Stitches of life

My boyfriend, Sam, and I went over to his brother's apartment tonight to help he and his family pack up the ginormous truck for the big move to Washington in the morning. While the muscle men were workin' away on the heavy items, Sam's mom decided to show me a picture that she cross-stitched for her first grandchild, born in 2008.

As I look at the picture I examine each stitch she lovingly made. Each one is not significant by itself, but when put together make a beautiful image. This is somewhat like life in a way:each event in our life, significant or not, shapes you as a whole.

When we're born we start out as a stitch, insignificant, but a start to a project-in-the-making. As time flies, our experiences add stitches to our lives shaping us as wholes. We learn from bad experiences...good ones too...and through that grow as individuals. If life throws a curveball, its up to you to roll with the punches.

We eventually figure out that we are affecting others' lives just as they are affecting ours. Your mom, dad, children, grandchildren, siblings, coworkers, friends and more are lives that we touch. Its overwhelming to think we can have an impact in somebody's life by just being in it.

When our time here on earth is up, our learning is complete. Our picture of life is finally finished. At that time the people who surround you will sit back and admire the stitches that made up your life...and the ones you added to theirs'.

Remember when..?

Today in the car with my boyfriend, I was trying to find a good song on my preset radio station buttons to listen to. The song, "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child came on and I got a little excited...okay okay, overly excited. The song brought back childhood memories of making dance routines with my sister. She'd always force me to learn a new one with a neighbor or two, whether we were in the bootyshakin' mood or not ;)

Sisters are so precious. I feel extremely lucky to have mine in my life. It's like a friend who will always be there to chat, laugh, dance 'n' complain about grumpy boyfriends with, no matter how many fights you get into over clothes and make up...ya know, the major things in life.
































I'm not gonna make you read another blog about appreciation, so don't click that X just yet ;)


However I can't stress enough how important it is to really value time with your family members. Totally and completely enjoy the silly little things..

..like creating dance routines with your sister.

Appreciate.

Taking people for granted is something that most people do whether they realize it or not. You can call them any time you want to chat about issues or just go over and visit with them. They're always there for you.

...but what if they weren't?




This morning my boyfriend and I were cuddling in bed, and I started to think about how the littlest things, like snuggling up with your hunny, should be appreciated. You never know if that's the last time you'll be able to do that. I've learned there are so many things in life that can kill you, you really never know if someone close to you could be taken away at any given moment.

Today is the anniversary of my grandpa's death. The last time I saw him was at Camarillo High School and I didn't say "hi" because I was in cheer practice. I am filled with regret every time I think about it. Regretting something..anything, that you did or didn't do, said or didn't say, is a terrible feeling because you don't get a chance to fix it once they're gone.








So maybe next time you're about to say something hurtful to someone you love, you should bite your tongue. Next time you hold your loved one close, squeeze 'em tight and be appreciative that you have them right there, right then.