A VERY belated birthday wish for Elder Adams

This is LONG overdue because I lost the photos....true story.  I thought I had saved them as austinbirthday.jpg but noooooo.... I couldn't find them because instead,  they were saved as aslambirtday.jpg. 

Don't ask, I have no clue.

ANYWAY........

A BIG happy Birthday

to our favorite missionary,

Elder Austin Adams!!! 

  

from:



Josh



Lindsey





Jared & Jordon



Cosmo's stand-in



and basicly ALL of the BYU Football team but they were to busy for pictures

WE LOVE YOU!!

This is LONG overdue because I lost the photos....true story.  I thought I had saved them as austinbirthday.jpg but noooooo.... I couldn't find them because instead,  they were saved as aslambirtday.jpg. 

Don't ask, I have no clue.

ANYWAY........

A BIG happy Birthday

to our favorite missionary,

Elder Austin Adams!!! 

  

from:



Josh



Lindsey





Jared & Jordon



Cosmo's stand-in



and basicly ALL of the BYU Football team but they were to busy for pictures

WE LOVE YOU!!

Now THAT's Love

I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out.

I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich.


I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts.


I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes.


And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night.


And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. (When Harry Met Sally)

Who is it in your life that you love like this?

let them know....

I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out.

I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich.


I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts.


I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes.


And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night.


And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. (When Harry Met Sally)

Who is it in your life that you love like this?

let them know....

A Good Man

The other day while running a few errands with my sister, my niece Jenna played a song for me. The song she played was "In My Dreams" by Charley Jenkins. It was a sweet song and as he sang the line "In my dreams, your dreams come true" all three of us did an "Ahhh!".

(I couldn't find a video on YouTube so here is a small audio clip of that verse)

At that moment,  right there in the car my cute niece, her mom & I all sighed and gave each other that look that only women understand.  It's the look you give a fellow woman when you see or hear something so romantic that no one has to say a word to understand that if any man said this same thing to you personally, you would lose all composure and fall in instant, mad, passionate love. 

Yep, all this is conveyed in one look.... It's a girl thing.

One of the most romantic things my husband ever said to me was:

"For the rest of your life, when ever you walk into a room full of other women, if you don't absolutely believe with all your heart, that not a single one of those women is loved more than I love you, then I have not done my job."

After a few bad experiences with the wrong guys, I almost missed out on Mr. Right because I had started believing that there was no way a good, kind, nice guy like that would be interested in me. I came with baggage.  I had fallen a few times and although I've always gotten back up after falling, I could only focus on the skinned up knees or the scars from all my falls.

It's that low self worth that causes us to "settle" for much less than we deserve.  What helped me then, and actually helps me still today,  was to listen to the people in my life whom I loved & respected.  When I have a hard time seeing myself as they do, I trust their eyesight instead of my own. When they tell me the skinned knees aren't noticeable or that the scars are part of what makes up true beauty, I trust them enough to believe.

Their view never lets me settle. 

Are you settling for less than you deserve? 

Ask the ones who have the best view of who you are on the inside. Trust what they see until you are able to get your eyesight checked.

Then you will see, as plain as can be, that you deserve to walk into a room full of other women, and absolutely believe with all your heart, that not a single one of those women is loved more than you by the man you have given your heart to.

I know a good guy can seem kind of rare
so let me remind you what one looks like.......

What is a good man?



Bogart & Bacall

 •A good man not only makes you feel good about yourself, he makes you feel special and unique in this world. He makes you happy more often than not.

•A good man understands that men and women are equal. He is looking for a partner, not someone to take care of him and to cook his meals and clean his bathroom. A good man respects you, and respects women.

•A good man has honor, a rare virtue in modern society. He respects himself and is striving to be a good person and create positive energy in the world. A good man doesn’t cheat and lie because he is afraid of being caught; rather he doesn’t cheat and lie because he is a man of honor and respects himself as such.

•A good man will hold your hand, and hold you. He will hold you when you cry, hold you when you’re sick, hold you when you look like crap- and tell you that you’re beautiful.


Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward



•A good man is mature. Boys will be boys, but boys aren’t men.

•A good man is confident in himself and in his place in the world, enough so that he can laugh at himself. A good man has a sense of humor.

•A good man has a giant heart and is kind to all, great and small. He is not only nice to those with more power who could help him out in return one day, but to small children, animals and waitresses as well. He is caring and considerate of your feelings, even when they don’t make sense.

