husband

Reflecting…..

REFELCTING:

Many of you that know me and are closer to me, know I consistently work like 100 hours a week…..busy, can’t get into trouble, right?! haha! But keeps the mind busy, and I remember my mom used to say, “if you are awake, you are to be productive and profitable” — no lazy in our house! lol

But more this last week or so, I have always *known* to do this, but the last *while* found myself falling back into the routine of *skipping ‘me’* and just doing for everyone else…and so I have been taking more time off, granted only a little, but moments here and there for *just me*…..and it has been refreshing, and very much needed, I know….

And in that – I have reflected…..SO much has *changed through my life….I talked w a friend on my career and how 15 years ago, if you’d have told me I would be teaching and coaching others in life and business and traveling every month and speaking on stages all over the world to thousands of people, and companies and organizations would be calling me, hiring me to speak and train their employees and salespeople – I would have said you are crazy! (I was completely content w being the quiet cute little christian house wife w 4 kids and homeschooling and hiding behind my computer creating websites, branding and marketing for others and pushing them to the top) lol

Then talking to another friend, so much in my life has changed the last 5 years, many major losses, including my husband, father in law, my grand father, grandaddy-in-law, grandmother-in-law, our family dog of 13 years, my mom…..but also on the same, so many good things, getting my health back restored, my business tremendously excelling, meeting many incredible people and being able to connect others in so many incredible ways, SO many *God-winks* I cannot even begin to explain and relate, although I try to often and always try to remember to give Him the praise and glory….

When we truly *reflect* and get *out of ourselves* — many times we find we can quit focusing on the few things that *aren’t* as perfect as we want them to be yet, and be SO incredibly thankful and grateful for the many things that ARE way more than we ever thought they could be or would be………

Thoughts for the holidays…..

Maybe it is because of the holidays, maybe it is because it is coming up on the 5 year mark, (those of you that might be new to following me, or might not know, I lost my husband Bryan of 20 years, in a tragic car wreck 2/2/13 www.BryanDelk.com is a page I made for honor of his memory.) maybe it is because I finally decided this year to actually say “yes” to a date, and then a few more, and then after I thought it was going wonderful, I found it was not so much as I had thought, (and I know some people will say and already have that it was too soon, or whatever, etc, same thing, you don’t know unless you were there and walking in those shoes, I definitely would not have posted pictures and added in so many cards, had I known things would change, we/I thought it was going to be so, and then some things were realized, it is what it is) before you feel sorry for me, don’t….I teach all the time that we need to learn to be grateful and thankful in every thing, and I am grateful and thankful for someone coming along and showing me that I can actually have feelings again, as I had turned off my personal side of feelings for so many years….I mean, I am a great friend, great mom, great sister, etc lol and great in business, but I know I had made walls to my personal side, and he helped me walk through some of the steps to allow those walls to not be so hard, didn’t work out the way I had thought, and that is okay, I have prayed very hard for God’s perfect will in my life, and I believe if/when that is to happen, I will know, and I want it with all my heart only with God’s blessing….. and then maybe it is because just in general this time of year, we tend to all be a little bit more emotional in the first place.

I read an article today, from another lady, who lost a child, I had read it before, but funny how when you read something at different times, it effects you in a different way.

She talked about people making comments, unthoughtful, not knowing her or the situation…..I remember seeing comments on the news reports w Bryan too….they’d say comments cuz of black ice, he didn’t know how to drive, or shouldn’t have been out on the ice, etc….they didn’t know he was a cop for 16 years and trained how to drive….they didn’t know he was driving for fedex n trained to drive there as well, and they made him go to work because people *just had* to have their packages you know, they didn’t salt the roads cuz there wasn’t time and our city is not used to that much that fast, and they didn’t close the roads, till 127 wrecks that morning, with one fatality, and that was his, they didn’t know that Bryan slowed to avoid hitting a truck, (which he ended up hitting) because that truck slowed to avoid hitting a wreck that was in front of him, and then he slid into Bryan’s lane and right into the front of his van….*they just didn’t know* before they unthought fully commented….

