Hi all, it’s been a few days since my last post. My wife and I had an invite to visit friends in Naples so we went. Oh, by the way it was Naples Maine :). See, I got yah.Lol
We were invited a few weeks back and Janet was tentative on going because work for her is very busy. She worked overtime and felt comfortable that she could go. So, Thursday we hopped in the car for our 3 hour ride. It was nice getting out and breaking the routine. I always have silent concerns whenever I leave my everyday environment. There are so many obstacles in my day. I have accepted them, I do not like them and most importantly I don’t like imposing the limitations on others I am with.
We arrived at Sticky lake at around 10:00 a.m. and my first observation was I can get into the house. I was so releived. The home was a sprawling 5 bed, 4 bath home sitting on a large lot lake front. It was so quiet that nature was screaming . It was beautiful. They had a beautiful deck that was off of the large kitchen and family room. The view was so beautiful. I could not get down to the beautiful yard and tables nor could I get to the dock to sit on the lake but I was fine up on the deck watching the goings on and soaking up the environment the smells, the fresh breeze etc.
Everyone offered to bring me down there but I was truly happy keeping it simple just staying put. There were 3 generations of our friends family up there together. During my visit there different family members would take a break away from hikeing , boating, reading etc and they sat and chatted with me. They all knew about my story through my wife. But, we had not had the opportunity to speak before alone. So, as we sat we spoke more. Each one of the people at that home were different yet they were kind and respectful to each other and to us their guests.
I thought that it was beautiful that their family did not appear to have  any under current of tension. If they did it was not expressed.
After being on the deck for quite some time I needed to change my bodies position and went into the family rooms couch. It was quiet and I could hear my wife’s laughter with her friends way out yonder on the dock. The breeze was  blowing in off the water through the slider and the smell and freshness of pine was so fragrant. I was thinking I really want to go down with my wife but I did not want to bother others.I thought to myself. They are having fun, it’s fine for me to stay there. And, I was right  not to bother them. In life we can’t have it all. I really was just enjoying watching my wife sit and laugh and enjoy herself this way. That was to be my pleasure. So, I was happy.
I spent quiet time there on that sofa in this beautiful place. I prayed for them and so many others that I knew. We knew the couple who invited usas we arrived and left with many more New friends. I spoke about God, Faith and family with them and i was very inspired by them all.
Another thing that touched me was how much their pets were part of their lives. One of the dogs was a yellow lab named goober. He was so cute, and had beautiful golden colored eyes. He spent his day hiking with his master Mark, boating and keeping us company. The other dog I met at a cookout years back he is a black lab named Cooper. back then he was running around chasing another dog named Lucy. Cooper is a mature senior dog who is near his end. He is all gray but he still struggles and come to you and wants to please his master.
I watched his owner Elaine, giving him back the love and care that is has given her for 15 years. She was massaging his stiff joints and carrying him down to the lawn so he was safe. What really got me was this, while I was witnessing life from the sofa I saw Elaine putting a life jacket on her friend. It was designed for dogs and had a handle on top to hold. So she and her baby as they call him Cooper went in for a swim her holding him up to help him.
Later on when they came back in I told her what a beautiful thing it was to witness.I told her it brought tears to my eyes. She smiled and said she wanted him to have one last swim in the lake. Very touching.
God made man he then made animals and gave us dominion over them. Some of these animals were meant to be our companions and protectors.Others are called to be service dogs.
I love my pets and animals and know that God expects us to serve them and love them in return. They deserve it.
What it comes down to it for me is this Cooper and I currently rely on a lot of love and support. We are not that different really. We are all creatures of God.
To my friends, my wife and of course to Cooper and Goober thanks for a wonderful couple of days :). I witnessed God in all of the people there. It was a pleasure seeing and meeting them.
God made us as individuals but we all need oneanother.
Beautiful Song,  Jesus is with us every moment of everyday. But we as a people all await the day that is written when he will return to us all. To lead his remnent church here on Earth. So we wait and in the meantime we try to help eachother and live a life full of love, hope, joy and faith. Amen . Life is good. ! 🙂
It is written that none of us knows the day, the hour or the minute that Jesus does return. It could be in a minute or 1000 more years. God knows! 🙂
I selected this song today for all of us guy or girl we all feel this way as young ones in a hurry to get out of Dodge and our life situations:) Â It seems as if it is just part of the course of growing up.
And then on the other hand we as the moms and dads are standing there witnessing the same life events that our parents did with us.
Live  reveals so many different situations where we suddenly understand where our parents were coming from. The I sound like my mother or father moments. 🙂
With 2 of my kids out, I hear them talking and speculating on their desires in different ways. But isn’t it beautiful to see a fresh dream born of hope and love materialize before our very eyes.
it is a joy seeing it and hearing it. As, a parent I will pray all the way for their desires. I will always come back to my core value with my kids and those that I love. Like you all.
Keep it simple and put God in the middle of every decision you make, pray on it so nothing is done in haste.
I look at my life and realize the memories are part of the person I am now in this moment. I miss the good old days but I look forward to all of the new experiences that are brought our way. Our children carry us into tomorrow with dreams for families someday too. We as parents and as humans get to become something new everyday through our children and loved ones lives but we also can make that decision to evolve in the likeness to God by volunteering and being there for someone else too. Life doesn’t end as Our kids move forward in their lives it getS richer in texture, it gets to be about your spouse truly for the first time. How beautiful is that? 🙂
I came across this song months ago and remembered it from the Jerry Lewis telethon. I like many of you grew up with Jerry’s Labor Day telethon.
