*Click on the day of the month for the daily quote.*

It is raining still... Maybe it is not one of those showers that is here one minute and gone the next, as I had so boldly assumed. Maybe none of them are. After all, life in itself is a chain of rainy days. But there are times when not all of us have umbrellas to walk under. Those are the times when we need people who are willing to lend their umbrellas to a wet stranger on a rainy day. I think I'll go for a walk with my umbrella....Sun-Young Park. 

Aren't Sun-Young Park's words so beautiful??? Of course, I never have my umbrella with me when it rains!!! I have this huge umbrella with little Tiggers all over it....a gift from my niece and nephew :-) It is definitely big enough to share....with a few strangers actually. 

I have just updated the quotes and added a few new categories. I also posted around three dozen new stories. A few of my favorites are listed below. As far as this month's calendar, I have posted "easy-living quotes"....words to encourage you to enjoy the moment. I hope you will be able to spend some time browsing through the new and old stuff....and I hope you have a wonderful April....

Friend, A

Life's Journey

Gift of Love, A

Mercedes, The

Starfish, The

Well, that was supposed to be "April's Calendar" :-) Short, simple....right to the point!!! I had decided to make April easy. I would just present quotes that are relaxing. You know the kind that remind us to enjoy life. But as the month has progressed, I have had a "change of heart"....if I have to think, then I want to share my thoughts with you :-) 

I need to say that even though I present truths which seem to say I have found the perfect solution to happiness....it doesn't just happen. I have found the solution through the quotes, but I still am ultimately responsible for how I feel each day. Just to go back a little. In December, I made a firm commitment to my faith and to my website.  However, I didn't stand behind those words until a few weeks ago....I was confronted with my words and convicted that I needed to "get busy" with my pages or leave them as they are and get busy "somewhere."

I started working on my website. I love all that I have posted....because it truly makes me see love as beautiful....and friendship as wonderful....and so I want to present that to all who "stumble upon" my site. All of you have made a difference in my life. Your guestbook entries, IM's, and emails are very encouraging. All this self-examination has brought me to the point of what to do for April....and I have been convicted by my thoughts....I need to "tell it like it is"....so I will try. 

March has been a growing month. I have had to stand by my words and spend countless hours at my computer. I have a program and just work, oblivious to the internet....when that used to be my life. I now can spend hours reading quotes and building pages just enjoying my computer. I have had some time off school....it was spring break. The weather was a little uncooperative for spring....but I managed to be outside a few days. Overall, it was a very nice week. I would like to say that all I keep trying to bring out here on my pages is that it really is up to us. Not what I do necessarily but how I do things each day makes a difference to my happiness. 

This month marks the two year anniversary of my website. I posted my first page of quotes two years ago while on spring break. I had one very long page of quotes with one song and I think three pics. It is so funny to remember the day I went online. I got everything ready....checked and rechecked the page and finally was ready to upload everything to the web. When I started looking for "how" to do that....well, "publish" wasn't one of the options!!! I can't remember "how" I did it, but it was basically an "accident" that my page ever made it up that day....or as I like to think Divine Intervention :-) I have grown a lot since that day....you might have noticed I now have my own domain. The space was graciously donated to me last month. I hope you are enjoying the ad free pages :-) Since I began the website to share what I was learning about love, I thought I would just list some of the things I have learned over this two year period...not necessarily that I am practicing these truths....but I see them. Hopefully that is a start. Thank you again for visiting. I hope you have a most wonderful April :-)

So what I have learned since building my website....

I have learned to use an atlas :-) My geography is getting better thanks to all of you :-) I am learning my way around the world as I meet different ones of you who visit regularly from around the globe. But don't ask me for local directions....I still get lost in town!!! I know where all the important stuff is....the park, the mall, the movies, Ryan's :-)

I have learned....there is an answer online for everything....almost....but you might not like the answer. 

I have learned there is a program for everything. Even though I now have the ability to program, I have found it to be sooo time-consuming. Unlike a friend of mine who says he is a perfectionist and loves to write his own code....I look for help!!! I have found some wonderful tools to assist in anything I need to do concerning my website. You might call it cheating....but I like to think of it as conserving time :-) I do things the easy way!!! Using programs makes working on my pages fun and easy :-) 

I have learned it is a very sad thing for a computer programmer to get hit with a virus. At least for THIS computer programmer....I simply refused to accept it. I was offline for three weeks....I finally gave in, restored our computer, and cried. Just kidding....I was too sad to cry. I ran a virus scan and it showed me all these little smiley faces that had infested my boot drive....I felt personally violated :-( I know a little dramatic, but remember I am always thinking someone did something to me :-) Anyway, all of July went by without me being able to get into my program....I had sooo much material collected....all in honor of Independence Day. I still as yet have not recollected all that was lost. I spent the 4th of July watching the fireworks and wishing I could have shared the day with all of you. 