I had met another man this year, that initially told me his wife had died 6 years ago, and thankfully, I think from being married to a cop and also being internet savvy, I know how to check things, and I do, and I found he was not – and was sickened to the thought of someone even saying that about someone else, if he had any true feelings for her – whether he wanted to cheat on her or not – he’d not even remotely say something like that. I couldn’t imagine what she would think, if she knew, not only that he cheated, but that he’d say something like that. Maybe cuz I am old-fashioned or whatever, but I don’t believe in that – but even if I did – I could never imagine saying that about someone that wasn’t – like wishful thinking in an awful way. I don’t know….Definitely pray for this man, and this woman, they need it.

Then I talked another man this week, that lost his wife of almost 30 years, just this year, and how he is having trouble dealing with emotions of this new walk, new steps in life. He talked about friends just not understanding…..and I tried to tell him, they can’t – they don’t….they can have empathy, they can have sympathy, and that is wonderful…..but just like after I walked through those steps, I got reached out to some other friends that were widows, and apologized for being an awful friend…I mean in reality, I know I wasn’t, I had reached out, I had sent cards, I had texted, I had called…..but you just don’t know, you don’t get it – unless you walk those shoes, and I truly hope and pray that most never know what I had to feel and go through.

I remember after the wreck, I got a call from the lawyers, they wanted me to sign a paper saying that it was okay to destroy the van he drove after they did all their legal stuff. I couldn’t do it. I don’t know why, but I just couldn’t, it was like signing something to say that I was okay with ending that part, making that *period*. I made an appointment, I went to go see the van, I made them let me take the tape off, and I remember I climbed in the van, I touched every part of the van that he might have touched, that last time. So many people warned me to not do it. I debated my own thoughts of doing it or not, but I knew I had a time-table if I was going to do it and be able to do it, I had to then, or never be able to. I chose to do it. It was hard, very hard, it was taped up like they left it that day at the wreck. There was still his blood all over it, there was glass shattered everywhere. I still climbed in it, sat in it, touched it all, cried for hours, till they finally came out and checked on me, and asked if I needed someone to come get me, as they were closing the lot, and I needed to go and they wanted me safe. I still never signed the papers, they moved forward I guess the same, I don’t know, I guess they had to right? lol, I just couldn’t do it.

I remember for months, even sometimes to this day, something exciting happens, or anything happens, that I would have normally called or texted him to tell him about, and I can’t…..same with my Mom….your spouse and a parent, some of the closest relationships you have in your life…..losing my Mom last year, I felt at first I was thrown back to day one, I couldn’t even deal with my emotions at the beginning. When I speak on stage at events you have your smile on, and helping others – I was good at that. I was not good at facing my own emotions. I have had to learn and pray and talk to God a lot these last few years with different things and trust and learn how to walk in these steps, these shoes He has given for me. I do know that for some reason, He trusts me with this, that in turn I will help others and help bring them closer to Him. I try to honor His trust and obey. I am not perfect and I fail every single day. But every day, I get back up and I try again, and I move forward again, and I take those steps, in those shoes again.

In this holiday season, and as this year comes to a close, and as we start to go into the new year, remember, the past is the past, we don’t live there – it is useful and I thankfully have lots and lots of very fond memories there, and I will always love and cherish them. I will learn from my past, I will grow from my past, and I will use that to launch myself in to my new future of this next year, being better than before, learning and growing and teaching others what I learn in the process to help them as well, personally and professionally, in this walk we call life.

Here’s to many blessings and prosperous beginnings in 2018,

Love and Gratitude,

Laurie

I found one of his notes to me

I found one of his notes to me…..he always wrote me love notes and put on my desk so I would see when I got to work…(a perk of having an office at home) lol
Oh how I miss him talking to me and sending me notes…after almost 5 years, still love and miss you every single day.

I’m sending you one more picture, since I didn’t think that either one turned out very good. That way you can pick the least worst one, ha ha .

I’m sitting here comparing my face in this picture to the pictures that I recently put up on the right side of the computer of us in the photo booth. It is so funny, I look like such a little boy in the ones from the photo booth ( I also can’t believe that I used to wear two necklaces at once – what a dork ! ) I used to hate looking so young, now I wish I wasn’t so old !

