Simply Mad About THIS LOVE Story - last one!

Mariana (right) & Claudia (left) circa 2004

We have one more story!!!! Yay!!  This one is very special to me.  It is about the cousin-hood, friendship, sweet sisterly love and bond between two teenage cousins.  This amazing girls are my nieces Claudia Sofia (14) and Mariana Nicole (12).  This is how Claudia describes their relationship...

Here is Claudia's love story...Happy reading!

{ So this may not be your typical love story but here it goes. You might think I am going to start telling you about how I met this boy and how he’s so great and lovely but I am actually writing about my cousin, Mariana and I, because while boys come and go she’s always there. I shouldn’t actually mention her as a cousin because we’re actually kind of sisters since we spend loads of time together and see each other every day, but to avoid any confusion, yes we are cousins. Our age difference may not seem like that big of a deal considering that it’s only a two year difference but in some occasions the type of problems we each have can sort of collide, meaning that when she’s experiencing all the stuff that I already went through I am here getting bombarded with new stuff that I, on my own, have to sort out. You can say she has a sort of advantage because any problems she can’t solve I am here to help but she actually is a big help when I need to vent my problems to someone.

It wasn’t always like this, actually when we were younger everyday was an immature fight about who knows what and we would literally not speak at each other and automatically go our separate ways making the adults ask questions about what happened and their endless effort in trying to get us to apologize to each other made me even angrier at times. This was until one day, playing with plastic Barbie dolls and a little pink mansion that I realized how stupid we were being. So my then 8 year-old self looked at my then 6 year-old cousin and said “If we fight again remember what the fight really is about, and how stupid it really is because it’s not worth getting mad at each other.” Mariana stared at me with a smile and nodded. From there on every time we fight we’d say “Why are we fighting again?” and then any anger in us would vanish. I guess since then we became really close and I am glad cause the age difference between my other cousins and I is greater and  it is always easier to talk to Marian than any other. As we became older we started going through things together. She told me everything; I told her everything. It’s a never ending cycle and she really does help. I might bore her with my ranting sometimes but  the fact that she’s there to listen means a lot because as I am telling her how confused I may be or how frustrated and exhausted I am of a certain problem I get to understand myself and sort out a possible solution. So I thank her for that, and all the other things she’s done for me. For the laughs, fun times, every unforgettable memory and for being my partner in crime, thank you. }

Simply Mad About LOVE Stories - February 14th

Happy Valentine's Day!  I have skipped the last few days of love stories because I didn't have any, but Marisol has come to save THE day...the big day of love...

Here is Marisol and Jose Enrique's love story...a rough start, followed by long distance but all along surrounded by heavenly conspiracies to make this couple get together!

Marisol has her own blog, she writes about all the things that she likes, that inspire her and that make her laugh!

Happy reading and Happy Day of Love, Friendship and Affection!

{ In March 1997, Mayra, the friend I used to go out with the most, mentioned that her friend from Venezuela would be visiting Puerto Rico (where I was living at the time) for business and would be staying for 2 weeks.  “Marisol, we will go out with Jose Enrique for the next two weeks” Mayra announced.  The first night they went out I coulnd’t go as a had tickets to go see a play with another friend.

  

The next morning Mayra called to report about what a great time she and Jose Enrique had had the night before and while we chatter she told me I HAD to meet this guy!  That night Mayra and Jose Enrique were going to see the play I had seen the night before and Mayra assumed I wouldn’t want to go.  But I had really enjoyed the play and said “Of course I will go, the play was great and I want to see it again!”

I am not sure I can say it was love at first sight; some things were less than perfect that night…he was wearing and yellow shirt and I don’t like yellow, I was so nervous every joke I tried to make came out anything but funny, it was awful so much so tha even at one point he said saracastically: “very funny”.  Oops!  It didn’t look like a good start.

In any case Mayra had to work the whole weekend and asked me to show Jose Enrique the southern part of Puerto Rico.  They had to “twist my arm” (hahaha!) but I agreed to serve as his toru guide for the weekend.  We got to know each other a bit better and sparks flew!  There was another minor problem though, Jose Enrique had a gilfriend-on-a-break (he had asked for some alone time to think) back in Venezuela.  Obviously I was very disspointed when I found out.

Jose Enrique returned to Venezuela when his two weeks in Puerto Rico were up and that same night he ended things with the girl back home.  He started calling me every day until he had a chance to come back to Puerto Rico.  During that second visit, on April 29, 1997 we became boyfriend and girlfriend and we kissed for the first time.  That night, he asked me how long did he have to wait to ask me to marry him. I almos had a heart attack and I said more, you have to wait a lot more time!  OMG!  I wasn’t ready for that question.  We had just embarked on a long distance relationship and we had many concerns about how to make it work.

Around that time I was looking for a job as an international auditor.  I didn’t like my first interview in the US or the whole US experience for that matter so when I got a call for a second interview I was apprehensive, but Jose Enrique convinced to go to the interview.  I went and the first thing they said was that I would have to move to Tampa but most of my time would be spent in Venezuela.  I couldn’t believe it.  God is Great!  I got the job, moved to Tampa and indeed I started speding most of my time in Venezuela.  It gave me the opportunity to meet Jose Enrique’s large family and to fall in love even more with him.  Even when I didn’t have to go to Venezuela, we would always found a way to see each other.  One time I was in Venezuela for work having dinner with his parents while he was in Puerto Rico for business having dinner with my parents.

