I love the sound of spring peepers as I pass by a wet marshy pond in the evening. I know, you didn't suggest we list what we love, but the sound fills my heart with joy. I also love (and miss) Indiana redbuds. I'm waiting for the bloom of the shad trees, peaking out of a cold Connecticut forest.
Thank you for this post Carrie. It reminds me of what I would say to my mom when she was sick every time before I left her at the home. I never left her side without saying, I love you, she would say I love you too. I in turn would say I love you more, and I would encourage her to say I love you more than anything else in the world. As her Alzheimer’s progressed she would say less and less as her words left her, I would continue to say it anyways but she would always say the last few words, anything else in the world. I have several recordings of us saying it through different stages of her Alzheimer’s. Now that she’s gone those recordings have wrapped my heart like a warm blanket, just to hear her voice.
I also do a little rendition of it with my sweetheart from time to time saying love you, he would say love you too, I would then say love you more, do you love me more? He would say yes, I would ask how much more? He would end with more than anything else in the world. Hearing that gives me warm fuzzies! 🥰
When my daughter was little we would play a game of “this much” she would ask me mommy how much do you love me? I would say “this much” opening my arms a wee bit. She would say well I love you this much opening her wee arms a little wider than mine. We would go back and forth until we couldn’t stretch our arms any further, then we would say to the moon and back, to the stars and back, to the universe and back, to infinity and beyond!
Thank you for the warm fuzzies this morning Carrie. I think it’s fair to say we all love you and your music, poetry and spoken words “ to the universe and back!”
When my daughter was a little girl, we sometimes had cookies and milk before her bedtime. When she was an older teenager she affectionately told me, “I remember who taught me to dip cookies in milk.” Now, although she’s a married adult, at night I will sometimes text her a meme or a GIF of a cookie being dipped in a glass of milk. And she always replies, “I love you too, daddy.”
As children, I used to read “Where the Wild Things Are” to my younger brother. The phrase said by the monsters, “Please don’t go, we’ll eat you up, we love you so”, became the phrase we said to each other. And we still say it (I’m 62, he’s 57), a sweet memory after all these years…
Life is important, but not that important to where you lose your perspective.
Isn't it funny how we lose focus of the simple thing.
We can do this hard thing. Thank you Carrie, loved your show last night. We were the ones celebrating Ring lake ranch. Saw you there last August. Take care be safe
I smiled when I read this poem. I think love changes over time. There are so many types of love as you pointed out with your story about Amelia. Tiny love, big love, new love, long and enduring love. If we are so lucky to have experienced all of these loves over a lifetime then I believe we have lived full lives. And I believe this is what the poet is trying to say about taking love for granted. what a gift!
When she was a little girl our granddaughter would say, “I love you MORE!” when we would tell her that we loved her. The way that she said it seemed much more than a trope, but a genuine statement of reciprocal love. Now that she is a young woman, we always end our FaceTimes with her with “We love YOU more” sort of getting there first. She always smiles and still then says “No, I love YOU more!” We treasure this, and often say this to each other as well now.
As I sit this morning I’m still feeling awe from your concert last night: your music, words, compassion humor!
When my daughters and son were little I would tell them I love you more than anything in the whole wide world. They would often repeat it to me. Now what I say to them is I love you more than words can express. Even that is not big enough!! Thank you for sharing your expressions of love!
My son, Jon, and I used the ‘shorthand’ way of saying ‘Love you’ by quoting from the book The Shack where Papa often says ‘I’m especially fond of …’ . Sadly my son died 9 weeks ago so he will never write that to me again but I can still ‘feel’ the love ❤️
This entire post brought me so many smiles of gratitude as I thought of all the ways my day to day existence "counts". My early morning is met with the sweet little mumblings from our family pet Cockatiel, who at the moment I uncover his sheeted cage, will say "Good Morning!" to me, mirrored in my own voice who taught him this daily greeting. As the morning progresses, my grandsons stumble down the stairs and ask for me to help them with breakfast, which I happily deliver! Living in a related living home is a wonderful challenge, at times, but that sense of "making it count" is felt many times a day for me.
Throughout the day, I receive either phone calls or notes from friends and family. This keeps me connected and grounded. At almost 71, it is good to feel this.
The evening comes, and a Cubs baseball game is shared on TV with my middle grandson who is always in attendance. The fact that this thread is strong with at least one of my grandchildren gives me joy.
Then, before bedtime, this same grandson shares a round of pool with my husband. This is a nightly routine not to be missed, and scores are kept on a tiny chalkboard mounted on the wall next to the game area. I often walk by the chalkboard and smile at all of the numbers and hash marks from the days preceding.
The ritual of this grandson's bedtime kisses and hugs are something I look forward to every single night. When I happen to be out of town, he makes a point of calling me on the phone and telling me "good night", too, not to be forgotten at the close of my day.
All of this "counts" so much as I whittle down my time on this pretty planet.
All of the little things that are rolled up into a huge big thing.
Hello and good evening. First time here, and something to share! I play for the Elderly Folks Home twice a week, with songs, jokes, riddles and quotes. Tonight, upon reading the "bigger-than-a-bus" comment, from Ms. Carrie, I see I can share something else to finally bring out that was ever so cool, and a hopeful thing for others to grab on to! Let's now see to find things life this to also share! Blessing to all!
I love the sound of spring peepers as I pass by a wet marshy pond in the evening. I know, you didn't suggest we list what we love, but the sound fills my heart with joy. I also love (and miss) Indiana redbuds. I'm waiting for the bloom of the shad trees, peaking out of a cold Connecticut forest.
