Lissa-Like It-Or-Love It

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•  2 board games : A poker set and  Cranium
• Napkins and cups
• Coupons for free Coffee-Mate to serve at my event ( as well as share with my guests)
• NESCAFE  Taster's Choice samples to share with my guests
• Coffee-Mate samples to share with my guests

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Three years ago today I went to the flower shop and ordered a bunch of the most beautiful flower arrangements. Unfortunately they were not your typical Valentines bouquets. They were in honor and in memory of my Dad. Then I was off to the funeral home to make arrangements for the  memorial service.
I can honestly say it was not a great day for me. When you are slammed with grief, the last place you want to be is stuck in a flower shop surrounded by people "giddy" in love or sitting across the table from a solemn face man filling out tons of paperwork and writing an obituary. Unfortunately time travel was not an option for me. If so I would have gone straight to 4th grade when Mark S wrote on my Valentine that I was: the prettiest girl in the class and he liked me best. Life was good then. Sorrow hadn't truly touched me. Cardboard boxes filled with Valentines easily brought joy to my day. Now I get love notes that say "please wash my....etc." I am not a small child nor a young woman newly in love, so Valentine's day is one of the biggest, overrated holidays out there in my book.Most people run out at the last minute to get (and sometimes spend a fortune) on the perfect gift. I can't stand that. I mean Valentine's Day is always on February 14th. I prefer a gift with some thought put into it. Which brings me to my Dad.  Prior to the 14th, he knew he didn't have much time left. So he made sure that he got my mom a card and a gift for Valentine's day. He also made me promise him, that if he wasn't around on Valentine's day that I would buy roses for mom from him one last time should he not make it.  SO, on my way on home I stopped by another florist. I picked up a gorgeous bouquet of yellow roses tinged with red. Red for love, yellow for new beginnings. Just like daddy requested.  As you can imagine it was a very emotional moment when I gave her those last gifts from Dad. Bittersweet. Joy and Sorrow intertwined.






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It's been three years since  I last laid my head on your shoulder. I miss your hugs, smiles and words of wisdom. You set a high standard to live by, Dad.  Just in how you carried yourself, how YOU lived YOUR life. How blessed I was to have a Dad like you.  It is my hope that I can lead by example. If I can do half as good a job as you DID, I will consider myself a success. Please continue to send me some signs and visit me in my dreams.  Remember, Daddy's girls stay Daddy's girls forever. I LOVE YOU.

The House by the Side of the Road

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn

In the peace of their self-content;

There are souls, like stars, that swell apart,

In a fellowless firmament;

There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths

Where highways never ran;

But let me live by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

Let me live in a house by the side of the road,

Where the race of men go by;

The men who are good and the men who are bad,

As good and as bad as I.

I would not sit in the scorner's seat,

Or hurl the cynic's ban;

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

I see from my house by the side of the road,

By the side of the highway of life,

The men who press with the ardor of hope,

The men who are faint with the strife.

But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears 

Both parts of an infinite plan;

Let me live in my house by the side of the road 

And be a friend to man.

Let me live in my house by the side of the road

Where the race of men go by;

They are good, they are bad, they are weak,

They are strong,

Wise, foolish - so am I.

Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat

Or hurl the cynic's ban? -

Let me live in my house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

BY: Sam Walter Foss

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It's Wishcasting Wednesday and Jamie's prompt question for this week  is:
What Burden Do You Wish To Put Down?
My answer:  (Survivor's) Guilt
I don't care how old you are. Losing your only sister and then your dad eighteen months later does something to you. It messes with your mind. At least it has for me. I wonder sometimes what I have done that is so wrong in this life to deserve to be without them. I don't think they should have died so young. They were such rays of light and had much to offer this world. In my head I know I couldn't have saved them, yet I still beat myself up for not noticing the signs sooner. As if (in my Dad's case) I even had a chance of winning the battle against Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.  Then of course I start beating myself up for things I should have said or what I should have done  in all aspects of my life. I know how much my "sissy" and Daddy loved and appreciated me. They told me so. With their words, actions, in cards and letters. Grief has just done a number on me. Better yet, It is the potter and I am the clay. Constantly manipulating me.
I feel ashamed even as I write this.


My friend's beautiful five year old little boy has been diagnosed with cancer. It is going to be a long journey for this beautiful child and his family.  If I truly have one wish this week it is for Kaiden.  Please pray for him. Send healing vibes his way. Also if you would like to send  postcards to him and his 8 year old brother (Ashton) to brighten their day, please let me know or check out Cards for Kaiden to Kick Cancer - Technorati Family. We are hoping to "fill up the map" on a bulletin board of encouragement.








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