Life, Love and the Pursuit of Happiness

Life-it never turns out like we think it will when we are 17, 25, 30 we always think things will be different that they end up. I'm not always saying they end up bad just different than we would have chosen had God said come over here Shelley and I want you to go through this questionaire and pick what you want for your life and you will get it. That actually is kinda of a frightening thought because we would have chosen, wealth, bueaty, love, to be able to eat everything and never gain a pound, to we wealthy with out working, to have a mate that just poured affection on us no stop. Is that really what we would want would we be content? NO!!! Life is about living it!!! Not knowing what is coming next but knowing that whatever it is that God will see us through it as long as we hold on tight and sometimes we have to hold on with all our might. Faith is what we learn, we become better people because of it, we love deeper, appreciate more, we become less shallow.

Love-is a choice not a feeling. In the midst of it all when you really don't like, agree with or even want to look at the one you love you have to choose to keep loving them. It gets easier over time and before you know it the love is deeper than you ever thought possible. To have all the love from family and friends is irreplaceable.

Happiness-it is also a choice, we have to choose to be happy in the moment. The bible tells us to praise Him even in the worst of times....UGH...who wants to praise Him and thank Him when life is sucking or when someone you love is hurting or when your facing your worst nightmare. I have learned to do this over the years, I have made a intentional effort to thank God when I'm not happy or when I feel like things are coming unwound, or when I am terrible stressed. And in doing this I have become more relaxed, less stressed because I know that if I thank God for the lessons I'm going to learn or for the trials I will overcome that He will not only see me through but pour His grace down on me.

Life is not about what we want it is about how we choose to react to and face it.

Just had this on my heart today wanted to share. If your having a hard time seeing God today stop and look at nature and you will see God. He is always there.

Not Sleeping

So, Lily is doing better, still staggering alot and falling but, she is much better than a week ago. She still does not sleep all night she got me up 2 times last night which is better than 6 a few nights before.

I'm ready for a day off from people....I sometimes can recharge by just packing up all my stuff going home and working, sewing, napping whatever but I'm usually pretty productive. When I do this I don't answer phones, I just check in once or twice a day and I can do whatever it is that needs done uninterrupted. Its really nice, to not be at everyone's beck and call. I think tomorrow I may do this if not I will definately do it soon. I'm tired and I haven't felt well today, hope I'm not catching something. There are alot of things going around. Its 11 pm and I'm still awake, wierd friday I was in bed at 7:30pm and by 9 or 10 all weekend then tonight when I should be in bed early...can't sleep. I think I dread trying to sleep now because I know Lily will have me up soon anyway. Ok so I am rambling....bored...tired...? I'm not sure....I wish I was at the lake relaxing....hope to go this weekend.

Learning from Lily

This evening I sit here and thank God that I don't easily give into what others may have done when it comes to my little dog Lily. You see GME is typically seen as a death sentence whether now or somewhere in the next 6-12 months. But like many of you know I have found a nuerologist in Boston who is going to manage Lily's case and has had many full remissions and cures after 12 months. I must remember that she may not be one of those but I am learning from her that there is hope.
So I ask myself tonight what have I learned or am I learning from this experience? Because I believe not matter how big or small we have something to learn from every trial in our lives. This little 5 lb dog has wagged her tail through this whole ordeal, when she couldn't move any other part of her body she would wag her tell to let you know she had not given up. WOW!! a small animal that doesn't even understand what is happening does not give up.
I find that very interesting considering people who do understand what is happening to them or others in different circumstances often settle for what is happening or in many cases give up...throw there hands in the air and say "I can't", or "this is my excuse". I know there are many people who have Lily's will and heart to not let things get them down but on the other hand there are alot that do.
Even with our nation and our current economic crisis...we here on the news all the time how bad it is and all the negative but do we ever hear or see the positive? The things that are happening to stablize? Or the people who are learning from this experience and the quality of life that will be better due to the lessons they will learn from over indulgence?
Lily teaches me a lot, how to love unconditionally, how to forgive, how to never give up. She is special, she loves everyone, there is never a person that comes through the door that she does not want to meet and love on, she cares not what color their skin, how they look, their religion, their politics or if they even like her, she accepts them no matter what.
What a better world we would have if we could all love, accept and give of ourselves the way this little girl does.
I think I have alot more lessons from Lily.