Measure in Love

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Moments so dear
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure - Measure A Year?

In Daylights - In Sunsets

Thank You, Lord, for giving me 366(!) daylights & sunsets - even in the days when I didn't recognize the gift, you gave it to me anyway...

In Midnights - In Cups Of Coffee

There were a lot of midnights - some were spent laughing, some were spent crying - I am the better for all of them...

In Inches - In Miles

Sometimes, I look back on this year, and think how far I've come - how many tough decisions I've made and stuck to, how many chances I took... other times, I wonder if I've only gone a small step in my life - if I've really moved at all... sometimes, nights like tonight happen when I'm not sure I've made the right decision at all, and I wonder - have I learned anything at all this year?

In Laughter - In Strife

there has been lots of laughter and lots of strife... it seems, looking back, what I choose to remember is the laughter

In - Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure
A Year In The Life?

How About Love? ~ Measure In Love ~ Seasons of Love.

I've learned this year, that I firmly believe that the love you give is as important as the love you take (to paraphrase the famous. I gave and took a lot of love this year - romantic, family, friends - I'm not always good at remembering to give it away, but I try. Most importantly, I was blessed with so much love this year. I don't always remember to appreciate it, but I was.

I was blessed with seeing the end & beginning of love.
I was blessed with learning to appreciate & respect the love that I'm given by my family & friends - we may not always be perfect, but you've helped me pick up the pieces so many times - never faulting me for making the questionable decision or choosing what might not have been the best path.
I was blessed with learning a little bit more about loving, appreciating & respecting myself - my instincts, my needs, my desires... and going after what I wanted not matter how much it might hurt...

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand, Six Hundred Minutes, Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand, Journeys To Plan

I planned and planned and planned... and learned this year to give up the plan a little bit... On 1/1/09, I'm feeling a little more relaxed at taking it day-by-day... seeing what comes and going with the flow... a little more relaxed - not completely... ;-)

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand, Six Hundred Minutes, How Do You Measure The Life Of A Woman Or A Man?

In Truth That She Learned (there are many),
Or In Times That He Cried (there were many),
In Bridges He Burned (there are some),
Or The Way That She Died

Gram T

Uncle Charles (with Baby Me...)

I lost two family members this year - two people I wasn't close enough to... two people who I've learned from & respected more not only in the way they lived, but in the way they died.

Gram T - my mother's mother - lived in Jersey - I was her youngest grandchild. We had issues getting along sometimes - I was a smart-mouthed teenager most of the time we were close. Then she started to fail... but even up until the last few years of her life, my Gram lived life to the fullest. I realize I get from her my party planning - my love of an adventure - my ability to take off on my own with a group of people and see what is out there in the world. And - she was my first example of a church lady...

Uncle Charles - my grandmother's brother - Charles had no children or grandchildren of his own - we were his... I didn't take enough time to talk to Charles when he was alive, but I certainly learned from the way he died. Diagnosed in mid-late June with cancer, he let them operate and do a certain amount of work on him, but in the end, he knew what he wanted - no heroics, no trips to far-away clinics in hospitals... Charles - a man who lived his whole life with disability - died the same way he lived - with grace & dignity. I was there the night he died - and it was the most peaceful experience... I hope he is with me every day helping me find grace and peace... and helping me be the new family photographer... ;-)

It's Time Now - To Sing Out, Though The Story Never Ends, Let's Celebrate, Remember A Year In The Life Of Friends

Yes, 2008, as is every year - is worthy of a celebration... we celebrate for the things we have and the things we've lost... we celebrate the lives of those around us... we celebrate our hopes and dreams for the new year...
And What's Most Important:

Remember the Love ~ Remember the Love ~ Remember the Love ~ Measure In Love
Oh you got to you got to remember the love,
You know that love is a gift from up above
Share love, give love, spread love
Measure, measure your life in love.