I learned to keep my "waiting to be posted material"....posted. It is true I know that hosting companies get bugs....but so far, it is much safer than here on my computer. Thus far, all the host has done is shut me down for too many hits....a good thing sorta.

I also have learned to back up everything....which I already knew, didn't do and still don't. 

I have learned....really :-) that you should NOT trust email. Did you ever wonder why so many people ask "Did you get my email???" :-) I haven't quite figured out the answer to that yet :-)  From personal experience I am positive you do not ALWAYS receive a mailer dameon when an email is undeliverable. And worse....about a month ago I received an email addressed to a guy at hotmail.com from a girl at yahoo.com....yes, in my midnightangel308AOL.com mail. Nowhere on the email was my name or anything remotely similar....so if someone says "I wrote you an email"....it's possible :-) 

I have learned that the Internet truly is a wonderful tool if used properly :-)

I have learned "we are who we are" regardless of anything....as the quote says "a man is who he is when he is alone in the dark."

I have leaned to trust....my feelings. Both what I feel and what others I come in contact with inspire me to feel. To me without trust there is no relationship. I don't know what it is but there must be trust. 

I have also learned that when the trust is broken things can never be quite the same. 
There is one thing that we can do in any relationship that will sever the relationship beyond repair. That one thing is different in each relationship. As we get to know one another and become sensitive to other's needs, trust is built. When we test that area, we sometimes "mess things up" beyond repair. 

I have learned we are "enriched by our reciprocate differences" as Paul Valery says. Most of you know my feelings about Country music....it is sooo sad :-( Well as you know, I am constantly confronted with myself!!! This month in the midst of my search for songs....Garth Brooks appeared. And so I was curious. He has some very beautiful songs....so I have posted ALL Garth Brooks songs on the April calendar. I have to admit I am not familiar with the "real" thing, so if the songs posted are sad....due to the lyrics, I apologize....but it's not my fault :-) They "sound" good....

I have learned that it is true you get much more than what you give.

I have learned that "love is never having to say you are sorry" is actually a good quote. I used to hate it!!! But now I see that somehow love knows the other person is sorry....because "when you love someone the mere thought of hurting them breaks your own heart."

I have learned to observe love, and those who are in love seem to just enjoy each other....that's it....they need nothing. 

I have learned that couples have three lives and Patricia Frie's words are soo true "we need to be two whole people" happy alone in order to be happy together. We don't lose our identity in a healthy relationship. We are able to continue our life and build a future with the one we love at the same time.

This isn't from first hand experience, but rather observation. Quotes I have found and people I have met. Much from all of you....things you have shared. You could never know this....but always when one of you would share a personal experience with me, I was dealing with the same crisis. It has been truly amazing to me. As I have shared with many of you....I tend to see myself in what you write me. The negative usually. Something you are writing me about and I see I have been doing that very same thing :-( It's amazing sometimes...that you could find me and share something sooo meaningful to me at just the right time!!! But it happens. It also makes me seem "wiser" than I am!!! I just see myself and suddenly I can tell you why someone might be doing what they are doing....at least I know why I am acting like that!!!

I have learned to "listen for love"....it is spoken in many different ways.  I have a friend who said "I don't need to be yelled at I need to be understood"....and I thought of this story I have posted called "Listen For Love."  It has been posted in the quote archive for a while....I just moved it to stories.  It is all about hearing love in the words of those who love us....and below is a little piece from that story....

"LOVE is a happy thing.
It makes us laugh.
It makes us sing.
It makes us sad.
It makes us cry.
It makes us seek the reason why.
It makes us take.
It makes us give.
Above all else it makes us LIVE"....Unknown.

I have learned from the quote which started it all for me "love is friendship set on fire" that one day I will be meeting that one person who is all my friends in one. Not the one who loves all the things I do....but the one who loves me and so desires to be with me....it will just be fun. Not problem free....but wonderful to lean on each other and work together to make a life. I am starting to see also that this works BOTH ways. So one day I will have to reach out, make myself vulnerable and just love :-) Without thought of consequences....I still think. I read a profile once that said in Marital Status...."I'm still thinking....so I'm single." I can relate!!! There is a quote which says "love has no control, neither does the mind of one in love"....it's beautiful.

I have learned that quotes are very popular :-)

I have learned that.....