•A good man realizes that strength and self-worth come from within, not from external factors like a fast car, fat bank account or big muscles.



Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier

•A good man holds the door for other people- not just for women he is trying to impress.

•A good man is not afraid to show affection, because he knows that giving a hug or displaying emotions does not make him less of a man. It makes him human.

•A good man splits the household chores 50/50; after all, you both ate the food and made the messes equally. A good man realizes that your time and work is just as valuable as his and does not expect you to clean up after him.

•A good man is not threatened by your success, because he is successful too- or at least striving for success. A good man knows there is enough success to go around.



Gordon & Marjorie Hinckley

•A good man offers his seat to old people, pregnant women or mothers on the bus.

•A good man is your fan, and lets you know this on a regular basis with words and actions. His emotional support makes you a stronger person, which does not threaten him at all, because he sees you as a team, not as competitors.

•A good man loves his mother. Men who do not love or respect their mothers either do so without reason (which is bad) or for a specific reason (which is worse).  A man who does not love, honor and respect his mother has issues that you cannot fix.  Don't even try.



My Hubby & I

•Most of all, a good man makes you want to be a good human, to take care of yourself and to try new challenges. A good man makes you want to be a better you.

Remember, although people can certainly change themselves, no one can ever change anyone else. You will never be able to change a man, and it is better to be alone and searching for your true match than stuck with a guy who doesn’t hold your hand, who doesn’t give his seat to old ladies on the bus, and who doesn’t make you feel like you are special.

Because you are special, and you deserve a good man.

 

The other day while running a few errands with my sister, my niece Jenna played a song for me. The song she played was "In My Dreams" by Charley Jenkins. It was a sweet song and as he sang the line "In my dreams, your dreams come true" all three of us did an "Ahhh!".

(I couldn't find a video on YouTube so here is a small audio clip of that verse)

At that moment,  right there in the car my cute niece, her mom & I all sighed and gave each other that look that only women understand.  It's the look you give a fellow woman when you see or hear something so romantic that no one has to say a word to understand that if any man said this same thing to you personally, you would lose all composure and fall in instant, mad, passionate love. 

Yep, all this is conveyed in one look.... It's a girl thing.

One of the most romantic things my husband ever said to me was:

"For the rest of your life, when ever you walk into a room full of other women, if you don't absolutely believe with all your heart, that not a single one of those women is loved more than I love you, then I have not done my job."

After a few bad experiences with the wrong guys, I almost missed out on Mr. Right because I had started believing that there was no way a good, kind, nice guy like that would be interested in me. I came with baggage.  I had fallen a few times and although I've always gotten back up after falling, I could only focus on the skinned up knees or the scars from all my falls.

It's that low self worth that causes us to "settle" for much less than we deserve.  What helped me then, and actually helps me still today,  was to listen to the people in my life whom I loved & respected.  When I have a hard time seeing myself as they do, I trust their eyesight instead of my own. When they tell me the skinned knees aren't noticeable or that the scars are part of what makes up true beauty, I trust them enough to believe.

Their view never lets me settle. 

Are you settling for less than you deserve? 

Ask the ones who have the best view of who you are on the inside. Trust what they see until you are able to get your eyesight checked.

Then you will see, as plain as can be, that you deserve to walk into a room full of other women, and absolutely believe with all your heart, that not a single one of those women is loved more than you by the man you have given your heart to.

I know a good guy can seem kind of rare
so let me remind you what one looks like.......

What is a good man?



Bogart & Bacall

 •A good man not only makes you feel good about yourself, he makes you feel special and unique in this world. He makes you happy more often than not.

•A good man understands that men and women are equal. He is looking for a partner, not someone to take care of him and to cook his meals and clean his bathroom. A good man respects you, and respects women.

•A good man has honor, a rare virtue in modern society. He respects himself and is striving to be a good person and create positive energy in the world. A good man doesn’t cheat and lie because he is afraid of being caught; rather he doesn’t cheat and lie because he is a man of honor and respects himself as such.

•A good man will hold your hand, and hold you. He will hold you when you cry, hold you when you’re sick, hold you when you look like crap- and tell you that you’re beautiful.


Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward



•A good man is mature. Boys will be boys, but boys aren’t men.

•A good man is confident in himself and in his place in the world, enough so that he can laugh at himself. A good man has a sense of humor.

