love looks good on you too...

and i am not talking about simply romantic love.
i am talking about love in general.
to love and to be loved is the greatest human capacity.
with love comes many facets...
forgiveness.
patience.
thoughtfulness.
kindness.
friendship.
they are all facets of love.

as the new year has begun and new adventures have arisen i have found myself growing even more appreciative of the relationships in my life.

each one has gained new meaning.
i feel so blessed by the people who have carved out a place in my soul.
who make me who i am.

i spent an afternoon this weekend.
celebrating the new love of steppy's life...
lil miss aj snuggle.
oh i cannot wait for another heart to love.
especially this one.
but as i sat there in this room...
a room filled with women.
who had nothing but love and well wishes
to share with the mother to be.
she is an amazing woman.
and i am a lucky lucky girl to have had her in my life for so long...
we have been friends since we were kids.
and i am forever grateful for her tremendous capacity to love.

but as i sat there and i watched and soaked up all the love in the room i couldn't help but think to myself.
what lucky folk we are.
to have love that surrounds us.
family.
that label includes my friends
they are my family.
they are the threads of the fabric that blankets my soul and keeps me warm in the darkest coldest hours.

as we go through our journeys in life it is so wonderful to know that there are people that you can always count on.
my wish for this new year is that we invest a little more in each of our loves.
give love.
even on days when love cannot be reciprocated in the moment.
always extend love.
because it will come back to you.

as i go on my journey through life.
i know without a shadow of a doubt that i am loved.
i am love.
i give love.
i get love.
you are love.
you get love.
you give love.

i feel blessed in my life that as far as romantic love goes.
i am in love with my mostly companion.
he is...
well he is my heart.
he knows my heart
he fills my heart.
he guides my heart...
and for those things i will forever be grateful.

other love.
mother love.
oh totter.
i love you.
more than words.

to my mother.
my sisters.
my aunts.
my cousins.
my nieces.
my nephews.
you are all a part of who i am.
i am forever indebted to your strengths
your weaknesses,
your laughter.
your tears
your wisdom
your understanding
your love.

to my women friends.
wow.
your capacity to love amazes me.
your capacity to give amazes me
your hearts are amazing
i cannot ever thank you enough for being who you are.
your motherly love for your children
your romantic love for your significant others
your friendship and support for the women around you.
wow.
we are blessed group of women...and whether we are all connected to one another
or whether we only just know each other.
it is still a special thing and you are all special people.

and to my male friends out there
(ha that sounds so official)
your love for all is probably not as recognized as it should be
but your love for your children
your love for your significant others
your love for your other male friends - your brotherhoods
your love for your mothers
for your fathers
and for the women that you call friends
its all amazing.

so thank you all for being a part of my love.

as we grow older and the lines begin to show upon our faces
think of them as love lines.
they are from the twinkle in your eyes
they are from the smiles on your face
they are from the hugs that you give
they are from the hugs that you receive.
they are love.

love yourself.
love your surroundings
love your life.
love each other.
cause at the end of the day...
that's all we've got.
is love.

so remember when you look in the mirror that love looks good on you.
so give love
receive love
and do so whole heartedly.

happy reading!

A Birthday Wish...

so for those of you who know and for those of you who don't....
i am having a rather momentous birthday in a few months.
i turn 30.
i am excited.

and this year i wanted to celebrate in two ways.
one is prom.
yes real honest to goodness prom.
i know it sounds silly
but i never got the chance to go.
and the next time i will get to be a princess for a day (ha that sounds so silly)
is when i get married...
to my mostly companion.
ha...
still waiting.
not really.
it's not broke...
so we don't need to fix it.

but before we have the fanciful event of the night...
and get all glamorous.
i want to give back.

life hasn't always been easy for me.
but i am a fighter.
i am a warrior.
i am a survivor.
i have been blessed to come out of all of the pain and sorrow.
a very blessed and happy girl.

i am in love with two of the most amazing humans i have ever met...
one in a romantic fashion.
yes, my mostly companion.
and the other...
well there are no words to describe a mothers love.
i am in love with my totter.
she is the best.
(yes i think all of your children are amazingly fabulous too!)

but i want to give back.
the time has come for me celebrate my triumphs and my struggles of the last 30 years with a labor of love.
i have arranged to do a "group build" with habitat for humanity.
we are to spend the morning helping someone else be able to reach for the stars with a tangible foundation.
a place that they can call home.
a place that they can sew their oats.
a place to grow from.

and the reason that i have taken to words tonight is because of the people that i am blessed to call my friends.
WOW.
you are all truly special people.
and i am lucky to be able to hold your hearts as a part of my mine.
i cannot thank you enough for not just the immediate response but for the gusto in which you all have responded.
i cannot think of a better way to ring in the passing of another year of my life.
with a group of special, passionate, amazingly loving people.

it all came from a simple post on fb...
trying to get a general head count so that i can get our "group build" going and all set up.
and instantly..
one
two
three
people responding.
and not just saying sure.
or
i guess.
responding with excitement.
and in reading your replies...
it brought tears to my eyes.

this is why i wanted to do this.
because i am blessed.
life isn't always easy
but when you know you have a group of tremendous people that surround you there is no reason to be selfish.

you all have wonderful gifts and i feel honored that for my birthday you are going to share them with someone else.
someone very deserving of a chance at fresh start and a great beginning.

i hope that if you read this...
and some of you might and some of you will probably never read my blog (and thats ok)
i just think the world of all of you.
i am honored that i have the pleasure of calling you my friends.
you are all such special and good people.
you have all been treasures to me.
you have seen me at my best
you have seen me at my worst.
you have shared in my laughter.
you have shared in my tears.
and now we will share one of my dreams.
so thank you.
thank you
thank you
thank you.
thank you from the bottom of my heart.

so thank you for making my birthday wish come true.
i cannot thank you enough.
i can honestly say that i have the best best best best best friends in the world.
thank you for wanting to help.
thank you for wanting to give back.
you have all just made this birthday the most special and the most memorable.

so often we neglect to give back.
and not because we don't care.
and not because we aren't able.
sometimes its because we cannot find the time.
this time...
it's set.
we have a date.
so friends.
i am sure that i will see you before...
but i will see you at the build.
thank you.
thank you for opening your hearts and your hands.
you are good people.
and you make me a better person for being a part of the fabric of my soul.

thank you again for sharing in my birthday wish.
i love and appreciate you all.