, and Eric, and Garrett ... and the time that is being lost. Time we'll never get back ... I know so little about them now, and they don't remember too much about me either by now, I guess.


But I remembered today...