•A good man has a giant heart and is kind to all, great and small. He is not only nice to those with more power who could help him out in return one day, but to small children, animals and waitresses as well. He is caring and considerate of your feelings, even when they don’t make sense.

•A good man realizes that strength and self-worth come from within, not from external factors like a fast car, fat bank account or big muscles.



Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier

•A good man holds the door for other people- not just for women he is trying to impress.

•A good man is not afraid to show affection, because he knows that giving a hug or displaying emotions does not make him less of a man. It makes him human.

•A good man splits the household chores 50/50; after all, you both ate the food and made the messes equally. A good man realizes that your time and work is just as valuable as his and does not expect you to clean up after him.

•A good man is not threatened by your success, because he is successful too- or at least striving for success. A good man knows there is enough success to go around.



Gordon & Marjorie Hinckley

•A good man offers his seat to old people, pregnant women or mothers on the bus.

•A good man is your fan, and lets you know this on a regular basis with words and actions. His emotional support makes you a stronger person, which does not threaten him at all, because he sees you as a team, not as competitors.

•A good man loves his mother. Men who do not love or respect their mothers either do so without reason (which is bad) or for a specific reason (which is worse).  A man who does not love, honor and respect his mother has issues that you cannot fix.  Don't even try.



My Hubby & I

•Most of all, a good man makes you want to be a good human, to take care of yourself and to try new challenges. A good man makes you want to be a better you.

Remember, although people can certainly change themselves, no one can ever change anyone else. You will never be able to change a man, and it is better to be alone and searching for your true match than stuck with a guy who doesn’t hold your hand, who doesn’t give his seat to old ladies on the bus, and who doesn’t make you feel like you are special.

Because you are special, and you deserve a good man.

 

The Brick

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar.

He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.

As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!

He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What the hell was that all about and who are you? Just what the hell are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?"

The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but didn't know what else to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..."  With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me." Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out his fancy handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay.

"Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger.  Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. 

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message:

 "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!"

 

God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, so He has to figuratively throw a brick at us. We can listen to His voice or we can watch for flying bricks. 

It's our choice.

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar.

He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.

As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!

He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What the hell was that all about and who are you? Just what the hell are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?"

The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but didn't know what else to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..."  With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me." Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out his fancy handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay.

"Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger.  Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. 

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message:

 "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!"

 

God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, so He has to figuratively throw a brick at us. We can listen to His voice or we can watch for flying bricks. 

It's our choice.

The Final Analysis

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; 
Be kind anyway.


If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.


If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.


What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight;
Build anyway.


If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.


The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.


Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.


You see, in the final analysis, it is all between you and God;


It was never between you and them anyway.

 -Mother Theresa-

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; 
Be kind anyway.


If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.


If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.


What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight;
Build anyway.


If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.


The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.


Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.


You see, in the final analysis, it is all between you and God;


It was never between you and them anyway.

 -Mother Theresa-

Attitude is Everything

Read this and let it really sink in...then choose how to start your day tomorrow...

Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Michael and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"  Michael replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, 'Mike, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood.

"Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.  "Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."

"Yeah, right, it isn't that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," Michael said. Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. "The bottom line is: It's your choice how you live life."

I reflected on what Michael said. Soon thereafter, I left the tower industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that Michael was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Michael was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

I saw Michael about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins.  Wanna see my scars?"  I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gonethrough his mind as the accident took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was the well being of my soon-to-be-born daughter," Michael replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.

Michael continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'He's a dead man.'

I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Michael. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity.' Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live.

Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead'."

Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

 

Read this and let it really sink in...then choose how to start your day tomorrow...

Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Michael and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"  Michael replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, 'Mike, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood.

"Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.  "Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."

"Yeah, right, it isn't that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," Michael said. Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. "The bottom line is: It's your choice how you live life."

I reflected on what Michael said. Soon thereafter, I left the tower industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that Michael was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Michael was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

I saw Michael about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins.  Wanna see my scars?"  I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gonethrough his mind as the accident took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was the well being of my soon-to-be-born daughter," Michael replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.

Michael continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'He's a dead man.'

I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Michael. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity.' Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live.

Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead'."

Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

 

Suddenly - Everything you need

Who is this in your life?

Who is this in your life?

quotes I loved this week

Obama Pardons Turkey and so does June

The first headline I saw today in the news was

"Obama Pardons Turkey!" 

and it inspired me to do the same.

