C is for Compassion & Caring

Suffering and joy teach us, if we allow them, how to make the leap of empathy, which transports us into the soul and heart of another person. In those transparent moments we know other people's joys and sorrows, and we care about their concerns as if they were our own.

Fritz Williams

Thank You!

i have no words...

taken February 24th

On your day I wish for you ~

My dad comforting me (for more about my dad on my birthday ~ click on link).

Happily Ever After

On your birthday, special one,
I wish that all your dreams come true.
May your day be filled with joy,
Wonderful gifts and goodies, too.

On your day I wish for you
Favorite people to embrace,
Loving smiles and caring looks
That earthly gifts cannot replace.

I wish you fine and simple pleasures.
I wish you many years of laughter.
I wish you all of life’s best treasures.
I wish you happily ever after!

Happy Birthday!

By Joanna Fuchs

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Memories of birthdays past, birthday parties and rituals, the blessing of being alive and the knowledge of time passing.







Mom ~ you always dressed me up and gave the best birthday parties!
Thank you!
Muah!
;)

Change of Attitude

Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different.

~ Katherine Mansfield

Happy Friday!

mom's garden

Pay It Forward Challenge

Here's a chance to get a surprise from me, on a surprise date, in the next 365 days.

*~* I'm responding to this via Perfectly Imperfect *~*
Everyone who has a blog is welcome to participate.

Here are the rules:
1. ~Leave a comment on my blog that says you want to play. First three folks to comment and specifically say that you will do this too will get a gift from ME (Don't forget to specifically mention in your comment that you want to do this too).

2. ~Do the same thing on your blog! The first three folks who leave a comment and commit to doing this on their blog too, will get a surprise from YOU at a surprise time in the next 365 days!

This should prove to be fun.....and interesting. This is a great way to make new friends too.....let's see what happens.

NOTE ~ The only condition is that those people will have to do the same on their blogs. Pay it Forward!

* Let me know how I can contact you ~ an e-mail is fine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lunar Eclipse

taken by me

The last total lunar eclipse until 2010 occured last night, with a cameo appearance by Saturn and the bright star Regulus that appeared on both sides of the veiled full moon. It lasted about an hour.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the full moon passes into Earth's shadow and is blocked from the sun's rays that normally illuminate it. During an eclipse, the sun, Earth and moon line up, leaving a darkened moon visible to observers on the night side of the planet.
The moon doesn't go black because indirect sunlight still reaches it after passing through Earth's atmosphere. Since the atmosphere filters out blue light, the indirect light that reaches the moon transforms it into a reddish or orange tinge.
Unlike solar eclipses which require protective eyewear, lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye. In August, there will be a total solar eclipse and a partial lunar eclipse.
I was washing the dishes and almost forgot about it. Am I the only one that gets excited about things like this?

The Yellow Rose ~

My post on Moss Landing brought back a memory and made me realize how much I enjoy spending time with my husband. He seen a side to me in how I reacted to someone paying me a compliment. It makes him giggle and shake his head to this day.