Love is beautiful. 
Love is very unique. 
Love loves always....even though circumstances change. 
Love truly does want the best for the other person.
Love causes us to forget ourselves and think of the other person.
Love gives without consequence of what will be returned.
Love is free.
Love is thoughtful.
Love is resourceful.
Love gives strength. 
Love also gives courage.
Love is always different....with each person.
Love is a friend.

I've learned that friendship is very rare....at least true friendship.

All of this started coming together for me when I read the quote "love is friendship set on fire" in November of '99....only it wasn't really just reading the quote. It was partly a result of the guy who had the quote posted. From the moment I contacted him....Bryan was different. I can't explain it really, but he was so giving. At first it was just like any other acquaintance....a meeting....but in no time he shared so naturally. I didn't see how really special his words were until months later. As I found friendship quote after friendship quote, I just kept thinking....this is Bryan. He knows how to be a friend....it was sooo beautiful. and as I have found so very rare. 

I have learned that friendship requires nothing. 

From Bryan I learned that sharing all that is in you truly is important....you don't know what the other person is actually listening for....or what they are actually hearing. I also learned that friendship doesn't try to impress it just shares and from the sharing we are impressed :-)

I have learned friendship shows respect....a necessary ingredient in any relationship. When we respect someone we may not understand them....but we believe them, trust them, and love them. Respect is awesome....

I learned that friendship just likes you.

I learned that friendship doesn't need constant attention. 

I learned that love does not necessarily foster friendship.... usually not :-) 
However, I have learned that friendship does foster love. As Charles Caleb Colton says, "Friendship often ends in love; but love in friendship, never."

I have learned love just loves....friendship just is. You can't explain them they are something you simply feel...."we love others for the way they make us feel."

So there is what I am learning....basically the importance of giving :-) Not giving from the abundance of what we have but giving from the abundance of who we are....

"You've touched people and know it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, no matter what your life feels like to you right now, you have something to give. It is in giving to one another that each one of our lives becomes meaningful"....Laura Schlessinger.

In conclusion I must add this....I have learned my freedom is NOT free. Many Americans are sacrificing a part of their daily freedom so I may enjoy my days as I choose. I realize this is a choice in this period of our history. However, now or at any other time in the history of America....we are free because of our military. Many have chosen to serve our country throughout the years and all of us who do not choose to serve reap the benefits. Serving in America's military is a life changing experience. And from the handful of people I know who serve or have served they are wonderful people. With a heart to give. I have a great respect for all who serve.

I have many quotes posted by people who believe differently than I on many issues. Their words have been encouraging to me even though we have different beliefs. However, recently I read a quote by Albert Einstein which was very disturbing. I admit I knew nothing about Einstein aside from the fact that he is considered a genius. At the time I couldn't tell you where the quote was taken from or what prompted him to say the words. Just that his words are contrary to all I believe about the military. Here are his words...."He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action! It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder." I think most everyone would agree with Einstein....war is terrible. But as "despicable" as war is....it is necessary to freedom. 

Originally I was going to post that I had removed all Einstein quotes due to his feelings towards those who serve their country. 

However, I have to say I have learned to not jump to conclusions so quickly....I did my research and learned that Einstein's Swiss citizenship gave him neutrality during war time. He actively voiced his distaste for  any type of violence to the point of saying "How I wish that somewhere there existed an island for those who are wise and of goodwill! In such a place even I would be an ardent patriot." However, in later years he renounced his pacifism due to the inhumane acts instigated by Hitler. Einstein wrote  a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, pointing out the possibility of making an atomic bomb and the likelihood that the German government was embarking on such a course. And due to his growing concern of nuclear warfare, he actually worked as a consultant for the United States Navy's Bureau of Ordnance during World War II. So I guess you could say....he redeemed himself and his quotes remain posted, at least the ones I could save :-) 

"A country is only as great as those who serve"....EVERYONE around the world knows America is great!!! Not because of our brutality, but our compassion. This past month, March 2002, General Tommy Franks was named person of the week. The quote below from Time.com refutes Albert Einstein's words and beautifully describes a true American "war hero" and our "real American soldiers." 

"Franks has been exactly what this war effort has required: Insistently realistic, never gloating, understated about victory and reassuringly honest about its inevitable costs. Throw in a touch of folksiness, some of the aw-shucks collar-tugging of an old artillery man blinking in the spotlight's white glare, and you have a fine war hero indeed. A real general, with real American soldiers on the ground under his command, — who realizes how fragile and precious a cargo that is"....Time.com in an article about Person of the Week: Gen. Tommy Franks.

"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid"....Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

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