The Dash ---

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on his tombstone
From the beginning to the end.
He noted that first came his date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
as the dash between the years.
For that dash represents all the time
That he spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved him
Know what that little line is worth
For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more,
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy's being read
Withyour life's actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?


I attended the memorial service and celebration of life for my friend Karie's husband Derek tonight.  A life taken all too soon!   It was great to hear a few stories from relatives and friends.  Then the video of so many wonderful pictures of Derek's life....so many great memories with family & friends. 


My friend Libby posted this poem just now on Facebook and it got me thinking...what would it look like at my celebration of life?  I can honestly say that I am proud of how I have and continue to spend my time/energy with friends and family and that I'm making a positive difference to all those I come in contact with....I'm not perfect, but I try and learn from my mistakes, move onward and be the best I can be...it's definitely a work in progress....but I'm getting there!   I will look back on my dash and SMILE!

Please keep Karie and her family in your prayers!  

Hawk-ey brings friends together...

So, my friend Bonnie had this idea...she asked a few families back in December if we'd like to all go to a game together...we said YES of course! Because there was a group of over 10, we got to get our names up on the jumbo tron during the 2nd break...fun times with the Underwoods, Vander Yachts and Hoffmans last night! We are blessed to have them as dear friends!

Gang's all here!

Mary & Mark!

Huey, Dewey & Louie...three pees in a pod, standing on their seats ready to yell TNT, FIGHT, FIGHT!

Maddy & Matthew and their pom pom gloves!

Our friend Carolyn and her family.  They are a Billet family to Cody (young man in tie in the middle of them).

Gone too soon...

Please keep my friend Karie and her family in your hearts and prayers. Her best friend/husband Derek was taken all too soon yesterday morning. I haven't had someone's passing hit me quite so hard in as long as I can remember. I didn't know Derek very well...he was a soft spoken (behind the scenes guy), but ALWAYS there for his Karie! They lived life to the fullest and enjoyed every moment together, as it should be.

Karie, we all love you and are here for you and I pray for healing in your heart...big hugs from The Cina Family...

Photo taken in August 2010 at Relay Committee gathering at The Roadhouse...RIP Derek 2/22/12.

Don't take things for granted...

The past 9 months have been tough for our family, but I'm forever grateful that it truly has made us stronger.  I'm not sure where this post is going, but at 2:31am on a Wednesday morning, I can't sleep and I need to type....

I've always been a VERY thankful person, sincerely thankful.  My timing might not always be the greatest, but I count my blessings, I thank people and I don't take anything for granted, especially now.

When mom got hit in June, I asked the question "why" numerous times for a while....but I never got angry.  I can't explain it, but how can you get angry at someone else who I'm sure didn't do what he did on purpose.  I can't imagine he set out to drink and crash into my mom.  I'm not so sure I would have been so forgiving if Charlotte would have been in the car or if mom would have died, but getting angry does no good.  It is what it is and there is a plan for all of what has happened, one we will never know.  Somehow somewhere I do believe that people that have heard what my mom has gone through.  People reading the Caring Bridge updates or hearing the story from someone else has hopefully helped touched someone's life...Touched in their hearts to hear that our family isn't angry or hateful or wished any ill will on the person that crashed into mom.  What good does hate do?  NOTHING, it does NOTHING....you must fill your heart with goodness and just be GRATEFUL for the path that this road leads you on and know that there is a plan.  Who knows, maybe that's part of it...for folks to remind themselves to be grateful and not angry and enjoy life and not take things for granted...

Fast forward to last week...a friend of mine thru Relay is losing her husband.  Not to cancer, but to another terrible disease that I'd never heard of until last week.  WHY, this is what I don't get?  Why?  This perfectly healthy/happy/loving person is slowly drifting away at the age of 33.  Two of the nicest/kindest/most in love people I've ever met and my friend is now watching her dear husband struggle with breathing and the hospice nurses have told her it's just a mater of time...

I have cried so much in the past year.  I break down when I have to (just ask Victor), but when people ask how my mom is doing, I'm honest and tell them she's a trooper, strongest person I know (mentally, getting there physically) and that things are gonna be okay.  We can't undo anything, life is different since June 3rd, but it's gonna be okay.  We are GRATEFUL!!!

When I read the news about my friend's husband, I cried and cried for them.  I just don't get WHY?  Why is this happening to them?  Why is a kind/wonderful person who wouldn't harm a fly going through this?   I've known/know so many folks battling inoperable cancers, why is this happening to him?  There is no cure and nothing the doctors can do...

She started a Caring Bridge site, something that I don't wish anybody would every have to do, but knowing first hand that there is a need, I'm glad she stared it.

Bottom line in this post....yes, things may totally suck at times.  You may not feel good, you may be going through a really rough time, but are you BREATHING?  Is your quality of life pretty good.  Can you get out of bed by yourself?  Can you take a shower on  your own?  Those are things I think about every single day now.  Even as I sit here coughing up a lung, I know it's NOTHING compared to what so many wonderful people are going through.  People going through chemo and radiation.  People on ventilators in the hospital, little children are living with inoperable brain tumors and smiling, people who are sitting by their  husband's side while they watch him struggle to breath and just hold his hands not knowing if it will be his last breath.

I ask a HUGE prayer for K & D tonight and that love fills both their hearts and their family/friends as they say goodbye to D. 

Life is a very short and precious.  I personally believe that things will be so much better when we are in heaven, it just breaks my heart seeing friends go through what they are having to go through.  Don't sweat the small stuff, enjoy/be grateful for the little things in life and don't take anything for granted....Forgiveness is probably the biggest thing of all...your heart has no room for anger...forgive and let go....

Ten on Tuesday...in photos...

Victor's birthday dinner on 2/13/12 with my folks.

Cake Pop goodness from my friend Cindi (in WA) as a Relay FUNdraiser.

3rd cousins - Wyatt, Charlotte and Olivia...

Sandi Dobbs and Charlotte at our Demarle FUNdraising party on 2/10/12

MJ, Charlie & Dana at TCU on 2/6/12

Volunteering at Mooberry Elementary school for National Eng. & Tech month..Marbles in Motion with Laura Bain

Awesome new Facebook cover photo...

Beach get away for Victor and I...we found 20+ sand dollars...

Up at Ecola State Park

Love this planter..

43...

Another year has started ... My 40's really are better than my 20's or 30's...

How blessed am I?  I have an amazing husband! I have a silly/smart/crazy daughter! My entire family on both sides of my family, along with Victor's family is the best! THE most amazing friends a girl could ask for! Charlie and I went to breakfast, then I dropped her off at school. I took the day off of work like I always do.Went to a few of my favorite places...Fabric Depot, Barnes & Noble, a couple local yarn shops....

Victor surprised me and took off a few hours early from work so we could all three have dinner together.

43 is starting off great!  Last year was great too, with just a few bumps in the road, but we are BLESSED!

Charlie  at breakfast at Long Bottom's this morning.

My awesome birthday present...I sent this photo from my camera and look at the cute little photo that spits out?

Thankful Thursday...

Super thankful that my folks are willing/able to watch the widget for a couple of nights so Victor and I can get away to the Oregon Coast for a few days of "us time"... Belated anniversary gift from my folks..THANK YOU Mom & Dad!

We haven't gone anywhere over night and left her with them since mom's crash...Charlotte's excited, my folks are excited and VICTOR/MYSELF are super-duper excited! There's a football game on Sunday too...GO GIANTS!!! (photo circa 2008 the last time the Giants won the Superbowl)...repeat, I say OH YEA!!!