It's been a while.  I got out of the habit of blogging. Yikes! But I don't want to totally lose the blogging efforts so here's a short and sweet blog for the day.

"Our good intentions are often not perceived as such.  If this misperception happens often, the most useful thing we can do for ourselves is to see what part we've played in this unhappy  outcome. When we honestly discover our part, we will start to feel better."

"You are loved"

If you're a friend of mine on Facebook, it's likely you saw the note I found from my Papa LeRoux (My dad's dad). If not, it's below:

Dear Jaime Rae LeRoux,

Welcome to the World!!

Welcome to the Family!!

(LeRoux and Siefker)

Your name is very meaningful -  In French J'aime means "I Love" 

(Contraction of Je' (I) & aime (love)

Knowing your Mom & Dad and your lovely sister; your grandparents (Siefker & LeRoux); 

your aunts and uncles; your many cousins -

there will be much love in your life!!!

And you will soon learn that LOVE is best when Given!!!

And I'll take all you can give.

Your birth is evidence that God is not yet discouraged by man.

You can bet that one of these days very soon Grandma and Grandpa LeRoux will be down to hold you and love you - and Papa LeRoux will even change your diaper.

You are loved - enjoy your life.

Always love your Papa LeRoux

I cried when I read this. My Papa died when I was very young (7 to be exact). I have memories, only a few, of him.  I remember swimming with him at his pool in Florida.  I remember small things, like the way he smelled and certain things he said that are evident in my dad and uncle Craig (my dad's brother) today. 

What I love about this note are things that could be so easily overlooked. For example, "You will soon learn that love is best when given"  What great words.  What better it was, though, that his actions supported these words. I know this more so because of my dad and uncle. Their work ethic, their love, their demeanor...it is proof that my Papa was that way too.  What a great truth he wrote just two days after I was born. 

The other example that hits me so hard is the "You are loved". Wow. Maybe it doesn't impact you as it does to me. Think about it this way... when you are just two days old, someone says "you are loved". Here I am, nearly 28 years old and I'm reading, "you are loved".  Who doesn't want to hear that?

As much as this note impacts me, it humbles me even more to recognize that God loved me before I was two days old. He loved me before I was even created. And what is even better is that He loves me right now and He'll still love me tomorrow, ten years from now and when I'm no longer alive. Sometimes it takes something so simple as a note written 27 years ago to remind us of His great love for us. 

Finally, he said, "Enjoy your life". I wish I could share with him my life up to this point. I'd share my experiences as a competitive swimmer and the successes I had.  I'd share about how much my sister means to me and what a blessing she is in my life. I'd share about the great lessons I've learned from my parents. I'd share about my best friends during elementary, middle and high school, Amy and Kristina.  I'd share our inside jokes and how much they made me laugh. I'd share about college and about how I thought I was going to be a MTV VJ.  I'd share with him about the moment I decided that was not for me. I'd share about the moment I accepted Christ into my life and how in the depth of a valley He rescued me. (I know he'd be a proud Papa.) I'd share about meeting Adam and not thinking I'd be interested in him.  Then I'd share about Adam's laugh, passion, love, humor, patience, guidance, wisdom... and tell my Papa how truly happy Adam makes me. I'd share about my great employer and my job experiences. I'd share about how I'm a perfectionist and that it sometimes gets mistaken as controlling, but that deep down, I just want everything to be perfect for everyone and if I can make that happen, then I am happy. I'd share about my passion for animals and my loves, Hamm and Beans. I'd share about how I desperately want to have a child I can call my own and that I trust that God is big enough to make that happen. I'd share about my dreams.  

At the end of all of that... I hear him saying, "You are loved".

I'm so grateful for this note. As with anything from a family member who has passed away, it is a gentle reminder to live in the moment being grateful for our many blessings, loving deeply those around us and give God the glory for He is good!

I'll believe it when I see it.

I follow this blog pretty regularly.  Sometimes it is something I think is GREAT and other times maybe not so much.  Today was a great one.

Seth Godin has such a great perspective...I had to share.

Have a great weekend loving on your families and mom's.  I pray for a friend of mine who I found out was also struggling with infertility.  Small little "holidays" like Mother's Day always puts an added tension to the day. I pray she and I both will be able to love others deeply without a hint of jealousy.  I pray we give our hearts to God and we rejoice in the blessings we have - our mumsies. :)

Music to my ears

I've been loving my Pandora lately.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Coldplay - Fix You

Christina Perri - Jar of Hearts

Amanda Seyfried - Little House

Kris Allen - Falling Slowly


And my anthem right now:

Josh Wilson - Before the Morning