Saturday, May 19, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
It's funny the little curve balls life throws your way.
I met up with a friend last night for dinner and a little "catch up". Given that we seem to have a knack for spacing our visits out to 5 years plus, the latter can be quite educational. In this particular instance I was provided with a story that would probably make for a truly sensational book (or movie come to think of it) if you could actually get people to believe it was all true. I won't go into details here, but suffice it to say I left the restaurant last night feeling like one of the luckiest people on earth. My seemingly dull, NORMAL, everyday life suddenly has a completely different shine to it and all of the little challenges that Rich, Dan, Josh and I have met with over the past year or two really seem very, very small in comparison.
In the grand scheme of things, we are exceptionally lucky to not only have each other, but to also have the unconditional love of friends and family. I SO wish I could say the same for my friend. Yes, she does have a family that loves her and supports her, but she's also in the middle of a situation where a portion of her family has all but abandoned her. I can only imagine how difficult that must be. Yet, here's the remarkable part. She still shines with inner conviction, strength of purpose and an unabashed determination to do what is right for the underdog and the ones who have no voice. All I can say to that is "You go girl!"
In light of all this, I'm looking at my often crazy busy life thinking how blessed I really am to have so many GOOD things to pour myself into. I complain from time to time about how hectic my life is, how thin I am stretched running from one project to another but much of that is my own doing and all of it is for a good reason or cause. None of it makes me sad, tests my scruples or jeapardizes my integrity. Really, isn't that what matters?
I'm also thinking I have a circle of family and friends that I wouldn't trade for anything, and I am eternally grateful that my two boys are extraordinarily normal. Don't get me wrong, they each have their own unique gifts to share with the world, and each is a delight to me in their own way but, deep down, where it matters, they're just GREAT kids; straightforward, honest, all American boys with optimistic outlooks, realistic expectations of what life will bring, and clear ideals for what is right.
So, what's my point in all this?
Nothing much really...but I would ask you to take a good look at your lives and consider the idea that the life you are living might just be the paradise we've all been searching for.
Oh... yeah, hug your kids too.
Toni
In the grand scheme of things, we are exceptionally lucky to not only have each other, but to also have the unconditional love of friends and family. I SO wish I could say the same for my friend. Yes, she does have a family that loves her and supports her, but she's also in the middle of a situation where a portion of her family has all but abandoned her. I can only imagine how difficult that must be. Yet, here's the remarkable part. She still shines with inner conviction, strength of purpose and an unabashed determination to do what is right for the underdog and the ones who have no voice. All I can say to that is "You go girl!"
In light of all this, I'm looking at my often crazy busy life thinking how blessed I really am to have so many GOOD things to pour myself into. I complain from time to time about how hectic my life is, how thin I am stretched running from one project to another but much of that is my own doing and all of it is for a good reason or cause. None of it makes me sad, tests my scruples or jeapardizes my integrity. Really, isn't that what matters?
I'm also thinking I have a circle of family and friends that I wouldn't trade for anything, and I am eternally grateful that my two boys are extraordinarily normal. Don't get me wrong, they each have their own unique gifts to share with the world, and each is a delight to me in their own way but, deep down, where it matters, they're just GREAT kids; straightforward, honest, all American boys with optimistic outlooks, realistic expectations of what life will bring, and clear ideals for what is right.
So, what's my point in all this?
Nothing much really...but I would ask you to take a good look at your lives and consider the idea that the life you are living might just be the paradise we've all been searching for.
Oh... yeah, hug your kids too.
Toni
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Worth the Reminder and the Read
Hey troops!
It's been a while between posts but this came across my email today and I felt compelled to share it. I rarely forward emails but this one is worth a look.
If it offends you, I won't apologize. I will, however, say a little prayer for you and your skewed sensibilities because, I assure you, they don't match mine. For everyone else - God Bless you for being in your right mind.
*******************************
My great great grandfather watched as his friends died in the Civil
War, my grandfather watched as his friends died in WW I, and my father
served and watched as his friends died in WWII. I served and watched
as my friends died in Vietnam .
None of them died for the Mexican Flag.
Everyone died for the U.S. flag.
In Texas , a student raised a Mexican flag on a school flag pole;
another student took it down. Guess who was expelled...the kid who
took it down.
Kids in high school in California were sent home this year on Cinco de
Mayo because they wore T-shirts with the American flag printed on them.
Enough is enough.
The below e-mail message needs to be viewed by every American; and
every American needs to stand up for America .
We've bent over to appease the America-haters long enough.
I'm taking a stand.
I'm standing up because the hundreds of thousands who died fighting in
wars for this country, and for the U.S. flag can't stand up.
And shame on anyone who tries to make this a racist message.
Let me make this perfectly clear!
THIS IS MY COUNTRY!
And, because I make This statement
DOES NOT
Mean I'm against immigration!!!
YOU ARE WELCOME HERE, IN MY COUNTRY!
Welcome!
To come through legally:
1. Get a sponsor!
2. Get a place to lay your head!
3. Get a job!
4. Live By OUR Rules!
5. Pay YOUR Taxes!
And
6. Learn the LANGUAGE like immigrants have in the past!!!
AND
7. Please don't demand that we hand over our lifetime savings of Social Security Funds to you.
If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone,
Then YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM!
When will AMERICANS STOP giving away THEIR RIGHTS???
We've gone so far the other way...
bent over backwards not to offend anyone.
But it seems no one cares about the
AMERICAN CITIZEN
that's being offended!
WAKE UP America !!!
It's been a while between posts but this came across my email today and I felt compelled to share it. I rarely forward emails but this one is worth a look.
If it offends you, I won't apologize. I will, however, say a little prayer for you and your skewed sensibilities because, I assure you, they don't match mine. For everyone else - God Bless you for being in your right mind.
*******************************
My great great grandfather watched as his friends died in the Civil
War, my grandfather watched as his friends died in WW I, and my father
served and watched as his friends died in WWII. I served and watched
as my friends died in Vietnam .
None of them died for the Mexican Flag.
Everyone died for the U.S. flag.
In Texas , a student raised a Mexican flag on a school flag pole;
another student took it down. Guess who was expelled...the kid who
took it down.
Kids in high school in California were sent home this year on Cinco de
Mayo because they wore T-shirts with the American flag printed on them.
Enough is enough.
The below e-mail message needs to be viewed by every American; and
every American needs to stand up for America .
We've bent over to appease the America-haters long enough.
I'm taking a stand.
I'm standing up because the hundreds of thousands who died fighting in
wars for this country, and for the U.S. flag can't stand up.
And shame on anyone who tries to make this a racist message.
Let me make this perfectly clear!
THIS IS MY COUNTRY!
And, because I make This statement
DOES NOT
Mean I'm against immigration!!!
YOU ARE WELCOME HERE, IN MY COUNTRY!
Welcome!
To come through legally:
1. Get a sponsor!
2. Get a place to lay your head!
3. Get a job!
4. Live By OUR Rules!
5. Pay YOUR Taxes!
And
6. Learn the LANGUAGE like immigrants have in the past!!!
AND
7. Please don't demand that we hand over our lifetime savings of Social Security Funds to you.
If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone,
Then YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM!
When will AMERICANS STOP giving away THEIR RIGHTS???
We've gone so far the other way...
bent over backwards not to offend anyone.
But it seems no one cares about the
AMERICAN CITIZEN
that's being offended!
WAKE UP America !!!
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