On our visit to Moss Landing this last November, I wanted to get out and take pictures of specific things. Charlie (without us knowing he had cancer) was feeling easily exerted and opted to just stay in the truck rather than walk around with me. He parked his truck and I got out to take my pictures. I started down the street and shortly after he drove up to me, he said he was going to get a bottle of apple juice, that we have our cell phones and I can call him when I am ready. I strolled down the road and clicked away, all along keeping a careful watch out for my husband. He was taking longer than I expected, so I went into a quaint little store and almost ran into a man with a bouquet of yellow roses. I immediately said "Oh, I am sorry." He looked at me and exclaimed, "You have the most beautiful eyes, what color are they?" I said blushing, "They are green." He said, "They are really very pretty!" I said, "Well, thank you." We went on our separate ways and I proceeded to go into the store. I listened to another couple that were in the store browsing the antiques. I assumed that they were just friends as he talked about his previous girlfriend... and well, pretty much about himself, went on about what they were going to do with the rest of their day and then they kissed (and not like friends). yuck! I felt like shaking that woman. Telling her she deserved better and to think more of herself than to go out with someone like that. I felt sad for her. :(
I went on to the next store, all the while looking out for Charlie. I started to get worried thinking it had been too long, I thought, 'Did something happen to him?.... did he leave me?' I walked out to the side of the street looking down for him ... nothing. I then looked at the snack shack to see if he was sitting there waiting for me. Nope! Well, then I started to get a little mad. (Now ladies, isn't it in that sequence that we feel those emotions?! LOL!) As I turned the corner, I ran into that man again! I said I was sorry again. He pulled out a yellow rose and gave it to me. He had broken English and silly me said, "Oh no, I don't want to buy a rose." He shook his head and said, "For you, from me." Again he complemented me on my eyes. I started to get nervous thinking 'Where is my husband?!' He asked me, "Are you from around here?" I thought, 'Ha! What a line!' Charlie will do that to me even now when we are in a restaurant as he comes back from the restroom. I told him, "No, my husband and I are just visiting." He asked, "Are you enjoying this beautiful weather?" I said, "Yes." He proceeded to ask me if we came here quite often? I said, "Yes." He said, "Well I hope to see you again with the beautiful eyes." Whew! dripping with sweat! He went walking down the street one way ~ I went the other and around the fence. I just stood there. I peeked around the fence to see where the man was... thinking, 'WHERE is CHARLIE!!' I then got my phone and called him. Charlie answered, "Hey baby." I asked him, "Where ARE you?!!" He said sweetly, "I am parked right in front of the antique store with the horse.... Babe? is that you peeking around the fence? What are you doing?" I said, "Charlie, I will be right there." He said, "Babe, I will drive there and pick you up." I got into the truck and he asked me where I got the rose. I told him the whole story and then teasingly said to him, "See, this is why you shouldn't leave me". He pulled me close to him and said "You're silly, hiding behind a fence." Giving me a kiss, "You do have beautiful eyes."

Moss Landing

Moss Landing is a quaint, historic fishing village that is full of hidden treasures and enjoyable activities including: shopping for Antiques, buying fresh seafood, visiting fine art studios, dining in delightful restaurants, coastal lodging, birdwatching, boating, fishing, whale watching, observing wildlife in a National Reserve wetlands, walking on the beach, exploring history and historic architecture, planning a garden, escaping to a scenic hidden place, enjoying the mild climate, and surfing. There are several popular annual special events not to be missed. This charming seaside town has something for everyone!


Every year Moss Landing holds an Antique Street Fair. People come from all over the United States to find beautiful and interesting treasures. A couple of years ago, I had been looking for a antique crib to put on the side of my house and found one! Charlie and my mom bought it for me as an early birthday present. I have fallen asleep, read a good book and done my bible studies on this crib.

Moss Landing is located only a short distance from Monterey Pennisula and Santa Cruz; a short day trip from the San Jose and San Francisco Bay Area; and a day or weekend adventure to a milder climate from the Central Valley towns including Modesto, Los Banos, Fresno, Stockton and others. Easy to find, just take Highway One and look for the Signs.

*Some words and imaging are mine ~ otherwise taken from Moss Landing Chamber of Commerce

Happy Anniversary ~

Valentine's Day just so happens to be my wedding anniversary too. This year, we have been married 22 years. My sweet husband has always made a point to put time aside for just the two of us and we would get away to the coast where we actually got married. For twenty-one years we have never missed a year. My husband pleaded with me that he was feeling fine for us to not miss this year. It was against my better judgement and I told him not this year. His feelings were hurt and it broke my heart. I just couldn't take the comforts of home away from him. I promised that we would go when he felt better.

Yesterday morning, I woke up to an empty bed. Charlie has been getting up when he is in pain, only for me to find him asleep, sitting in his recliner chair. He tells me he doesn't want to wake me up, and that he knows that I get up at 4:45 a.m. to get ready for work and wants me to get my sleep. I felt alone. Before I took my shower, I made the coffee and put some more wood into the wood stove to get the fire started. I felt his arms come around my waist and he kissed me, then saying "Happy Anniversary." I kissed him back and said, "Happy Anniversary baby."

