Live love, love life.

Well, the weekend went by quickly, and it was nice that it wasn't as busy as some, and that we all had a chance to take a little nap today and have a nice homemade dinner together tonight. My mom and Dave came over with some gifts and DQ ice-cream cake, and they stayed for longer than usual which was nice. I think that I should start a game of UNO or something when guests come over or always have a puzzle going so that people feel engaged in something and that conversation will then come naturally. During our visit with Marge today, she said that her friend, Marty, who was our friend, Bait Shop Rob's, girlfriend, is lonely and has low self esteem because she lost her mom when she was very young and then had to move around a lot between relatives and hasn't ever had a great relationship. I pray that I take time to call her and get together with her and build a friendship. My young friend, Matthew, who is Haud's nephew, called me today from WI to wish me a happy Valentine's Day. It really means a lot to me that he thinks about me, and I need to send him cards and call him. I need to get in the routine of mailing 5-10 cards every weekend to friends and family. I read on facebook that our friends, Desiray and John, and their family returned home from China on Friday with their new adopted daughter, Lilyia, but that their other children are very sick and in the hospital. I pray that God protects them and takes away their pain and illness and gives them all a smooth transition with their new daughter who I believe is 4 and knows very little English. We just watched a talk show that was discussing John Mayer's racist comments in an interview, and I agree with them that he will lose many fans from his ignorance. I pray that he is transformed into an accepting and loving person who becomes truly sorry for his disrespect and that he doesn't just apologize as to not lose fans, hence money and continues to be so blatantly racist and hurtful. I am glad that my mom has Dave and that he is so good to her, and I pray that they continue to be so happy. I am thankful for friends like Echo and Brent Nuess and Kyle and Melissa who are helping watch the kids tomorrow night while we go to the show. I pray that John and I have a safe trip, that the kids continue doing well in school, and that the teachers continue having the internal passion to teach at the Christian School despite the small pay because we are so grateful for them. I pray that I take time to make or buy them some little gifts and write them some little notes of appreciation. My young friend, Matthew Gentry, is a little bit slow at academics, and I pray that he and his family really work on educating him and making learning a priority. He is older than Chloe, and he doesn't know his address. Maybe my letters will help with that. I pray that other kids are nice to him despite his little disabilities because everyone deserves to be treated with acceptance and love and to feel cared about and valued and a sense of belonging. TJ and Mara have some little speech difficulties, and I pray that I take the time to call AEA and set up some meetings with a speech teacher. I pray for Lilyia, Alison, Austin, and Parker. I pray that we take time to ask Mara's teacher for her friend, Lydia's phone number and invite their family over for dinner sometime. I think that God puts people in our lives, and that too often we don't realize that He wants us to put forth the effort to create and maintain a relationship with them. I pray that we all give thanks for all of our relationships on Valentines Day and everyday and not just with our one significant other because everyone needs to feel significant, and God wants us to love everyone just like He does, and we have to show this love because life is fragile.