You, of course, look like God’s gift to men in those pictures! How I ever got you to go out with me is a mystery. We must have just recently gotten your engagement ring, you are trying so hard to show it off in the first two ; )

I had forgotten about that until I found the pictures again ( I knew exactly which one of the ten huge albums that it was in, by the way ) However I thought
that I remembered the pictures being black and white. I must have been thinking about the pictures of you and your friend Dawn in a photo booth ( also one of my favorites of you ) I think that my very most favorite picture of you is in photo album 1, you are wearing a red top with white sleeves, your hair is very curly and black, and you are smiling very big, with your eyes squinting and your braces showing ( very very sexy ) I’ve always meant to ask you where you were & how old you were in that picture, but I always forget to ask you the next time I see you, and also
I’m almost afraid to ask, in case an old boyfriend took the picture, or you cut him out of the picture(s) ( there are two of them ), because I wouldn’t want to ruin it for me.

Anyway, I am going to stop rambling now because I know that you have a lot of other mail that you have to read, and I don’t want you to have to spend all day on the computer.
I love you, Laurie. P.S. don’t let me sleep too long today, and be thinking of when you want to go to the gym. xoxoxoxoxo

Reflection

Funny…..(not really, but truth)….

How life can *hit* you *so much*…..

I have always been a *work-a-holic* — I am sure always will lol. My life is pretty scheduled, 7am-midnight almost every day. But, the last few years, with *so many* major and significant losses in my life….

Feb 2013 – husband of 20 years

July 2013 – My Grandpa (dad’s dad)

July 2013 – Our 13 year old Boxer “Bullet* family dog)

2014 – My Father in Law (who we took care of in our garage apt for many years)

2015 – oldest daughter diagnosed w cancer (she won! thank the Lord, and now healthy)

Mar 2016 – My Mom.

And through that – other close friends and family lost or major *issues*- has the reality of the *take care and spend time with those you love, and TELL them you love them, cuz you never know when you will get to again…..even friends….

And then also, even myself….for many years I lived for doing *for* everyone else, and I still do, and I think it is important, but I have also learned, and been hit w the reality, of not being someone’s wife, and kids getting older, not that I won’t always be their mom, but they need me *less* — of *who is Laurie, and what does *she* want and what is she *here for*?

Reflection can be a good thing…..do it…..and figure out what your plans are for the rest of your *dash* here on this earth, and what you are doing for you, and what you are doing for others, and what difference you are going to make in the world and the lives of others. <3

Grief – we all go through it, this is an interesting outlook….

(Posted by a friend, if you have any grief or know of anyone with it, please share, this is a great article, please read even if you are not going thru it, as one day you will, and if you remember this, I think it will help 😉 )

“My friend just died, I don’t know what to do”
“Alright, here goes. I’m old. What that means is that I’ve survived (so far) and a lot of people I’ve known and loved did not. I’ve lost friends, best friends, acquaintances, co-workers, grandparents, mom, relatives, teachers, mentors, students, neighbors, and a host of other folks. I have no children, and I can’t imagine the pain it must be to lose a child. But here’s my two cents.

I wish I could say you get used to people dying. I never did. I don’t want to. It tears a hole through me whenever somebody I love dies, no matter the circumstances. But I don’t want it to “not matter”. I don’t want it to be something that just passes. My scars are a testament to the love and the relationship that I had for and with that person. and if the scar is deep, so was the love. So be it. Scars are a testament to life. Scars are a testament that I can love deeply and live deeply and be cut, or even gouged, and that I can heal and continue to live and continue to love. And the scar tissue is stronger than the original flesh ever was. Scars are a testament to life. Scars are only ugly to people who can’t see.

As for grief, you’ll find it comes in waves. When the ship is first wrecked, you’re drowning, with wreckage all around you. Everything floating around you reminds you of the beauty and the magnificence of the ship that was, and is no more. And all you can do is float. You find some piece of the wreckage, and you hang onto it for awhile. Maybe it’s some physical thing. Maybe it’s a happy memory or a photograph. Maybe it’s a person who is also floating. For awhile, all you can do is float. STAY ALIVE.

