Happy Birthday Dad

I would never forget you ~ I was so proud of you!!

I love you dad.................

Happy Birthday!!!

Mini "Mary"

I love this picture of Mary & Kelsey!

This picture was taken Christmas 2004 ~ Kelsey was Mary's lil minion. For years, she would shadow Mary's crazy schedule of waking up at 4:30 in the morning to run 6 miles and then do the entire tae bo kick boxing video. She didn't care how early it was...... she was with her mommy and loved her so much! She would go with her everywhere. Mary used to coach swimming and have to be at swim practice early early - Kelsey was always there. I know she cherishes those moments now more than she wishes she had to. I see so much of Mary in Kelsey.

My Sisters

I love my sisters so much..... this is a nice picture of Lisa & Mary!

I know Lisa treasures this picture too - it was the last picture taken with our sis.....

That is why I am posting it on "Memories to Cherish",

our timecapsule of moments to remember ~ Loving Mary Forever!

I wasn't there, but I wished I was. This picture was taken in San Antonio, just a few weeks before Mary left us - 3/22/08.

Random White Flower

This beautiful flower is one of the many luxury gifts I would receive at the Caledonia.... random gifts from residents or flowers they couldn't enjoy because they were traveling...... I will miss these joys. I was so blessed to be here. My heart and soul were here and the residents' goodbyes have touched my heart. I even got some tears....

Goodbye Caledonia

I got a promotion on Tuesday! With a new title and all :).... I will be taking care of two buildings now instead of one.... This is great news and sad news! The Caledonia team has become the #1 building in the region with 1% delinquency just last month! Caledonia has been my home since it opened in 2007. The staff and many (most) of the residents and i have become like a family. They were there for me when my sister died and when I got married. Two of the most emotional events in ones life. They have all been so wonderful. I will cherish my time with them all. I'm attaching a few photos to this blog showing the orbs all around the building. Pretty amazing!! This is also where my cardinal showed up on the sun terrace for me. This building has some amazing memories for me to cherish!

This is a professional move and I am happy for it, but am sad...... So sad!

The strange thing about this is that I woke up that morning and had a random thought "I wonder if they're going to transfer me", the thought disappeared as fast as it came.

Until I got to work!

Hmmmmm..........

What Really Matters

There are a lot of negative situations that happen to us in life....
That is life!
Then there a tiny little moments that mean the world to us.

That is what we should focus on!
Last night my dear husband gave me that kind of moment.

I was in the kitchen doing the things I do to prep for the morning....

I walk back into the living room and he says to me:

"You know Jen, we may not have all that we want yet or be exactly where we want to be, but we have each other and just listening to you prep the coffee pot and do you nightly chores makes me so happy!"

That's what really matters most!!!
That is what I will focus on ;)....

The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work.
~Oprah Winfrey

My Mary

I cried today ~ mixing my tears with the shower drops ~ I was just so overwhelmed by the fact that my sister is gone and worse yet, her children don't have her anymore.

I just couldn't imagine..... it just doesn't seem fair. Mary was such a wonderful person and all she ever wanted to do was be a mommy. She'd said that for more years than I can remember. Mama Mary... that's what she called herself.

It just pains me to think that her little dreams she gave birth to don't get to experience their life with her. She treasured them and had so much love, encouragement and enthusiam to give them. I will love them extra as long as I live and remind them that they will always have me! That is my credo and will live it out the best I can. For me, for them, for Mary........... I believe love has wings and strings and there is a permanant line from Texas to New York!