Thanksgiving: Who Has Been Your Human Angel?

Recently the Daily Om newsletter wrote about Human Angels, those people who step into our lives at just the right moment to offer just the perfect, most needed thing.

Immediately, I knew that Greg has been my angel.

Maybe it's one of the nicknames I gave him, Angel, that gave it away. Maybe it's because since our early days I've been telling him, "You're my angel."

But mostly, I know it's true, because from the moment I met him, my life has changed dramatically for the best.

I credit his love and support for saving my life. With him by my side, I've healed from an almost deadly chronic fatigue to radiant health. From a depressed and dreadful pessimist, to a sunny, optimist whose playful passion comes out to frolic daily.

And this past year has been no different.

Even through my dramatic spiritual awakening that neither of us were prepared for, his love held strong. Even when I started talking about all manner of spiritual things, which being the eternal logical type, he still can't grasp or believe- his love keep us tightly together.

And this all happened a few months before we were supposed to get married! He just jumped into the fire, fully expecting that we'd sink or swim together.

His love holds no room for doubt.

What a truly amazing gift!

And having that anchor, that steady, strong, unwavering love, has allowed me to continue blossoming into the healer and teacher I am called to be.

Without him, I am not sure I would have made it this far. I KNOW I would not have been able to come so far, so fast.

I know he considers me something of his angel too. I'm not so sure about that!

But I know the gifts that he gives to me could come from nothing less than an Angel.

Thank you Greg, with all of my heart and soul, for giving me back to myself and for helping to make my dreams come true, every day.

With you by my side, I deeply know that everything is possible- through the beauty of our pure, sweet love.

You truly are my angel.

Readers: Who has been your angel? How have they helped you? Big or small? Thank them here!

Date Line: Des Moines

What is this? A note?

Unfortunately, I have to travel on occasion. And when I do, I always miss Jenn. We talk on the phone but it still isn't the same as being with her.

Before we started this blog, we would write "love notes" to each other every weekday morning, without fail. However, when I would have to leave for a business trip we couldn't maintain our ritual.

One day, however, when I was unpacking my clothes at my hotel, I noticed a bright yellow-green recipe card. On the card was a quick note from Jenn. Nothing long, just a quick note saying that she loved and missed me.

But that wasn't all. The more I unpacked, the more notes I found. It turns out that Jenn had snuck into my luggage and hid a bunch of short notes telling me what she loved about me, what she was missing about me and how she couldn't wait until I came home.

Jenn had found a way to continue our ritual, even when I wasn't home. She went out of her way to make sure I felt loved and adored and not so lonely. And it worked.

What does your sweetie do for you when you go out of town? Please share.

Early Morning Chicken Inspires Me!

Gosh, I feel so grateful today!

My husband had to leave the house today at 8am for a flight out of town.

And before he left, he cooked me chicken!!

So I would have something to eat while he was away!!

Who does that before 8am?

He does. Because he loves me. And he's such a giver.

That is just so darn thoughtful and generous!!! It amazes me.

I admit, I am learning from him how to be more selflessly giving like that.

He inspires me to step into my Highest Self. To embody more beautiful traits- even if I am not in the mood, or it's not easy.

That is an even bigger gift than cooked chicken!

What traits does your partner inspire you to embody more fully, through their example?

Please share.

Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

What in the world is Bell's Seasoning?

I grew up in the heart of the Mountain West and Jenn grew up in New England, so needless to say, our tastes in food are quite different.

Jenn grew up eating lobster while I grew up eating burritos.

She thinks cracked black pepper spicy enough while I can't get enough hot green chili.

My mother, the daughter of a mining engineer, grew up in far flung places in the Orient so I learned to eat all sorts of exotic food at a young age. Jenn's folks are stanch New Englanders so meatloaf, chowder and mashed potatoes were staples on her table as a kid.

You might think this disparity of food experience makes it hard for us to agree on what to eat.

But it doesn't.

We like sharing our lives with each other.

Not just our lives together, but our lives before we met too.

And that means trying food that the other person likes.

Last weekend we got a package from Jenn's Mom. The package contained Bell's Seasoning. I have never heard of it and it isn't available here in Colorado.

But Jenn swore that Bell's is the key to the perfect meatloaf.

So when we were at the store next, we bought all the ingredients Jenn needed to make meatloaf and mashed potatoes, rushed home and made one of Jenn's favorite childhood meals.

I'll have to admit that I couldn't really tell the difference between the meatloaf with the Bell's and the meatloaf she made before with out it.

But that really wasn't what was important.

What was important is that Jenn was sharing a piece of her childhood with me and I'm grateful to be able to experience it with her.

What does your sweetie do to share parts of their childhood with you?

Do You Know What's On Tonight?

The other day I was on the phone with Greg, who was at work.