We got married on August 29, 1998 and planning the wedding an adventure.  All my work colleagues had been accomplices and witneeses of this love.  Our wedding was in Puerto Rico while I was still living in Tampa and he was still living in Venezuela.  More than 50 people from Venezuela flew to Puerto Rico for the big day.  It was the best wedding of my life!  (hahaha!).  Truth be told, our biggest accomplice was God…he created the path for us to find each other and create a life together even when there was great physical distance between us.

Jose Enrique was waiting for his visa so we had to keep our honeymoon in the US, so we went to Maui, Hawaii.  WOW!  A dream!  We lived in Tampa until Spetember 2000 when we moved to Puerto Rico.

This year we will celebrate out 15th wedding anniversary and we have to beuatiful children who have come to enhace our love and help it grow every day.  Thank you God, Jose Enrique has been, by far, my favorite gift! ]

Simply Mad About LOVE Stories - day 10

 Day 10 of "14 Days of Love Stories" is here and today I      
 bring you the love story behind the monumental Taj Mahal,  
 on of the Seven Wonder of the World.  Happy Reading!


Here is the story of Shah Jahan & Arjumand  Banu...
{ Taj Mahal, the magnificent monument that stands at the heart of India has a story that has been melting the hearts of millions of listeners since the time Taj has been visible. A story, that although ended back in 1631, continues to live on in the form of Taj and is considered a living example of eternal love. It's the love story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, two people from the course of history who set an example for the people living in present and the future to come. An English poet, Sir Edwin Arnold best describes it as "Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passion of an emperor's love wrought in living stones." The story that follows next will prove why the statement is true.

Taj Mahal - Agra, India

Shah Jahan, initially named Prince Khurram, was born in the year 1592. He was the son of Jehangir, the fourth Mughal emperor of India and the grandson of Akbar the Great. In 1607 when strolling down the Meena Bazaar, accompanied by a string of fawning courtiers, Shah Jahan caught a glimpse of a girl hawking silk and glass beads. It was love at first sight and the girl was Mumtaz Mahal, who was known as Arjumand Banu Begum at that time. At that time, he was 14 years old and she, a Muslim Persian princess, was 15. After meeting her, Shah Jahan went back to his father and declared that he wanted to marry her. The match got solemnized after five years i.e., in the year 1612.

Shah & Arjumand

It was in the year 1628 that Shah Jahan became the Emperor and entrusted Arjumand Banu with the royal seal. He also bestowed her with the title of Mumtaz Mahal, meaning the "Jewel of the Palace". Though Shah Jahan had other wives, Mumtaz Mahal was his favorite and accompanied him everywhere, even on military campaigns. In the year 1631, when Mumtaz Mahal was giving birth to their 14th child, she died due to some complications. While Mumtaz was on her deathbed, Shah Jahan promised her that he would never remarry and will build the richest mausoleum over her grave.

their tombs

It is said that Shah Jahan was so heartbroken after her death that he ordered the court into mourning for two years. Sometime after her death, Shah Jahan undertook the task of erecting the world's most beautiful monument in the memory of his beloved. It took 22 years and the labor of 22,000 workers to construct the monument. When Shah Jahan died in 1666, his body was placed in a tomb next to the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. This magnificent monument came to be known as "Taj Mahal" and now counts amongst the Seven Wonders of the World. This is the true story of the Taj Mahal of India, which has mesmerized many people with its bewitching beauty. }

Thanks to www.tajmahal.org.uk for this information.

Simply Mad About LOVE Stories - day 9

I have ran out of stories of love from earthly people - although I wish and hope to get more - and so I have turn to Egyptian gods to fill this page today.  I have had the chance to go to Egypt and of the stories I heard from the tour guide has always stuck with me.  What follows is the love story of Isis and Osiris - true with a twist only a goddess could pull off!  Enjoy!

Here is Isis & Osiris' story of love...

{ Isis was the most powerful goddess of ancient Egypt, even greater than the gods; her worship spread through the Mediterranean world and became one of the main religions of the Roman Empire. Like so many goddesses, she had a long history. We’re not even sure that Isis is her original name, as Egyptian hieroglyphs didn’t include vowels. What we do know is that she came to embody so many of the qualities we seek that she is called “The One Who Is All” and the “Lady of Ten Thousand Names.”

Born of the Geb, the god of the Earth, and Nut, the goddess of the Overarching Sky, Isis held both heaven and earth in balance. She is a moon goddess who gave birth to Horus, the god of the sun; together, mother and child created all life and sustained it. She taught women to grind corn, bake bread, spin flax, weave cloth, and, perhaps most importantly, she taught them to tame the men so the women could live with them! Among her many attributes, she was also the goddess of medicine, healing, fertility, and wisdom.

So why was this Mother of Life also known as the Crone of Death? That title comes from what happened with her brother/husband Osiris.

Incest between brother and sister was allowable for the gods to keep the bloodlines pure. When Osiris became her husband, he became the first King of Earth. Set, their brother, was jealous and killed Osiris, sealed up his coffin and threw it in the river Nile. Isis grieved mightily, shredded her robes and chopped off her hair. Then she set out to find the body of her husband so she could bury him with proper honor and respect.

 

As she searched for her love, she met Queen Astarte in Phoenicia. Making a long story short, Astarte realized that Osiris’s body was hidden in her palace. Isis carried him back to Egypt and hid it in the swamps of the Nile delta while she prepared for his funeral. Her wicked brother, Set, found the coffin, furiously hacked Osiris’s body into 14 pieces, and scattered them in different directions. Searching and searching, Isis recovered thirteen of the pieces. Only his penis was missing, so she made one from gold and wax (some myths say mud or clay). