CrEaTiVe KeLsEy CoLLaGe

Purple Braces.....Peace Symbol, Tiedye by PeaceDog, TOMS (shoes), lips, running~Kelsey McCraw, "Whatever", Lola Star from Coney Island, NYC, Moose picture "Keep out its kind of moosey in here", Ed Hardy, Juicy Couture, MONSTER (drink), Boston Terrier, Cool Blue Dog, Beast, Possibilities, Believe, Trust In, "With God, all things are possible", Love.....

My Sister's Keeper

"You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not”

I saw this movie today and cried through half of it. It was a beautiful movie about a family's love and struggles with a sick child. Anna, the sister of Kate who is sick with leukemia is bound by love to help her sister. The whole family is effected, but the love that they have for each other prevails. Their bond is a beautiful example of unconditional LOVE!

I related with what Anna said at the end of the movie about her sister Kate:

"Once upon a time, I thought I was put on this earth to save my sister. In the end, I couldn't do it. I realize now, that wasn't the point. The point was, I had a sister. She was fantastic! One day I'm sure I'll see her again. But until then, my relationship continues..... "

Thanksgiving.... 2003 with Mary

I was looking through some pictures this morning and came across these....
this was a nice Thanksgiving now that I look back, because it was
the last Thanksgiving I spent with Mary and the kids in Texas!

Kelsey & Brett are just soooo fun & funny!!! Always have been, always will be!

Can you see him squatting in the background behind Grandma Sara?

Nice Family Picture....

Kelsey's Gratitude ~ Bretts Love

KELSEY
The day before Thanksgiving, I asked niece Kelsey to start thinking about a list of 5 things she is most grateful or thankful for. Her response was, "That's it? Can I expand on that?"......
Once again, mama Mary's kids melt my heart!

Thanksgiving Day, Kelsey calls me up and says "Hey Aunt Jeni! I've got 40 things so far on my gratitude list! I could keep going, but it would take days to finish. LOL.... My grateful lil niece! How did she turn out so smart, so loving, so sweet, so funny...?? Oh yeah, she's my sisters kid!!

Here are the first 40 items of love in Kelsey's heart (she said it was absolutely in no way any special order!):

1. Being a Christian 2. Family (this includes everyone!) 3. Friends 4. Relationship with Jesus 5. Home 6. Food 7. Own Room 8. Grandparents 9. Aunt Jeni & Uncle Chad 10.Wardrobe 11. shoes 12. Good Grades 13. School 14. track 15. Nice people 16. Mean People 17. Challenges I've overcome 18. Lady Gaga 19. Drake 20. nail polish 21. good health 22. ipod's 23. music 24. TV 25. YouTube 26. Waterparks 27. Anything that entertains Kelsey 28. Jewish people ~ bagels 29. Eco Friendly People 30. Beaches 31. brother 32. Food 33. FAMILY (again) 34. Italian food 35. Great actors 36. dogs nice to me 37. counselor 38. People who invented anklets 39. People who invented scarves 40. Jesus Loving Me

BRETT
I most certainly don't want to leave Brett out ~ I never could. I speak to him often too, but alot of times he's busy playing. He did call me the other day just to say: "Hi Aunt Jeni, I wanted to talk to you because its been a while and wanted to see how you are doing and say I love you. Oh and by the way, I got all A's on my report card again" hehe.... so, of course I go on to congratulate him and tell him how proud I am of him. Then comes the question I believe he was waiting for: "So Brett... what can we get you to reward you for your wonderful grades?" MADDEN 11 for XBOX it is :)

Texas Cardinal

Everything is big in Texas ~ even the Cardinals!

Neice Kelsey sent me this picture..... xoxo

Lil Beastie(s)

Kelsey has given herself a new nickname & I love it! We text each other all the time and just recently at the end of each text I get: How technoly cute is that? Naturally, the nickname Lil Beastie has transferred over to our lil pup Honey. I asked Kelsey if that was okay to share the nickname and she laughed and said of course. Kelsey and Honey bonded pretty tight this summer, so the nickname for both doesn't surprise me at all. They might even be BFF!

Here are a couple pictures of my two Lil Beasties.....

Synchro Quote

"Synchronistic events occur when you are committed to taking extremely good care of yourself. A divine force rallies behind you to support your decisions" ~ Cheryl Richardson

Another Sweet Surprise

The same day I had a feeling someone was going to find me in search of Mary I had not one, but two! A couple hours after I heard from Christie, I got a friend request on Facebook from Bonnie D. in search of Mary! Bonnie met Mary when she was 13 and was friends with her throughout high school until their lives took different paths. Bonnie didn't know Mary had passed and was sad to hear the news. Bonnie had some wonderful memories to share with me and you:

"She was such an amazing, beautiful person with a very contagious smile and laugh and just radiated with energy. I met Mary when I was about 13 and we just clicked.....I know she loved her sisters more than anything and she talked about you all the time all good things & funny things and adored you....She does live on! She'll always hold a special place in my heart. I would love to see her program....."

"Hi Jeni....I got it! It was so beautifully pieced together. It is really a true reflection of the beautiful Mary I knew so long ago. I am still shocked and deeply saddened but so grateful I had the opportunity to know her. Her smile and laugh will stay with me forever! She touched the lives of many and was such an inspiration to all those around her to get fit and get moving! A flood of memories came to me when I saw her program. I think she would be so proud of you how graciously you've carried on and it's almost as if I can hear voice saying "Don't cry Jeni" " Don't be sad" I know she never believed in self-pity she was so strong and courageous and had just an admirable zest for life and her eye on her next challenge which always had to do with running faster or longer or further..

I love your spirit it reminds me so much of her! Please use this for your blog and I'll share with friends that knew her that may not know.

She will always be remembered! I loved her dearly!! : ) "

Lots of love,
Bonnie

These memories come straight from the heart. I can feel the love in the words. Mary was an angel on earth and the stories are proof again and again to me. If you think of Mary and a smile spreads across your face, know that she is there with you through God's grace. Blessings to you
in all that you do!

Loving Mary Forever

Thoughts become Things... Christie appears!

Saturday afternoon I had a thought, "I haven't had a Mary friend reach out to me in a while!" ~ then I had a feeling that I would hear from someone soon.....

Soon it was! Less than an hour later! Christie, also known as "Chris Coss" to Mary and the kids. Mary and Christie became the best of friends while Mary was a teacher and swim coach in Nederland. Mary was a positive influence in Christie's life and left many wonderful memories. Memories she has been happy to share with me and now with you. Together we have been able to reflect on how much she meant to both of us because of who she was ~ a beautiful soul on earth.

I'd like to share some Christie's words (& pictures) here in my Mary "Memories to Cherish":

"....I think of my many memories with Mary "Coach" I can't help myself but to cry still to this day....how full of life and amazingly beautiful she really was as a person...a blessing to me and everyone else..."

"....she was helping people, probably teaching overweight women how to get a hold of their lives and eat healthy/workout. She probably helped people who were having a bad day or talked to the outcast...that was the Mary I knew and I know that she would do that no matter what. "

"....Mary (Coach), Mary M., and I we were all best friends -they were my world in Nederland."

"...overall I feel at peace knowing that she is still alive in all of our hearts.....Sometimes I will be doing something like bathing my kids and a memory out of the blue will come and I won't be able to stop thinking about it or a lot of times when we travel to different places i think of her and feel that she is with us seeing the world."

"....I loved to see the pictures of Kelsey and Brett while getting little updates... Mary would be so proud of them... they are both turning into wonderful young adults...That girl is something else. I would love to somehow read her book she wrote "Life after Leaving" I am not sure if I could or if there are any more but it would be neat. I am so proud of her and Brett too they seem to be doing so well."
Keep Blogging and stay in touch
Christie

I can't begin to tell you how much it means to me to have these memories shared with me! Thank you for caring enough to share ~ I know Mary is with us all ~ all of us who love her..... you all are the reason I have this blog.

LOVING MARY FOREVER

Mary Visits Jim Fargiano

The Spoken Words of Spirit: The Spoken Words of Spirit--November 12, 2010:
(click on the link above to read the whole post)

"Betrayal is often misunderstood. It comes from distrust. Frequently, the distrust we speak of is from your own actions. While this might mak..."

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Mary made a visit to Jim and he mentioned it in his comments to me. Mary likes Jim :)!.

Here is Jim's comment he closed the post with:

Jeni, thank you so much. Your sister gave me an image of herself with folded angel wings on her. She said she needs to work on removing the "devil horns" before she can open them, and then broke out into a great laugh.

11-11-07

Today, 11-11 three years ago...

I saw you - I hugged you - I cherished you.....

It was early in the morning and you were just passing through, headed home from a hell with high hopes to put it all behind you and start anew!

I was there for you Mary! I saw you - I hugged you and believed in you!

Just passing through on your way home.... I was just a stop, a hug, a kiss and a lot of cheer!

I believed in you Mary! I know you knew....

What I didn't know was that day (11-11-07) was going to be our last hug and kiss. If I knew that - then let you go is not something I would do!

This day 3 years ago - I put in my heart to cherish: your hug, your kiss, that beautiful smile and the twinkle of yellow your green eyes shone. The look of hope was strong - despite the pain you had just endured! I believed in you...
Don't you worry my Mary - I still do!

Your love and energy melted my heart everytime sweet sister!

I just miss Y♡U! ✰◦.¸¸ღ.◦°˚*◦.¸¸.◦☼°˚ˆ*⋄∗∞Mary!

Words from Jim Fargiano

Every night I read Jim Fargianos "Spoken Words of Spirit" he posts for that day. But first I read his closing comments on the day before, thanking everyone for their comments and sometimes adding a personal note. It is so nice how he does that.

Well, his comment from the post the day before (the one I posted on my blog yesterday - 11/4/10), was directed at me! What a special gift - these words to me:

Jim Fargiano said...
Thank you Jeni. I think I have a pretty good idea about Mary. In her words, she is "cute, sassy, sexy and a lot of funny."

The Spoken Words of Spirit: Jim Fargiano Blog

The Spoken Words of Spirit: The Spoken Words of Spirit--November 4, 2010:
(Click on sentence above to read link to the blogpost)
"No harm can come to you when you learn to view every event in you life in a positive way. Even those things that may seem to be harsh lesson..."

I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did ~ amazing words!

My World

Everywhere I go
Everything I see
I'm never alone Mary
Your always with me!

In my heart you live
Through my eyes you see
My world is your world
Together you and me!