#52 Stories--Story # 20

How does your significant other let you know that you are loved?  How do you how your love to them in return?

I feel loved from Genius Golfer whenever he speaks of me to others in glowing terms.  He doesn't speak much, but I know without a doubt how he feels when she shares those kind words to others about me.  Occasionally he will bring me a little gift--or share a treat with me. I especially love it when he writes me a little love note of some kind--it doesn't even have to be sappy, just words of appreciation mean so much to me.

I try to show my affection by telling him regularly how much I appreciate him--especially when he does things that help me out. I have tried hard to focus my attention to him fully, rather than focus on my phone, tablet, TV or whatever else is going on around me--After all he is worth that and much more.

#52 Stories-Story # 18

What valuable lessons about love and devotion have you learned from the most successful marriages in your family--whether they're your siblings, parents, grandparents or even ancestors?

My parents are the most successful love story in our family.  We jokingly say they have been together forever already--and in a way they have been. They've been together since my mom was 14 years old and they have been married since 1964.

From them I  have learned that sometimes you may not always LIKE the person, but if there is love at the bottom of it all, everything and anything can be weathered together.

From them I've learned that you love someone fiercely--with no excuses to anyone else.

From them I've learned that you love someone through thick and thin--and everything in between.

From them I've learned that you never give up on someone you love.

I have learned from them that really loving someone means you'll have to forgive them many times and ask for forgiveness a lot too

From them I've learned that event he hardest things are easier together.

From them I have learned that with a good partner at your side you can do just about anything.

From them I've learned that when you love someone you also love their family--good, bad or ugly.

And from them I've learned that when you love someone that love doesn't go away when things get hard, or boring, or tough, or challenges arise, or things are going beautifully.  When you love someone, you choose to love them each and every day.

They are not perfect examples, but they are the best thing I have had to look to and see how to do this relationship-thing in my life.

Room for More?

Dear Friend Chris is in love, again. This time with a precious little angel by the name of Averie Belle. She was born last Tuesday. Chris is Averie's Auntie. Chris is also Connor's Auntie.

Prior to Averie's birth, Chris was worried that she couldn't possibly love another baby as much as she loved and adored Connor. I told her not to worry. When babies come into your life, your heart expands to include more love for them, rather than having to make another space for them in the love you already have.

Here, I will give you some examples:

See? There is ALWAYS room for loving a new baby. Until, you find that you love "borrowing" babies more than actually having them yourself, but that is a discussion for a different day.