Happiness is about making the people around you happy, and then in turn, it makes you happy. It’s about the kindness, respect, and relationships you share with other people. If you can do that, then you yourself will be happy.

When she said it, her face lit up, and she smiled. It was the warmest and truest thing that someone has said to me a in a while. I realized at that moment how alike we are. She makes everyone around her happy, and in turn, she is the happiest woman that I know. I do the same thing, but I’ve never been able to put it into words or understand why giving kindness has made me ultimately happy. Happiness is about the relationships you have with other people, how you make them feel. Christmas is a wonderful time to see the love and kindness that people give to you and how happy it makes them in turn. Surround yourself with people that are worthy of your kindness and that are able to return it with love in their hearts.

The rare planetary meeting was visible from all parts of the world, even from light-polluted cities such as Hong Kong and New York.

People in Asia witnessed a smiley face (above, photographed from Manila, Philippines), while skywatchers in the United States saw a frown.

via: National Geographic

Sorry I am not able to post pictures. I think I need an upgrade. Click the links below to see them.

Spider Pumpkin

HotDog Boots

But then, out of the blue, the bus jumps the curb and crushes you. Crushes your dreams, your future, and your life as you know it.

And you know in that moment if there was anything you could do to stop to the bus, you would do it, you would try anything. But the bus, the bus has made up it’s mind, the brakes are out and there is nothing you can do to make it stop.

You stand there, frozen in place as the bus jumps the curb. In that split second, as you look around, you realize that the bus isn’t just going to hit you and kill you, it’s also going to injure the people around you. You never noticed this until the people you love see the bus coming and you can see in their eyes and in their reactions how crushed they are. You wish that you were someone else, somewhere else, and that you weren’t in this place right now. But you are.

And then it hits you.

It’s all over.

She passed away on March 1st. The previous entries show that. May 1st is coming up this week, and it has already been two months since she has been gone. I am never going to get used to the feeling of her not being here. But I know that she would want me to continue writing, if for no one else but myself. Writing on this blog gives me a sense of purpose, a sense of relief that I can share my thoughts, hopes, and fears down on paper, err, in print rather. If anyone still reads this from time to time, I want to say thank you.

This summer is going to be great. I am back to writing, taking pictures, and enjoying the outdoors. I will post pictures and tell the tales of my adventures for all that happen to stumble upon my little website. As the title says: “Full speed ahead!”

This is the speech I gave at my Nana’s funeral. I hope you enjoy it.

When I think of my Nana, I think of how lucky I am. I think of how lucky everyone is that had the opportunity to meet her and spend time with her. My Grandaddy is incredibly lucky to have the most loving wife any man could ever ask for. My dad, mom, Uncle Brett and Aunt Lisa are lucky to have a wonderful mother and mother-in-law who loved them unconditionally as her children. Austin, Joey, Becky, and myself are lucky to have the world’s best Nana, who loved us so, and was always proud of us. Her family and friends were more important to her than anything, and she cherished each and every moment spent with each of you. We are lucky to have had Betty Coleene Haywood in our lives, and we will be forever touched by her kindness. For the next couple of minutes, I am going to share with you some of the best memories I have of my Nana.

Nana first, and foremost, loved to shop. She enjoyed shopping with her daughter-in-laws and granddaughters. Any store would do, clothing stores, book stores, antique stores, and flea markets were always okay. When the Meijer opened up on West and Allen she was the first one in line smiling. She NEVER missed a Walmart trip, and on the day-after-thanksgiving day sales, we would pick her up at 5am, she would be there with us, fighting the crowds to get the best deal on Tickle-me-Elmo’s, prized Cabbage-Patch dolls, and the new must-have Barbie of that year.

She also loved to learn new things. She embraced every new technology that came her way. She programmed her cell phone with a song that made her dance, she could text-message like a pro, she learned how to email and “surf the net”, and also knew enough to teach her friends. Every night she would love to chat online with one of her grandkids.

She taught me many lessons about life and about what to expect in the years to come. One of the things I remember her telling me over and over again was what to expect when you grow older. She told me that it feels like you are still a child trapped in an aging body. And that always made me think of how my Nana always had child-like wonder. In any given bookstore, you would find her on the floor sitting amongst the children’s books. She always had a candy-bar in her purse, for emergencies. There was never any problem an icee couldn’t fix. If there were a new toy to buy, she would have it, even before her grandkids had one. I remember one night getting a phone call, in which my Nana directed me in an urgent voice to do the following things: “come over, bring Becky, and most importantly, bring your Furby’s!” (For those of you who don’t know, a Furby is a battery-powered talking creature.) I did as she instructed, and we arrived at her house, 15 minutes later. There was my Nana, waiting at the front door with her very own Furby, looking as excited as can be. Nana had read the instruction booklet and realized that when you have more than one Furby together, they will talk to each other. My Nana couldn’t wait for her Furby to have friends.

My Nana was always up for anything we had planned. She was a great sport. She went on almost every ride at any theme park in Florida she was taken to. She happily put on her 3-D glasses and watched the Terminator come dangerously close; she came face-to-face with a T-Rex and got soaked when we all plunged down a 84-foot vertical drop waterfall; and she and my Grandaddy fought and killed more aliens in the Men-in-Black ride than their grandkids did.

She aspired to be many things. Everyone knew she was a wonderful teacher, but few people know about her other talents. She was a writer, she loved to write children’s books, and though she was never published, she never gave up. She also loved to sing, and would encourage her kids and grandkids to explore all kinds of music. She was a great cook and baker. When my Nana set her mind on baking something, perfection was key. I can remember coming over to a kitchen that was filled with her newest “challenge”. The table, counters, and chairs would be covered. First she cooked biscuits, and then came the cornbread, followed closely by donuts, and then my personal favorite, the perfect chocolate pie.

She loved many things. She loved reading books, the Bible, watching her SOAPS during the day and 24 at night, music, the piano, writing, taking trips to Florida, Going up north to our cabin, collecting rocks, singing, quilting, cornbread, chocolate, standard poodles and chocolate labs, white cats, her Buick, butterscotch pie, planting tomato plants and lemon trees, coke icees, Meijer, toys, snowmobiling, riding her bike, going out on the boat, her friends, family, love, and life.

My Nana was a wonderful teacher. She was a wonderful person. She never spoke an ill word of anyone. She always had the nicest things to say about people. She always made you feel welcome and special. Her faith in God and her faith in people made her one of the happiest women I have ever known. She is the woman I aspire to be. She is my role model. I will always remember everything she has ever taught me, everything she has ever shown me, and everything about her. I will always love her, as I am sure you will too.

I MISS YOU NANA, YOU WILL BE FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS.

MONDAY, MARCH 5th:
Visitation is from 3-9pm

TUESDAY, MARCH 6th:
Funeral 10:00am

CLICK HERE: Funeral is at Martenson Funeral Home in Trenton Michigan.

3200 West Rd
Trenton, MI 48183

A luncheon will be following the funeral at Crystal Gardens at 1:00pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Thank you for your patience and loving support.

Last night I was with some really fun people, and all of sudden I felt a little cloudy. I knew I was in the room, but everything was a little fuzzy, I couldn’t hear as well, see as well, or talk as well. Then my throat began to get a little scratchy. I, of course, did was any normal person would do in this situation. I placed blame on all of the things that were causing my problems. I blamed the fact that it was late, and I had gotten up at 6:30am that morning, which was about 1-2 hours short of the full 8 hours one is suppose to get. “I MUST be tired!” I next blamed the fact that it had been a very long day. I had substitute taught in first grade all day, and they had wore me out. Then after work I ran some errands, and those tired me out too. “I MUST be exhausted from the day!”

But when this morning came, I realized exactly what state I was in yesterday: DENIAL. I woke up with a throbbing throat, a headache, body-aches all over, and constant coughing. When I tried to talk, it was more of a hoarse whisper than anything else. I got up, got dressed, and took some medicine. From that point on, my day has consisted of a constant pattern, almost a song really: Sniff, Drip, Cough… Sniff, Drip, Cough…

Germs: 1
Stephanie: 0

Stay tuned for an update after my nap. This war is NOT over!

I graduated from college a week ago. It feels good and strange to be done. I worked so hard, and put forth a lot of effort to get to where I am now. I am happy. I feel that I have accomplished a lot in my life. I will get my actual bachelors certificate and my teaching certificate in the mail around mid-january.

For the present, I am just going to be substitute teaching around my house. I am going to start applying for jobs come April/May. So cross-your-fingers I get a job in the fall.

For the future, I plan on teaching. I plan on getting an apartment and starting my life. I am going to pay off my credit card debt, save money, and try to stay happy.

I hope everyone did have a wonderful Christmas. I spent time with family, ate too much food, laughed, and cried. I am hoping this next year will be great.

Right now, I just need my friends. I feel like I have lost my best friend and I am already losing sleep over it. If I called you and left a message, call me back whenever you get the chance, no rush, no hurry, you know where I will be.

Geoff: Thank You! You have no idea how much it meant. Talk to you soon!

I will be back from up north on Sunday, Dec 31st! If anyone has any plans for ringing in the New Year tell me where and when and I will be there!

Stephanie