Friday, September 30, 2005

Everything is Relative

Everything is relative.  I am sure that most of you know that.

I have had a bad week, but it sure could be worse.  That is the thing that pushes me along, and makes me get through it all.  And, today is a better day than yesterday.

My hubby and I were discussing this last night.  I was feeling overwhelmed and needed to cry a bit on his shoulder. 

Fuzzy, our 10 year old, was asleep in our bed so I snuggled into the day bed in our playroom with my hubby.  My hubby joked that it felt like we were having a "conjugal visit" like up in the mansions up in Newport, Rhode Island, where Mr. Astor and Mr. Vanderbilt had separate bedrooms from their wives.  Hubby said, "It's like we are rich like them!"

After we stopped chuckling at the thought, I said to him, "You know, we are rich, much richer than most."  My tears dried up and I decided to list all our riches as we lay there holding each other.

We have each other.  After more than 15 years together and close to 14 of marriage, we are still each other's best friend.  We still love being with each other and laugh and smile and hold hands together.  Not a lot of couples still feel that way after all that time.

We have three incredible children.  Each one unique, but each one very bright, very caring, and full of desire to learn and to love.  We must be doing something right.

We have our health, in relative terms.  My hubby is healthy, a bit overweight, a bit of arthritis from old sports injuries, and a bit of borderline blood pressure, but no cancer, no heart problems, nothing major. 

I do have some health issues that are chronic and long lasting, but no cancer and no heart problems.  I'll deal with what I have, it could always be worse.  Truly, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, are not the worst things out there.

My hubby has a great job and provides for our family very well.  We have to juggle, but who doesn't?  There could always be more - but there could be less too, we have been there, and it isn't fun. 

We have my parents here with us.  I cannot even begin to put a value on all their help and love.  Just being here, the kids get so much from having their grandparents in their lives every day.  They help us with the kids, they help me with cooking, cleaning and managing a big home for seven.  They are priceless riches.

We have lots of family and friends who love us and care for us.  Our kids also reap the benefits of lots of friends and a great community. 

The bottom line, we have God in our lives and He is good.  He has blessed us with many riches, many rewards, and much love.

I am grateful, very much so, for all our riches.  My hubby is too.  Thank you, God, for everything.

I kissed hubby goodnight, and left him to snore in the play room and I climbed back into my big, comfy king-size bed with my son.  He was snoring too.

Life is good.  Really, really good.

Be well,
Dawn

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

And that is why you were picked as an editor's pick - with an entry like this - so beautiful!

And with God in your life, even when its not going good, it still is good because He is there.

thank you Dawn for sharing this; true blessings come from knowing how you are blessed and thanking Him for each blessing - something you truly did.

betty

Anonymous said...

Your right, we do have so much to be thankfull for! Brandie

Anonymous said...

Everyone complains now and again....but you KNOW your riches!! Beautiful, Dawn!! And congrats on being an editor's pick!! Penny

Anonymous said...

I loved this entry it is so encouraging ,,, and your title is so apropo when talking about deep relationships..Also. I want to thank you for the endless prayers you are saying for Promise...it means so much Love, Courtenay..cMp
http://journals.aol.com/courtenaymphelan/PRAYERSFROMTHEHEART/

Anonymous said...

Congrats on getting picked. Whenever I'm feeling a little sorry for myself I think of some of my friends who are going through trials of their own and I realize that my problems are minor. I love the way you describe your family, it used to be years ago...extended families lived together and the children were enriched by the knowledge of the older ones...it worked. Since it was disolved and older people shuffled off to nursing homes/retirement homes...the family, the children have suffered. So I love to hear that someone is doing it the old fashioned way..good for you.  Sandi http://journals.aol.com/sdoscher458/LifeIsFullOfSurprises

Anonymous said...

It is always good to Count your blessings:)

Deb

Anonymous said...

oh Dawn....
it is so wonderful to have a day like this!
And it is wonderful to be able to see through and count your blessings!
Thinking of you,
Gem :-)

Anonymous said...