He says, "Do You Know What's On Tonight?"

On TV that is.

Actually, I had no idea, "No, what?"

And Greg says, "The CMA's!" AKA Country Music Awards.

I had asked him to tape it for me the previous week. And sweetly, he did.

But even more sweetly- he REMEMBERED!

You might not think that is remarkable- but here's why it is:

Greg HATES, hates, hates country music.

He only remembered because he knows it's important to me.

And in a show of soulmate solidarity- he even watched them with me!

Plus, to his credit, he only slightly rolled his eyes when I squealed with delight as Kenny Chesny took the stage.

Now that's love. Real love.

What does your partner remember for you?? Please share!

For the Love of a Man, or an Ice Man

FLAP, FLAP, FLAP! (Ears flying everywhere)

What was that? Oh no, not Ice again.

For some strange reason, our Greyhound Ice Man
(and no I don't have some unhealthy infatuation with Top Gun, that's the name he came with from the rescue) has been getting up at two or three o'clock in the morning recently.

He doesn't necessarily need to go to the bathroom. It's almost like he's bored or something. What ever the reason, he's up, which means one of us has to get up too.

Now luckily for me, Ice has formed a strong bond with Jenn. Stronger, in fact, then his bond with me.

So when he wakes up, he always goes to Jenn's side of the bed first. This means that Jenn gets to take him out, right?

Not really. Ice is my dog and my responsibility.

And Jenn would have every right to wake me up to tell me to take him out, especially since Jenn loves sleep more than life itself. But you know what?

Jenn usually takes him out, especially during the week when I have to go to work in the morning. And I really appreciate that because sleep seems to be in short supply in our house.

In reality, Jenn takes Ice out to help me out.

It allows me to either stay asleep or fall back to sleep quickly, which makes my mornings much more tolerable. If I had to get up and let him out, it would cut my five or six hours down to just four or five.

I really appreciate Jenn getting up with Ice and taking such good care of him and me.

What does your sweetie do to help you out? Please share.

Honey, Look!

"Honey, look over here..."

That's one of the sweetest, most thoughtful phrases Greg says to me.

That's because it's always followed by something he knows I will like.

Like a pretty sunset.

A gorgeous moon.

Our greyhound galloping.

The ponies frolicking.

But it's especially touching when he's pointing out something he doesn't even LIKE, just because he knows I'll find it adorable.

Like our new kitty, Joie. Greg hates cats, but he knows I'm all mushy for this one.

So he always tells me to look when Joie's being especially cute.

It touches me so much to know that he just likes to make me smile, so he's always on the lookout for anything that will make my heart melt.

Gosh, how does a man get so thoughtful!?

I've won the man lottery with this one!

What does your partner draw to your attention to help make you smile?

Please share.

Jenn, The Artist. Not

You know how when a 5 year old bounces up to you and proudly shows you a drawing, most people exclaim, “Wow, what a beautiful picture! You’re a great drawer!”

And the little kid leaves beaming. Feeling confident that indeed he is a wonderful artist, even though he colors mostly outside the lines.

In fact, done over time, that’s how all of us build our self-esteem and learn to feel worthy inside.

Just now, I realized that is what Greg does for me all the time!

I just finished drawing and coloring a garish rendition of the new barn I hope we’ll be building next spring. See pic above.

Putting colored pencil to paper is one way I work on manifesting my heart’s desire. I put my goal in vivid color. Then I post the colorful drawing where we see it every day.

I’m not quite sure how I was a better artist when I was 12 then I am today, but let me tell you, these drawings are never pretty.

Somehow, it never comes out looking like it did in my mind.

Frankly, it disappoints me.

But then along comes Greg, and he’ll always exclaim, “What a nice picture. You’re such an artist.”

And I know it’s not true. I mean, I have eyes. They work.

But even though I know this praise isn’t objectively earned, in the same way the 5 year old’s “outside the lines” isn’t truly well done, it still feels good.

Strangely good.

Maybe the words speak to my inner 5 year old and tell her, “Hey, whatever your natural skills, you’re still perfect to me, just the way you are.”

And knowing that makes me feel loved, and safe, and it builds my strength to go out and do things, try things, even if I’m not so good at them.

Maybe that’s part of what makes a great relationship.

You build each other up, and knowing that just one other person thinks you are great, makes you reach for your own greatness.

Because even if you fail, you know it won’t make a difference in their eyes.

And even more, knowing your partner will stand up with you, proud of your efforts, even if they aren’t the most successful.

Just the way Greg says “No, leave the picture up.” Even when we are having company over.

He’s not embarrassed by my childish drawing because it represents a dream. Our dream. That together, we’ll bring to reality.

In what way does your partner build you up so you’ll reach for your greatness?

Please comment.