smiles (and hands) down…i love you!

bippity-boppity-blog thoughts to carry through the Weekend…

(may they be defining for you!)

little one, dry your tears,

seeing you sad

makes a momma want to cry.

wise little one, halo unaware,

you’re an angel just walking by.

learn from you, spread wings like you,

makes a momma want to cry.

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Video by: Doc Hallenstein
As reported on CBS
these hugs n’ smile-wide blessings are just for you
as you spread your wings to share
your joy along your merrily-way!

baby girl! (i dream of you.)

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Abigail (noun) – ab·i·gail \ˈa-bə-ˌgāl\

Abigail is a female given name. The name comes from the Hebrew name אֲבִיגַיִל / אֲבִיגָיִל Avigail, meaning “my father’s joy” (alternatively “my father rejoices”, or “my father is joy”).  The intelligent, beautiful Abigail was Old Testament King David’s third wife, described as ‘good in discretion and beautiful in form.’

The name Abigail is also English, AB-i-gayl and German, AH-bee-giel.  As an American baby name the meaning of the name Abigail is: “The father’s joy.”

The name Abigail can be shortened to “Abby”, “Abbey”, “Abbi”, “Abbie”, “Abbe”, “Abi”, “Abbye”, “Abs”, or “Aby”, as well as “Gail” or “Gayle.”

People with this name have a deep inner desire for love and companionship, and want to work with others to achieve peace and harmony. People with this name are dynamic, visionary and versatile, able to make constructive use of freedom. They tend to be optimistic, energetic, intelligent, and to make friends easily. They may be resistant to change, and become restless or  rebellious when asked to do so.  A super-sweet girl she will probably be extremely gorgeous and certainly tons of fun once she is comfortable in your presence. When you meet one you will want to be a huge part of her life; but you would have to be very lucky for it to happen!  An Abigail will stay on your mind forever so you will know when you meet one.

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Photo Courtesy of Jared Schaaf Photography

Abby is a kind, cute, and loving girl. An “Abby” typically has brown hair, but sometimes it can be red. They often prefer to be in the background, but once you get to know them they are fun, talkative, and wild. Most of the time they are athletic, champions for the down-trodden, and enjoy music. A lot of people say that Abby’s are very authentic and are confident in their own skin; even though they shy away from sharing their heart until they feel the other is trustworthy.  Most people around them like them, but only a certain amount will see their crazy, out of control side!

Abby’s can make great girlfriends because they’re caring, sincere, fun, exciting and enjoy a diverse group of personalities; but usually have one certain boy that they have given their heart to. Usually they will go for the fun, athletic, sweet, loving boys who have a great smile! They LOVE to get hugs, from anyone…but especially their man!!

As a friend, you can always count on her to go crazy with you, care about you, listen, and keep your secrets. If you meet one, don’t let her go because she will be a great friend for life!

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Also, Ab-bees love to laugh and eat…especially with those they hold dear!!

“What I wanted most for my daughter was that she be able to soar confidently in her own sky, whatever that may be.”   Helen Claes

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these hugs n’ blessings are just for you today!  

(and until the dawn of the day bright and new…)

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Photo Courtesy of Jared Schaaf Photography

Music by: JJ Heller

ironmen…unite!!

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I’m under the one year mark now of joining the half-a-century young club!

I’ve watched as several of my

friends

and family

(all dearly loved)

have found their membership sooner than I.

(And) I have loved celebrating with them!

(And) watching as they, themselves, have transitioned into this phase of their life.

(And) how they have each handled their new membership in a unique and individual way.

One constant I’ve watched is how reflective they all have been.

How each have taken “stock” of the first-half-century of their life.

Reliving memories, grateful for the blessings they’ve been gifted, and making

informed choices on what they desire to carry with them

into the completion of this century they have more than half-way begun.

What has this taught me?

Lots.

But most especially that through each person’s life (as with my own) what speaks MOST to everyone is

Relationships.

This is what we all cherish.

This is what has helped us to stretch and to grow

into who we have become

both

through joy and with sorrow;

and who will help us to evolve into what we’ve yet to

be.

I call these relationships,

these people I cherish, who challenge me to be the person God has built me to be, my

“Ironmen!”

Photo Courtesy of Marvel
Photo Courtesy of Marvel

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”  Proverbs 27:17  

This is my community.

Who keep me in check.

Who  cheer me on along the way.

So that one day, (when all is said and done)

He will smile when I meet Him

and say,

Well done.

My Ironmen come in various shapes and sizes and many recite the same Creed I do each Sunday (but not all and that’s okay too!)  I love them all and wouldn’t trade one out for the other, no matter the age or the shoe-size!  I’m immeasurably grateful for the ones who have remained with me the longest, (but more about them another day.)

Recently, I met a few of my friends out for a Special Rendevous of Fine-Dining!  These friends and I had just completed working a Retreat together several weeks earlier and we missed the comaraderie we shared being together.  When we first met, without their even knowing (but much to my delight,) they began to claim our Retreat-Working-Group as “The Ironmen!”  That’s when I knew instantly They were destined to be imprinted into my heart for always.

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My Newest Ironmen (minus 2) DME #78

Through them God showed me that I will continue to collect Relationships!  The one’s I’ve already made will always, through His grace, remain strong; but He will continue to bless me with New Ironmen (for always) along the way!

And oh, how very much that makes me giddy-with-excitement to jump into the next half-century of my living!

(because every Ironman loves a good hot-dog)

these hot-diggity hugs n’ blessings go out to you!

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What Do We Believe?

“Our profession of faith begins with God, for God is the First and the Last, the beginning and the end of everything.”      -the CCC, no. 198