I am glad your black cloud has lifted.

-jan

Anonymous said...

Wonderful entry, Dawn! It's so good to remember the things that we do have when things are going badly.

Love ya,
Susan

Anonymous said...

It's nice to see your doing better and upbeat. We all have darker days.

Take Care,

Gabreael

Anonymous said...

Dawn, I recently went to Rhode Island and saw those mansions...they are gorgeous !!! It truly is the little things in life that make us rich. Thanks for reminding me.

Ellen
http://journals.aol.com/eml625/Onedayatatime

Anonymous said...

Dawn dear, you are so right!  I keep telling myself to remember that my attitude and emotions will depend on what I am comparing my situation to.
Attitude is 90 percent of the battle!  And it can win the war!
loving you
karyl

Anonymous said...

Dearest Dawn,
"Dawn Girl, you have written one of the most inspiring journals of all time!!!!!!
((((((Dawn)))))))
Yeah Dawn!!!!!!!!! Your Rock !! (doing the ahppy dance around you and sprinkling rose pedals...
love,nat

Anonymous said...

Hi Dawn thanks for visiting my journal i'll be back to read more of yours hugs, Marina

Anonymous said...

Hi there! I'm a stay-at-home mom and was just browsing around similar journals and found your journal. Congrats on being an Editor's Pick! I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, you have an awesome journal! Take care and have a great week. :-)

~ Susan

Anonymous said...

DAWN I WANT TO THANK YOU 4 SHARING YOUR THANKFULNESS
I TRY TO START EVERYDAY FRESH AND EXCITED. AND IT IS A GREAT JOY TO HEAR OTHERS THAT ARE GREATFUL TO GOD AND KNOW IT IS FROM HIM. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

Anonymous said...

You know dawn people these days do not oftern know their born always complaining about some thing. Iam also loke you i count day by day all the loved ones in my life including my little miricle my boy cory paul i waited so long to be a mummy it was like an obsesstion taking over my life but now he's here i look at him and do you know what nothing else in this world really matters to me now i have him to give all my love to . But i alson have some very good friends loving partner and wounderful parents and three wonderful grandparents so i thank god every day of my life for the birth of my son without him i'am nothing .keep smiling xx clarabell  

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful entry!!  You have a great journal, congrats on being picked!

Anonymous said...

Oh Dawn, that was beautiful!  We had a 7am visit from Trevor this morning.  How precious is it to be woken up by your 6 year old hugging you?

Chris
http://journals.aol.com/swibirun/Inanethoughtsandinsaneramblings
http://www.bigoven.com/~swibirun

Anonymous said...

having God at the center is probably the key to it all....

yes, you are Rich indeed....


:)

Anonymous said...

beautifully written

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you realized your blessed, so many people forget to stop and think about their blessings.

Anonymous said...

Dawn,
You and your hubby sound so much like us.  I love to just cuddle with him on the couch.  And, it does me so much good to cry on his shoulder.  Even after almost 22 years of marriage I feel so loved and safe in his arms.

Have a great Sunday.  We are very blessed to have hubbies like this.

Bunches of love and hugs, LuAnne

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful, heartwarming entry.

I loved it!

~~ jennifer

Anonymous said...

What a lovely entry my friend.  Yes, we are truly blessed if we have a good partner and a loving relationship.  Like you I have long term health problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, agoraphobia and anxiety.  But I thank God for all the things that I have that bless my life and always try to make the best of things.

Anonymous said...

A wonderful, honest entry.
All the best to you and your special family.

Mary Louise of Watching my Sister.

http://journals.aol.com/mlrhjeh/WatchingMySisterDisappear

Anonymous said...

There you go... your luck reversal is complete.  Or is it?  Perhaps it was there all along, and you just needed a little moment to dwell on the bad in order to appreciate the good.  (yeah, I know, that sounds like something Yoda would say).