I got to work and was doing okay. After work, I had to run a few errands and that is when it hit me. Everyone was so happy, dressed up, picking up flowers and chocolates, special ingredients for their special dinner. I had the sudden urge to pick up every vase of flowers and throw them across the grocery store. Chuck every heart full of chocolates into the air, not caring where they landed. It continued with feeling like popping every "Happy Valentine's" balloon. My world felt like it just stopped unlike everyone else. I felt so angry! Don't worry, I didn't actually act on my internal melt down. I chose to use my spirit of self control.

I came home, put the grocery's away. Started a bland dinner I was hoping that my husband could eat. The dogs started barking. I went to the front door to see who/what they were barking at. It was a flower van with a lady pulling out a vase of beautiful roses. She came up to the door and asked for Angela. I said, "That's me." She said, "These are for you." Dumb found, I shut the door. Charlie had asked confused "Who are those for?" I looked at the card and read out loud, "Happy 22nd Anniversary Angela. You are the love of my life." I started to cry as he gave me a hug. He knows that I really don't like him buying flowers from a "flower store." They cost so much money. I would rather him go to the corner of a road and buy them from a man trying to make a living. I think they are nicer too. He told me he just couldn't. It was our twenty second anniversary. He then told me he knew that white roses were my favorite, but he had to get some red. He also added that if I would notice that there were a total of 22 roses. Twelve red ones because he figured we had to have more love to get us through the 22 years of marriage. The 10 white ones were for me and what they stood for. He put some thought into my bouquet of roses and they were truly beautiful.

Hearts Desire

My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep;
The more I give to thee
The more I have,
For both are infinite.

~ William Shakespeare ~

Happy Valentine's Day ~ I hope it is everything your heart desires!
XoX

* Thank you for all of your heartfelt comments on my previous post ~ They are words of encouragement and comfort to me in this most difficult time. Thank you ~

Whispers

I had woke up in the middle of the night freezing. Charlie was snoring. I must have said it was freezing out loud and was also surprised (he was just snoring) because he said to go and cuddle with him. He has been in so much pain that I have been afraid to hurt him by putting pressure on him with my arms or body. I told him my concern, that I didn't want to hurt him. He said, "You won't, move close to me." He started to snore again. I just lay there listening to him. The tears started to stream down the side of my cheek. I whispered, "Don't leave me." Gently holding me closer to him, he whispered back, "I won't leave you."

Possessive/Protective

The gate that is locked

Possessive ~ showing the desire to possess

Protective ~ to shield from injury : GUARD

These last few weeks have been... well, how do I say nicely?... trying. I have been trying to help my husband by keeping up with the chores that he usually does when he gets home from work. He has been off more with two surgeries, Dr. appointments and with the pain. I just want to help him. He first was getting irritated with me because of the way it was making him feel. As the week wore on, he just couldn't do it. He still gets irritated, not so much with me, but it comes out in ways that it does to the ones that are the closest to you by snapping. At one point he said that I was being too possessive with him. I corrected him and said I was being protective. He said that there wasn't much of a difference between possessive and protection. I gave up the argument because I didn't want to exhaust him. But, I did tell him that if it were me going through this, I would like to see how he would handle it. I don't think it would be too different. The firewood is in the alley behind the locked gate that I have misplaced my key to (not a surprise ~ I am really bad at this). So I have to ask him for the key so that I can unlock the gate. He said irritated, "Ange! I can do it!" I said once again to him how he is in so much pain and has had two surgeries, just let me do it! We then compromised that he would only bring in one small log at a time. I agreed to that. I just figured that I would hurriedly fill the iron wood ring up before he could do too much. We both talked about when we would get the wood and it would be after I washed my car. He would rest in the mean time. As I was drying my car, he slowly walked out and said the guy who was putting the mural on his new trailer just called and said it was ready, he could pick it up. Big sigh! I said, "Why don't you let me go with you?" I could see in his eyes he needed a break from me. I then said, "Okay, why don't you leave me the key so that I can open up the gate and get the wood while you are gone?" He then looked at me like that wasn't fair. I then said, "Charlie, you are going to be worn out by the time you hook up your trailer to the truck. Just let me do it." Irritation shown as he handed me the ring of keys and said, "Don't lose these! It has all of my keys to unlock my tools to the old trailer." I immediately said "Well then, you be real good, and maybe I will give you the keys to everything they unlock... that my love, is what you call possessive." He got a smile on his face that followed with laughing. It's nice to see that we still can have a sense of humor through all of this.