In the beginning, the waves are 100 feet tall and crash over you with out mercy. They come in 10 seconds apart, and don’t even give you time to catch your breath. All you can do is hang on and float. After awhile, maybe weeks, maybe months, you’ll find the waves are still 100 feet tall, but they come further apart. When they come, they still crash all over you and wipe you out. But in between, you can breathe, you can function. You never know what’s going to trigger the grief. It might be a song, a picture, a street intersection, the smell of a cup of coffee. It can be just about anything….and the wave comes crashing. But in between waves, there is LIFE.

Somewhere down the line, and it’s different for everybody, you find that the waves are only 80 feet tall. or 50 feet tall. and while they still come, they come further apart. You can see them coming. An anniversary, a birthday, christmas, or landing at O’Hare. You can see it coming, and for the most part, you can prepare yourself. And when it washes over you, you know that somehow you will, again, come out the other side. Soaking wet, sputtering, still hanging on to some tiny piece of the wreckage, but you’ll come out.

Take it from an old guy, the waves never stop coming, and somehow you don’t really want them to. But you learn that you’ll survive them. And other waves will come. And you’ll survive them too. If you’re lucky, you’ll have lots of scars from lots of loves…..and lots of shipwrecks.”

60 Ways to make your marriage rock

60 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR MARRIAGE ROCK!

1. PRAY TOGETHER ALWAYS

2. READ THE SCRIPTURES TOGETHER ALWAYS
3. Go on regular date nights
4. Hide notes in secret places
5. Go to bed at the same time
6. Listen to music together-share ear-buds
7. Buy him gifts he will love
8. Revitalize the romance with intimate dates
9. Wear shirts that tell the world you love your spouse
10. Praise your spouse to other people
11. Read a marriage devotional
12. Sleep in his t-shirts
13. Renew your vows privately with whispers and memories
14. Renew them publicly with cake and bubbly

15. Go away together at least once a year

For Women Only
16. Hang pictures of the two of you around your house
17. Make his favorite dessert
18. Make sex a priority
19. Spend time apart occasionally
20. Learn to enjoy something he loves
21. Surprise each other
22. Meet him at the door
23. Text each other from across the room
24. Set reminders on your phone to remember him/her throughout the week
25. Call him right now and tell him you appreciate himFor Men Only
26. Leave work on time and come home early

27. Engage every day in meaningful conversation

28. Compliment each other

29. Take one day a month to make your spouse your total focus
30. Argue fair: avoid these words “you always” and “you never”

31. Kiss every day
32. Find tangible ways to serve your mate without complaining
33. Forgive quickly
34. Be honest.
35. Get on the same page: plan your budget together
36. Look your best as often as you can
37. Guard your marriage
38. Laugh together

39. When you are together-BE TOGETHER (take a break from phones, technology, etc)
40. Tell her she’s pretty, especially when she’s not feeling it

Both
41. Make each other breakfast in bed
42. Do her chores for her
44. Get a couple’s massage or host your own privately
44. Dance together-soft music (both of you alone) or rocking music with the kids
45. Exercise together- hikes, bike riding, etc
46. Choose not to be annoyed by an irritating behavior/disappointment from your spouse
47. Thank your spouse often even for the least reason or gesture

48. Lay in bed together and stare into each other eyes, without talking
49. Learn something new together-take an art class, cooking lessons, etc
50. Leave a sweet comment on the Facebook wall
51. Support each other’s goals
52. Bring her flowers/gifts (even when she says they are too expensive)
53. Wear something your spouse loves
54. Share furniture-sit in his lap
55. Fight for your marriage
56. Make a point to eat dinner together most days of the week.
57. Never let your spouse feel like they come second place to your career or any other thing.
58. Talk about your dreams and aspirations. Be supportive of each other and dream big together!
59. Maintain a united front as your motto: Meaning- “Me and you against the world.
60. Speak well of your spouse.

Remember your Spouse Rocks- Even when they don’t at the moment!

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