 

Tomorrow is the official day of gratitude here in America.  We celebrate by eating turkey and lots of other yummy food.  Thanksgivng is when we stop our busy lives for a moment to recognize how many things we have been blessed with and give thanks. 

Tomorrow is a holiday, but today I think our President just might be on to something pretty cool.  So, thank you Mr. President for doing just what you promised to do for your fellow Americans..... Make my life a bit better.

I would like to pardon those few people in my life that have ended up being real turkeys.  I pardon those who have knowingly & intentionally hurt, offended or disregarded the feelings of myself or those I love.  I not only pardon you, I also forgive you.  I'm letting it go..... so that tomorrow, when I am sitting with my family and loved ones I will look around happily and count all my many blessings,  I can add the fact that I survived you to the very top of my list. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

The first headline I saw today in the news was

"Obama Pardons Turkey!" 

and it inspired me to do the same.

 

Tomorrow is the official day of gratitude here in America.  We celebrate by eating turkey and lots of other yummy food.  Thanksgivng is when we stop our busy lives for a moment to recognize how many things we have been blessed with and give thanks. 

Tomorrow is a holiday, but today I think our President just might be on to something pretty cool.  So, thank you Mr. President for doing just what you promised to do for your fellow Americans..... Make my life a bit better.

I would like to pardon those few people in my life that have ended up being real turkeys.  I pardon those who have knowingly & intentionally hurt, offended or disregarded the feelings of myself or those I love.  I not only pardon you, I also forgive you.  I'm letting it go..... so that tomorrow, when I am sitting with my family and loved ones I will look around happily and count all my many blessings,  I can add the fact that I survived you to the very top of my list. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

words of wisdom

The most selfish 1 letter word - I - avoid it.

The most satisfying 2 letter word - We - use it.

The most poisonous 3 letter word - Ego - kill it.

The most used 4 letter word - Love - value it.

The most pleasing 5 letter word - Smile - keep it.

The fastest spreading 6 letter word - Rumor - ignore it.

The hardest working 7 letter word - Success - achieve it.

The most enviable 8 letter word - Jealousy - distance it.

The most powerful 9 letter word - Knowledge - acquire it.

The most essential 10 letter word - Confidence - trust it.

The most selfish 1 letter word - I - avoid it.

The most satisfying 2 letter word - We - use it.

The most poisonous 3 letter word - Ego - kill it.

The most used 4 letter word - Love - value it.

The most pleasing 5 letter word - Smile - keep it.

The fastest spreading 6 letter word - Rumor - ignore it.

The hardest working 7 letter word - Success - achieve it.

The most enviable 8 letter word - Jealousy - distance it.

The most powerful 9 letter word - Knowledge - acquire it.

The most essential 10 letter word - Confidence - trust it.

What Does Love Mean?

A group of professional people posed this question to a group

of 4 to 8 year-olds,

"What does love mean?"

The answers they got were broader and

deeper than anyone could have imagined.

See what you think:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all even when his hands got arthritis, too. That's Love. Rebecca - age 8
When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4


"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Karl - age 5


"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French Fries without making them give you any of theirs." Chrissy - age 6


"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4


"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7


"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss" Emily - age 8


"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age 7


"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate." Niki - age 6
 "Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." Noelle - age 7


"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - age 6


"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." Cindy - age 8


"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Clare - age 6
 "Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine-age 5


"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7


"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." Mary Ann - age 4
 "I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - age 4


"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you" Karen - age 7

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."Mark -age 6"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget," Jessica - age 8

And the final one --

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. (Now this will melt your heart.)

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."

A group of professional people posed this question to a group

of 4 to 8 year-olds,

"What does love mean?"

The answers they got were broader and

deeper than anyone could have imagined.

See what you think:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all even when his hands got arthritis, too. That's Love. Rebecca - age 8
When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4


"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Karl - age 5


"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French Fries without making them give you any of theirs." Chrissy - age 6


"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4


"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7


"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss" Emily - age 8


"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age 7


"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate." Niki - age 6
 "Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." Noelle - age 7


"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - age 6


"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." Cindy - age 8


"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Clare - age 6
 "Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine-age 5


"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7


"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." Mary Ann - age 4
 "I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - age 4


"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you" Karen - age 7

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."Mark -age 6"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget," Jessica - age 8

And the final one --

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. (Now this will melt your heart.)

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."