I remember aside for the family cookout, I was glued to the television. The stories of so many of these kids and their families were something that changed me at the core. I saw what true hardship was and I saw what true heroes looked like.
as, I have walked my walk here and life has happened I have attained a richer understanding of this life. Without the cancer diagnosis I certainly would not be the Danny that I am today.
I was in communication with the lovely woman Jenn and her dad Jack recently. Jack was due to see Dr. Reardon at Dana Farber today . Please say a prayer for him.
Without my cancer I would not know them or many others that I have been privileged to meet , talk to, and most importantly pray with and for !
Cancer has given me the opportunity to cut life to the quick, to shed the materialism, to appreciate the moment I am in and to grow in faith with a relationship to my God, my dad.
The beauty is this, Â God has called me in this moment to help others as they have helped me. As I have struggled God has blessed me over and over again in countless ways. Most important although I am not perfect I believe that and feel that God is well pleased with me. My course is set at this moment toward the destination that I desire when I am called so that is the best blessing from God that I or any of you could ask for.
Another thing I want to share with you is this. I have written in the last month or so that I had an issue walking the track due to a fear that I self inflicted on myself. It is on my blog post a week or so before the Boston marathon.
I have been blue over this because I need to walk, exercise and continue to heal myself. Like I have said before God has given us all the Holy Spirit to feed us and guide us..
About a month ago while driving to my dads for a visit I looked out my window and was thanking God for the beautiful day, my life,everything. My eyes looked off in the distance and I saw the new track in Winchester and saw that it appeared to have a black chain linked fence circling the tracks edge all the way around.
So, today my youngest daughter came with me and we found that the track did in fact have a beautiful fence around it. What this means is this I can walk the track daily. I can walk with my right hand with the fence to my side for security.
So, thank you God and the Holy Spirit. Like I said I caused my own problem with the fear of almost falling and, I have suffered because of it but in time God showed me the way back to the path. I can now walk safely.
Here is the song that I mentioned earlier in this writing remember we will never walk alone.
What ever is going on God and our brothers and sisters have us. Amen
I have a very good friend who is going into treatment for alcohol abuse. The amount of courage it takes a person who suffers from a disease such as this to recognize it and to act to break this cycle is enormous. God bless L.
If you can keep L in your prayers it would be very much appreciated
God knows this person well. So he knows who you are praying for. 🙂
NATALIE GRANT…. Â HUMAN…
By confronting our struggles head on and calling it by name helps to strip the situation of its power. God can come and heal us.
I received a call from a friend Jenn who has been living with and being treated for Glio. She told me about this music and its background. Fr. Ron had talked about it at the healing service I guess. By the way Jenn is doing great !
So, I thought that I would share. I have listened to what I could and they do impart a sence of peace and wellness  SO  what do we have to lose ? 🙂
Its Friday, and its absolutely beautiful outside. Â I woke up with a feeling like something was on my mind but what ?. I was just off.
I was in the middle of my coffee when my thoughts surfaced. I said to my wife, I am sick of it.she said what ? I said my existence. I get up I am trying and I just feel like I am not contributing anything. I went on a bit going down a laundry list of what I used to do and What I can’t do anymore.
What triggered this today, who knows. I would like to say it is a Spirit of discouragement working on me. I have been saying a few negative thoughts to myself. But our inner most thoughts even unspoken can chart a course for defeat.
I think I need to be honest with everyone on this Blog because I feel like it is one of the few things that I do daily that may help someone. Maybe?
I did 1 google search this morning , Â When times are tough…This is what popped up.
Tony Robbins.
What he said I understood, I believe it, I have been living it. But mine has a component of physical suffering. I offer up that suffering for Gods use by doing so  I feel like I have some control over this situation. That,  something positive is occurring from my life situation.
In a situation such as I am currently living an acceptance is necessary. But, how do I accept my plight without me feeling it as my personal defeat ?
I felt bad because my wife who does everything  and it so sweet was upset by my words. Negativity is not a thing that I generally exhibit. My wife is my rock. Janet is the epitome of goodness and class. So, I felt bad speaking like that to her today. She consoled me and just said Dan it will be okay. Then she began her chores. She has been poking in and out of here off and on to check on me. She does not tell me that, but that is exactly what she is doing. She is smiling, loving and beautiful. Thank you, God.
Being the guy, I want to do for her what she needs like I use to. Not drop worries at her feet.
I think that the past weeks news of being dropped from my physical therapy also threw me off balance. I put calls out to the places I was recommended to and I am awaiting a call from the YMCA livestrong Program.
Again, I know that the moment I find myself is temporary. I will shake it off. I have to.
I guess only when we accept the depth of our sorrows can we truely appreciate the beauty in the uplifting moments of this life.
Like I said this blog has to be real to be anything at all.  So. It is what it is.
I know Gods carrying me in this moment as he is  with you all too. We have to be in prayer and remind ourselves that he is.
Despair wants you hopeless, isolated and down. So do not set the stage by isolating yourself. Try to seek out the positive aspects in your life. They are there.
I love this upcoming Holiday the 4th of July. It means so much to me. From my childhood it has represented patriotism, remembrance and family/ friends, cookouts, fireworks etc.
I love the pops on the Esplanade. It does not get any better.
My grand father use to have all of the holiday hats red, white and blue to hand out etc. So, much fun. Garden hose and baloons :), slip and slide. fun stuff 🙂
This song has been just sitting in my draft file waiting to find its use. how true these words are….
We are running around trying to get things done all the while time is rushing on by.
My grandparents and parents had it right. Keep it simple. Not everything needs to be painted like a masterpiece to be one !
Rejoice in the day and savor the important things. The rest will fall into place. Amen.
The older folks are our national treasure, the young children are our hope and we in the middle are the protectors and supporters of both of these demographics. Amen.
Just Danny Speaks 