Thank you! This brought to mind, one of my daughter’s favorite books, I Love You to the Moon and Back and all the times we read it or just said it.
As a person of faith, it also reminded me of God, the Creator and Source of Love as well as the Divine Dance to the music of grace.
Thank you for this post Carrie. It reminds me of what I would say to my mom when she was sick every time before I left her at the home. I never left her side without saying, I love you, she would say I love you too. I in turn would say I love you more, and I would encourage her to say I love you more than anything else in the world. As her Alzheimer’s progressed she would say less and less as her words left her, I would continue to say it anyways but she would always say the last few words, anything else in the world. I have several recordings of us saying it through different stages of her Alzheimer’s. Now that she’s gone those recordings have wrapped my heart like a warm blanket, just to hear her voice.
I also do a little rendition of it with my sweetheart from time to time saying love you, he would say love you too, I would then say love you more, do you love me more? He would say yes, I would ask how much more? He would end with more than anything else in the world. Hearing that gives me warm fuzzies! 🥰
When my daughter was little we would play a game of “this much” she would ask me mommy how much do you love me? I would say “this much” opening my arms a wee bit. She would say well I love you this much opening her wee arms a little wider than mine. We would go back and forth until we couldn’t stretch our arms any further, then we would say to the moon and back, to the stars and back, to the universe and back, to infinity and beyond!
Thank you for the warm fuzzies this morning Carrie. I think it’s fair to say we all love you and your music, poetry and spoken words “ to the universe and back!”
When my daughter was a little girl, we sometimes had cookies and milk before her bedtime. When she was an older teenager she affectionately told me, “I remember who taught me to dip cookies in milk.” Now, although she’s a married adult, at night I will sometimes text her a meme or a GIF of a cookie being dipped in a glass of milk. And she always replies, “I love you too, daddy.”
As children, I used to read “Where the Wild Things Are” to my younger brother. The phrase said by the monsters, “Please don’t go, we’ll eat you up, we love you so”, became the phrase we said to each other. And we still say it (I’m 62, he’s 57), a sweet memory after all these years…
Not to take things for granted, to let go!
Life is important, but not that important to where you lose your perspective.
Isn't it funny how we lose focus of the simple thing.
We can do this hard thing. Thank you Carrie, loved your show last night. We were the ones celebrating Ring lake ranch. Saw you there last August. Take care be safe
I smiled when I read this poem. I think love changes over time. There are so many types of love as you pointed out with your story about Amelia. Tiny love, big love, new love, long and enduring love. If we are so lucky to have experienced all of these loves over a lifetime then I believe we have lived full lives. And I believe this is what the poet is trying to say about taking love for granted. what a gift!
When she was a little girl our granddaughter would say, “I love you MORE!” when we would tell her that we loved her. The way that she said it seemed much more than a trope, but a genuine statement of reciprocal love. Now that she is a young woman, we always end our FaceTimes with her with “We love YOU more” sort of getting there first. She always smiles and still then says “No, I love YOU more!” We treasure this, and often say this to each other as well now.
As I sit this morning I’m still feeling awe from your concert last night: your music, words, compassion humor!
When my daughters and son were little I would tell them I love you more than anything in the whole wide world. They would often repeat it to me. Now what I say to them is I love you more than words can express. Even that is not big enough!! Thank you for sharing your expressions of love!
My son, Jon, and I used the ‘shorthand’ way of saying ‘Love you’ by quoting from the book The Shack where Papa often says ‘I’m especially fond of …’ . Sadly my son died 9 weeks ago so he will never write that to me again but I can still ‘feel’ the love ❤️
This offering is your best ever. What a life you have with your daughter. You are one blessed mother. Thanks.
No, love is not at all rarified. It's everywhere. As common as the wind itself. Love the poem and your sharing.
Sobriety.
GOD is Love and we are constantly surrounded by it. Pay close attention and Love HIM back!
This entire post brought me so many smiles of gratitude as I thought of all the ways my day to day existence "counts". My early morning is met with the sweet little mumblings from our family pet Cockatiel, who at the moment I uncover his sheeted cage, will say "Good Morning!" to me, mirrored in my own voice who taught him this daily greeting. As the morning progresses, my grandsons stumble down the stairs and ask for me to help them with breakfast, which I happily deliver! Living in a related living home is a wonderful challenge, at times, but that sense of "making it count" is felt many times a day for me.
Throughout the day, I receive either phone calls or notes from friends and family. This keeps me connected and grounded. At almost 71, it is good to feel this.
The evening comes, and a Cubs baseball game is shared on TV with my middle grandson who is always in attendance. The fact that this thread is strong with at least one of my grandchildren gives me joy.
Then, before bedtime, this same grandson shares a round of pool with my husband. This is a nightly routine not to be missed, and scores are kept on a tiny chalkboard mounted on the wall next to the game area. I often walk by the chalkboard and smile at all of the numbers and hash marks from the days preceding.
The ritual of this grandson's bedtime kisses and hugs are something I look forward to every single night. When I happen to be out of town, he makes a point of calling me on the phone and telling me "good night", too, not to be forgotten at the close of my day.
All of this "counts" so much as I whittle down my time on this pretty planet.
All of the little things that are rolled up into a huge big thing.
Hello and good evening. First time here, and something to share! I play for the Elderly Folks Home twice a week, with songs, jokes, riddles and quotes. Tonight, upon reading the "bigger-than-a-bus" comment, from Ms. Carrie, I see I can share something else to finally bring out that was ever so cool, and a hopeful thing for others to grab on to! Let's now see to find things life this to also share! Blessing to all!