Stole this off Facebook

So, the above photo intrigued me because it talks about being non-judgmental in a very specific situation

 This photo reminds me that we need to be ourselves, and keep going even when it does not seem that easy to accomplish.

My friend Doug is often heard to say : “A rolling stone gathers no moss.”

Dorie said: “Just keep swimming!”

Breathe!

Do what you know is right no matter what any one else says.

If you are a Facebook user you will see a ton of photos and postings every day with one or two lines worth of wisdom. Most of which are wonderful pieces of advice  overlaid on top of a beautiful photo. I actually subscribe to a couple of these sites, like I dont get enough with all the people that “share” the words of wisdom. I even made up some myself from my own photos.



Yep —there are more.. but no need in subjecting them to you all now. 

I keep looking back on these to remind myself — yes, this is what I need to be doing. Yes, I need to remember that good choices can still be made. Yes, there are still brilliant colors, even int he midst of brilliant fall colors landing all over the ground. 

Today those colors came in the sound of children’s laughter. The neighborhood kids started to come home from school shortly after the kids nap this afternoon. We walked to find the noise and there was a huge pile of leaves in a neighbors yard with little heads popping through and laughing. One of the smaller heads belonged to a little fella that goes to the same pre-school as mine. We were invited to his yard, where the mom raked even more leaves, and mine along with hers dove right in, laughing, throwing leaves, and generally enjoying life on an 80 degree fall day. 


I was very grateful our neighbor seemed so ready to help and entertain. I honestly did not feel like playing at all. I think that is alright sometimes. Alright to know when you need a break, but even when you are not up to par there are sometimes people that do not understand that at all … especially when they are the young ones in your care.

This next picture I just found when still going through the endless list of files and folders that are in this computer. I have not even gotten to the ones on three other computers in this house……


 The top photo is from June and the second photo is from July 4th. Both are of Dean playing with Cian at the pool. We had decided to get a pool membership this year so that we would have someplace close to take the kids and have a bit of fun and that was not too taxing for Dean. There were a couple of times he went home before the kids were ready, and that was part of the beauty of the closeness of the pool. Over all everyone had a very good time there this summer. The two older boys lifeguard there, so that made it even better.

What struck me is that I was having such issues today keeping my stomach from being upset and my motivation up to do just about anything. I had started trying to clean up the garden Dean grew to mammoth proportions this summer so it would not be a pile of mushy slimy mess by spring, and it was 80 degrees out so the kids, of course, wanted more attention and ball playing and bubble blowing and puzzle building than I think I was ready to accomplish with them.

About an hour before I found these pictures I confided in a friend that I understood why some people drink heavily after being parted from a beloved partner and that I was having issues today with motivation. Then these pictures.

Each day of these photos I know Dean was hurting. I know the only reason he ventured out with us was to try and spend some family time, even though he wanted to just stay in the recliner. Each day he was not in the water long, but enough to play a little with the kids. Gives me the inspiration I need to keep being motivated.

It also brought me right back to the first two photos that caught my eye from the start.
Don’t be judgmental to ANYONE — you just don’t know. Certainly, no one would have known what we were going through at home by the way Dean played with the kids in these photos.
AND
Through adversity and struggle we can fly — reach heights we never though imaginable.

Thanks for the reminder, Dean. Loving you, always.

Lines of Wisdom