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Foster Kid
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 Dear Steve,
April 20th marks our 26th anniversary! On this date, I married the love of my life. I remember driving in the Mazda 8 with friends to Reno and driving home afterwards because we had no money for a hotel stay. I recall how we promised to love each other ‘til the end of time, and how determined we were to know we could make that promise come true. We knew we were perfectly imperfect for each other but that was more than enough. We ALWAYS knew we would make it no matter what! We overcame every obstacle that came our way and did not allow anyone (or anything) to hold us back. Our love has always been unconditional and STRONG! On this day I remember everything we have been through together, and all we have accomplished (the truth is we have accomplished A LOT): college degrees, raising three amazing kids, traveling the United States running a marathon in every state just to name a few. I cannot imagine my life without you in it! You add so much joy and laughter and have been a part of all my favorite experiences! You are the source of my Joy! You have always inspired me to become the best version of myself. You have always pushed me forward and remind me that with God, hard work and determination I can be anyone I want to be. You are my better half, my lover, and my best friend! You are my biggest support and cheerleader. As Sierra would say, “Dad is team Pollyann!" I can never thank You enough for being my best friend in the whole world, my safe harbor, my peaceful joyous haven! Thank you for never making me doubt you, your intentions and your honesty. Thank you for remaining faithful to me. Thank you for being a Godly, loyal husband worthy of my trust. Thank you for taking care of me and always taking my needs into consideration (even through menopause). Thank you for always making our marriage your number one Priority! You are the Best Sherpa Ever :) Thank you for being the best possible Pops to our children–raising them together has been FUN! Thank you for making me proud to have children with you. Thank you for putting up with me all these years. Thank you for embracing my imperfections and for loving me because of them. Thank you for being YOU! And thank you for allowing me to be myself. I have fallen more in love with you each day of our 26 years together. You make marriage so EASY and so FUN (especially when life has seemed so challenging otherwise). You are ‘peace’ to me. I love you with all my heart and I look forward to growing old with your hand holding mine. Even though we ain't got a lot of money I am still in love with you honey… And in the morning when I rise YOU bring a tear of JOY to MY eyes… Happy Anniversary to my fun, loving Husband! Here’s to the next 26 years…. CHEERS! Love, Pollyann
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 Don’t let anyone steal your joy. In a world where many people are unhappy with themselves or their lives, it is a common occurrence to attempt to bring others down to their lower level. I don’t think people always do this on purpose, but misery loves company. So, I am issuing this crucial reminder: Don’t let anyone steal your joy.
In fact, FOCUS on your joy. Joy is one of the most powerful and positive emotions we can experience. And similarly how misery is contagious, so is joy. When we see the world and our lives with joy, we see the beauty and goodness in and around us. The recipe for joy is different for each of us. For me joy is found when I spend time outdoors, with family, or appreciating the simple pleasures in life. When I compete in a race, the time is never my goal. Saying that doesn’t mean I don’t push myself, but rather I prefer to immerse myself in the atmosphere of the race and help someone push through if they are struggling or need help. So often the first thing people wish to know is my time or place for completion of an event. And here I remind myself: don’t let them steal your joy. In addition to people stealing our joy, there are sometimes circumstances in life that are out of our control that may cloud the joy in our lives. For instance, I have truly struggled with menopause for the past few years. My symptoms have been extreme and I would be lying if I didn’t say sleepless nights, frequent hot flashes, and depression haven’t brought me down. But I remind myself that going through this difficult chapter means I can help someone else. And I know that I can work around it and still enjoy the race (albeit a little more tired or weak sometimes). Menopause won’t steal my joy, it will just be another obstacle to hurdle. So to the person who is about to complete their first half marathon, someone breaking the cycle to work at McDonalds and be the first person to live off welfare, or the single mom struggling to support her family: don’t let others steal your joy. Be happy that you FINISHED the race and EXPERIENCED the event. Be proud of the fact that you can feed, cloth, and house yourself without the government assistance and are the first in your family to do so. Celebrate the fact that you are doing your best to love and support your child, even if that means you can’t give them the extra bells and whistles Don’t. Let. Other. People. Steal. Your. Joy. We must not allow their negativity seep into our minds and hearts. We must learn to disconnect from their words, actions and sometimes their lives. I have found that they are usually jealous, insecure, resentful or just not understanding of our happiness. Keep looking for the joy in the life you’re living. Even in darker moments or challenging chapters, you can find and focus on it. We must not allow their negativity to seep into our minds and hearts. “Don’t allow negative people to steal your Joy. When you lose your Joy, you lose your strength.” -Joel Osteen Until Next Monday… |
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October 2024
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