love the ones you're with

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.
~From a headstone in Ireland



Losing someone you love - a relative, a friend, a spouse, a grandmother - is one of the hardest things to deal with in life. 

My best friend Brooke lost her grandmother yesterday.  Her Grammy lived an extremely full life and even got to see Brooke get married.  But it is still so hard on the ones who are left behind.

I think about my grandmother daily.  She passed away in 2010.  We were very close and talked often.  I would hear the town gossip and what happened on Dr. Phil that afternoon.  Each phone call ended with,
"I love you Grandma."
"I love you too, honey.  Be careful."

Our loved ones leave us with memories.  My memories of my Grandma go back 24 years.  How lucky I was to have a grandma who came to every game, concert, spelling bee.  Who was there for every birthday, dance recital and sheep show.  Who not only got to see me graduate from high school but also walk across the stage to receive my college diploma.  The lessons she taught me and the love she shared with everyone she came into contact with.  Those are things that will NEVER be taken away, for as long as I live.

Today's Starfish

I only met Brooke's Grammy once, but she was a one of a kind woman.  I love hearing all the stories from Brooke and her mom.  I know how hard it is to lose a grandmother so for today's Starfish, I sent Brooke a flower arrangement to her work just to let her know she was in my thoughts.

be thankful every day - not just in November!

This Starfish is going to be a bit different than normal... My poor puppy Josie, who we have had since I was in 8th grade, is not doing very well so I was up til 4am with her and had to leave the house by 6:30 to make it to work on time!  She is going to be missed dearly when she is gone.  I am thankful for her.  She has been my best buddy for 12 years.



My little Josie when she was just a baby

 

 





 

You know the thing people are doing on facebook... the "I'm thankful for...." every day of November?  While I think that is great and all, I think it's important to remember what we are thankful for EVERY day of the year.  Back in August, I started keeping a "grateful journal."  Every day, I write down something I am grateful for.  Just one thing. Usually it is really simple, but it really makes me think every day.  If you have a hard time just slowing down and smelling the roses, try my method and see if it helps you like it has helped me!

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, try to remember what it is really all about.  There is so much hustle and bustle getting ready for Christmas that sometimes I think people forget to enjoy Thanksgiving.  And don't forget to eat lots of turkey!

My Grateful Journal

Today's Starfish

I have been dropped off at work a few times in the last month or so and today was one of those days.  My friend/co-worker has been kind enough to take me home after work on those days.  Today I really needed to get away from the office during lunch, but I didn't have my car.  Kim graciously let me borrow her car.  While I was out, I took it through the car wash and wiped down the dash and doors for her.  She was sure surprised when we got in her car after work.  Thanks, Kim, for driving me home when I have no car at work!!!!! :)

"Maybe our girlfriends are our soulmates, and guys are just people to have fun with."

Maybe mistakes are what make our fate... without them what would shape our lives? Maybe if we had never veered off course we wouldn't fall in love, have babies, or be who we are. After all, things change, so do cities, people come into your life and they go. But it's comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart... and if you're very lucky, a plane ride away. ~ Sex and the City


Friendship: noun

1. the state of being a friend; association as friends: to value a person's friendship.

2. a friendly relation or intimacy.

Synonyms 

harmony, accord, understanding, rapport.

BFF ~ BESTIE ~ SAME PERSON ~ SISTERS BY HEART ~ COMRADE ~ CONFIDANT ~

 

Let me tell you a little something.  Friendships are some of the most important relationships you will have in your lifetime.  Friends don't "break up" with you, or turn their backs on you, or judge you.  They are just there.  There to listen, there to talk.  There to laugh and cry and sit in silence when there are no words to be spoken. 

 

I met a group of my closest girlfriends in college.  We used to spend countless hours together - watching stupid tv shows, getting dressed up and going out all night, talking and crying and laughing.  We grew together.  We encouraged one another.  We endured the good and the bad and the ugly. 

 

Now we are spread out across the country - North Carolina, California, Minnesota, Colorado, Indiana, Chicago, Iowa.  We no longer have the luxury of walking across campus to see each other or meeting up for Starbucks or having a weekend of doing absolutely nothing together.

 

I wish I would have realized it in college.  How lucky I was to have all my closest friends in the same place.  I miss that.  Immensely.

 

Devon (Colorado) and Johanne (North Carolina) came to Iowa this weekend to visit.  I am lucky enough to have Brooke here in Iowa with me.  We made it a girls weekend and I couldn't have been happier!   I hadn't seen Dev for 8 months or Johanne for a year and a half!  It was just like old times.   We are already talking about the next time we will be able to get together.  And yes, I cried when they left!  (I may or may not be getting a little teary-eyed writing this right now!)

 

Today's Starfish

 

This morning, Devon and I got up extra early so we could go grab coffee before I had to go to work.  I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but we have come to understand how important our time together.  Back in our younger years, we may have skipped that early morning coffee time to stay in bed for another 40 minutes. 

 

It meant so much to me to have my friends in town this weekend.  I treated them to brunch and bottomless mimosas at Granite City yesterday and got our Starbucks this morning.  I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VOTE VOTE VOTE!

I want to start off this post by thanking you all for reading my blog!  I was absolutely FLABBERGASTED by the amount of concern and questions so many of you showed me over this past week since I didn't post last week.  I received many emails, texts and calls.  Someone told me that their Tuesday wasn't as good as usual because they usually start their day off with my blog.  Others were concerned that the Starfish was over.  THANK YOU ALL for taking the time to read my blog and I hope I add a little inspiration to your day! 


Let's take a poll:  Raise your hand if you are SICK and TIRED of all the political ads!  Raise your hand if you can't wait for your facebook newsfeed to be a little less congested with everyone's political opinions!  Raise your hand if you are going to fulfill your duty as an American citizen and vote TOMORROW!

Hopefully most everyone raised their hands on that last one (figuratively of course!).

No matter your party, no matter your opinion, no matter your sex.  We all have a responsiblity to cast our vote tomorrow.  Just think about all those people in other countries who don't even have the option.    And remember - if you don't vote, you can't complain!

So - it has been a rough election year.  Lots of rudeness from each party, smirks during debates, terrible comments left on people's facebook comments and walls, etc etc.  But please remember, everyone is entitled to their own opinion!  And being a Democrat or a Republican does not make you any better or worse than anyone else :)  We are all Americans, after all.

Today's Starfish

When I got out of my car this morning to go into work, I found a penny next to the back tire.  This gave me my idea for my Starfish today.  When you find a coin on the ground, do you ever really look at it?  Maybe you look at the year, maybe you notice the ridges.  As I was looking at the penny I picked up, I started thinking about the presidents of our past - the ones that were so good that their head is now on a coin. 

Today I became a "coin fairy."  As I walked through the parking lots, through my work building and anywhere else I went, I dropped coins on the ground.  I always get excited when I see a coin and I pick it up - maybe it will bring me good luck or maybe it is just another coin to add to my "starbucks fund."  :)

When you cast your vote tomorrow, think about which person's head would be more likely to be minted onto a coin years and years down the road.  Because that is what our country needs right now!