Unbroken

I have spent more time than I should this week thinking about broken-ness. I usually say "Everyone has a story." Each has tales of death, destruction, hope, fear, love, winning, loss, pain, grief, happiness...you get the picture. 

One of my favorite movies is We Are Marshall. Based on a true story, IMBd says;

 "On November 14, 1970, Marshall University's football team, its coaching staff, and many fans were killed when the airplane they were traveling on crashed on the outskirts of their hometown of Huntington, West Virginia. Virtually everyone in the community is in mourning and university president Don Dedman is torn when one of the players who did not travel with the team due to an injury pushes to have the team reinstated. Dedman eventually agrees and they hire Jack Lengyel as the new head coach. Building a team from scratch is a daunting exercise requiring many in the community to examine their values."

It is said by Kate Mara (a fiancee of a player that died):

"The sun rose and set, but the shadows remained. When once there was sound, now there was silence. What once was whole, now was shattered."

Our resilience can be astounding. With every fall, we rise. Covered in blood, sweat, and tears - we rise. We gather unimagined strength and rise.

My thoughts turn like the Tasmanian Devil on the Looney Tunes cartoon. And...and..and... I will spare you my lawnmower thoughts.

Everyone has a story. That much is true. We each share a story of courage, strength, even intelligence. That's OUR glory. We rose. Sometimes again and again. But rise we did.

Be proud of yourself. Feel accomplished. Feel strong. 

Jack Lengyel said to his players:

"How you play today, from this moment on, is how you will be remembered. This is your opportunity. To rise from these ashes and grab glory."

Grab it. It's yours. You earned it.

Peter Rothas penned in The Author's Endnote of the book A Slow Regard Of Silent Things:

"I cannot help but wonder how many of us walk through our lives, day after day, feeling slightly broken and alone, surrounded all the time by others who feel exactly the same way.

 

I am one of you. You are not alone. You are all beautiful to me."

Yep. Everyone has a story. Choose your ending. I choose strength, although I feel weak. Courage, although I feel insecure. Resilience, although I feel like I might crumble. And hope though, at times, I feel hopeless. 

I choose lots of hope.

My Joshua Tree

Super Bowl is this Sunday. I absolute-without-a-doubt love the game, gathering, food, and fun. My birthday is on the 2nd of February and I ALWAYS pretend the party is for me. 

One of my "kids" and Tyson's bestie is Josh Holms. He resides in Wyoming and makes it down every year for our shin-dig.

Josh isn't big on hugs, yet, since I am a HUGE hugger he reluctantly gives in to my demands. Don't get me wrong. It is NOT how you visualize a hug. It's more of a grab, turn your head, QUICKLY move forward, release kind.

At least I get one. AND it makes me VERY happy.

Josh and his sister Jenna have not had the easiest of lives. We have laughed with him. Cried with him. Mourned with him. Celebrated with him. And never, ever, EVER stopped believing in him. I used to worry about that kid. Not so much anymore. He is now DOCTOR Holms and is a professor at a University in Wyoming. I am VERY proud of him.

I have thought and thought and thought what to say about this boy. We are lucky to have him in our lives. I love him. I respect him. I honor him. I cherish him. I know every member of my family feels this way. I know his sister and her cute family feel exactly the same.

Maybe, just maybe, we are in charge. Fate doesn't reign. I think - no I KNOW - strength, power, kindness, fortitude, honor, intelligence, perseverance - everything positive - lies within. WE are the master of our destiny. Josh taught me that.

According to the .gov site of the National Park Service the Joshua Tree is:

"an important part of the Mojave Desert ecosystem, providing habitat for numerous birds, mammals, insects, and lizards. Joshua tree forests tell a story of survival, resilience, and beauty borne through perseverance. They are the silhouette that reminds those of us who live here that we are home."

Meet MY Joshua Tree.