Laughter is medicine for the heart.

Ask and He will deliver

Saturday morning, I quickly went out to get my niece's present for her birthday party which was being held later that day. I was very anxious the entire time I was gone, because I wanted to get back to Charlie. I had left him laying quietly on his recliner telling him not to move too much, and that I would be back soon. I had to check my speedometer constantly because I would catch myself driving too fast. When I got back home, Charlie was still in his chair, he was so weak and was not speaking very clearly. It scared me. He then said that he wanted chicken noodle soup. I looked in the cupboard to see if we had any. We did not. We had Chicken soup with rice, Chicken soup with wild rice and Chicken soup with Vegetables. He said he didn't want any of that, he wanted Chicken Noodle soup. I have jumped in my car going to get what ever he might be willing to eat ( I have thought as I was driving, if this is what he felt like when I was pregnant with a midnight craving for Taco Bell. I know this is quite different from being pregnant and having cancer, willing to eat and wanting to eat). The night before, I ran out because he wanted Mountain Mikes Pizza. Got it home and he would not eat any of it. It didn't "taste right." He just doesn't have an appetite. We have gotten Chinese food to only have it be thrown away (I can only eat so much, it seems even more now that he can't. I really don't feel like it). I immediately called Darlene to see if she had some Chicken Noodle soup. As soon as she heard my voice she knew something was up; I told her. She told her husband to look in the cupboard to see if they had any Chicken Noodle soup. I could hear him in the back ground telling her of the very same soups we had in our pantry {best friends ~ go figure ;) smile }. Darlene said that her husband was going to get some Chicken Noodle soup, and asked what kind did he like. I told her, "He likes Progresso but probably Campbell's," Darlene finished my sentence by saying "Because that is what he grew up on." I said "Yes." I was in the office talking to her and could see her husband backing out of the driveway onto the street, he pulled over to our other good friend and neighbor, they spoke for less than a minute and our friend went into his garage and came out with a case. I told Darlene what I saw and said "I asked for a can of Chicken Noodle soup and I am getting a case." We both started crying.

God is so good
He gently shows me that He is with us
He cares even about our wanting Campbell's chicken soup
We have the best good friends and neighbors
Friends that care and help carry our load
Friends that care, leave me encouraging comments and let me know that they are praying
Friends that let me know they are here for me

I Scream for Ice Cream!

It was 61 degrees yesterday, and the weather is supposed to continue to rise to 63 this week. Anytime now, I expect to see the Almond trees blossom. This is the month for that blooming to take place. I was straightening the house up and happened to hear the melody of an ice cream truck. I haven't heard that for a while. Everywhere you look, kids are out playing. I have been working in the yard a little, too. It feels good to get out in the sun and feel the warmth. Diandra also checked her maple tree and seen that there were little buds forming on the branches.

Thank You

Mom's kitchen window

I want to thank everyone for your heartfelt words of encouragement...
I have experienced a wide range of emotions that have also been seen all over the board.
Charlie has had two surgeries concerning his kidney and will have another one this coming Monday.
I have to tell you, the nurses through all of this have been wonderful. I can't help but feel that your prayers have had a hand in this.
Thank you~
Thank you~
From the bottom of my heart.

Cherish every day that you have ~

That it will never come again
is what
makes life so sweet

Emily Dickinson