WOO HOO Over 20,000 page views!!!!!!

Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!  This blog has been viewed over 20,000 times since I first started writing it almost 4 years ago!!!!

Whether it has made you laugh, cry or think about something it has all been worthwhile for me!!!! I may not have achieved all the goals I set forth when I wrote my first entry but that's OK because I am still a work in progress.  I feel better about myself emotionally, I have made and shared some big decisions, I have slowly worked on getting healthier and losing weight (OK much more slowly then I would like), I have shared embarrassing moments, funny times and let you all watch me grow up (not out).

I weigh less than I did when I started writing (although no where near my goal).  I can jog in a pool for an hour.  I can go a few miles on an elliptical.  See the pattern......I can, I can and I do.....

I have taken you with me to Dr. visits, through a job or two, into my fears and joys.......you have joined me on the road to a family reunion and on the trip to say goodbye to my Mom.  We have shared holidays, birthdays, births and deaths.  We have shared life!!!

Your comments and feedback have been helpful and appreciated!! I have been told when I hit the nail on the head and when I might have missed the mark.

You have gotten to know my passions for sports, family and friends, writing, laughter and most of all giving and receiving love.  So many of you have shared your love with me.  So many of your have shared your thoughts with me.  So many of you have opened up to me because of what I have written.  So in giving to you by my words I have gotten so much back in return!!!!

I am so grateful to Carol, my trainer at the time who suggested I put my feelings into words.....without her suggestion this blog would not exist........and I would not have taken the chance to share my thoughts or feeling, my ups and downs and I would not have taken the chance to step out of my comfort zone.

Well here's to the next 20,000 page views.......I will be here writing and sharing and grateful to all of you.......each of you have added so much to my life.......more than you will ever know......

See you next week........

I Still Remember Love.....

It took many, many, many years to figure it out.......

It's not the prestige or the job or the car or the house or the salary that matters.......it's love....giving it and getting it.....that matters most when all is said and done.

I recently read an article about people older than me....and yes there are a lot of them...they talked about things that matter most in life.  One of the things they said is the importance of saying "I love you" when you can ....sometimes you will get an "I love you" back and sometimes the other party might not reciprocate.  They said it is worth the risk.....

That comment got me thinking about love and my life.

I remember walking with my Dad more than 50 years ago and him holding my hand. Occasionally, I would squeeze his hand and he would squeeze mine back.  To me it was a silent I love you.

A few years ago, I was visiting my Mom.  We were sitting next to each other and she reached out and held my hand.  I squeezed her hand and she squeezed back.  It meant I love you.

I have said I love you to people and had it said back.....I have also had them not respond.  It hurt but at least it was honest.  I would hate for someone to say I love you just to say it and not mean it.

One of the first things I said to Jenn when I held her for the first time was "mommy loves you".  I had no idea how much that love would grow over the years.

There has been loved that has faded too......that is sad but a reality.

Last summer with my Ohana, I probably said I love you more in 5 days than almost all my life and I meant it.

I need to say it more.....when I mean it.  I hope that when I do I will get the same response back.  I willing to take the risk......what do I have to lose?

My coworkers know I am not a big hugger....but why not....I should accept the hugs.....I should give the hugs......I have to not worry about what people think.  A good hug is wonderful.....

Saying "I love you" and giving a good hug....how much better can you get that that????

So watch out family, friends, coworkers.......don't faint, don't be shocked, don't think has she lost her mind.......if I give you a hug.......now I don't mean I am going to be all over the place hugging people.....I just need to make sure that the people I care about know how much they mean to me......

Like the silent meaning of squeezing my parents hand.......just go with it......say it......show it......don't let the moment pass out of fear of the response.........

When all is said and done.....what matters more than love?????

The Best of 2013 and Dreams of 2014

Like many of us do whether it be consciously or subconsciously I took a look back at the past year to see what the high points were......I didn't want to focus on the lows....

The best event of the year was the Welch Ohana Family Reunion. !!! A 5 day love fest!!!! Meeting new family members, seeing family members that I hadn't seen in 25 years......the love I felt was overwhelming!!! Here I sit almost 6 months later and I can still feel the warmth I experienced at Osage Beach.

Trips to the beach......the smell of the ocean, golf cart rides and sitting watching the waves while reading a good book, listening to my IPOD, enjoying an adult beverage and people watching.  How much better can it get than that????

Doing three different jobs in the same year and surviving them all!!!!

Searching for and finding peace within myself.  Learning to love me....

I could go on and on about 2013 but it is time to look ahead to 2014.....

Spending time with friends and family is on the top of my list!!!!

Health, exercise and weight loss always make the top of the list too.  I started the year with a nice drop on the scales.  As I experiment to see what works for me I will share both the successes and failures. One thing that has finally sunk in is to eat when I am hungry not because it is 9:00 or 12:00 or 7:00......this has really worked well lately.

Doing my job to the best of my ability but realizing that my job is not my life,  I need to take time to smell the roses......

Recently, I have had a chance to see what life is like without major stress and IT IS WONDERFUL!!!! I am happier now that I have taken more control of my life. Good for me!!!!

I am trying to be more positive about myself....this can be hard at times but I am getting better at it!!

The New Year ahead is like a blank slate......as someone on Facebook said......it is a new story with 365 pages......well that is right up my alley......

In just the first 5 days/pages, I have watched some great football, spent some time with good friends, got on the scale and was happy with what I saw, I did a lot of cleaning, donating and organizing, I accepted more invitations to do things instead of passing up what could be fun opportunities......not bad for 5 days.......can't wait to see what the next 360 days hold......

The future looks bright and I am trying to turn some of my dreams into realities......I am feeling good and excited about the road ahead!!!!

Walk with me and you can see what happens next.......

See you next week........Happy New Year......2014.....feels like my kind of year!!!!!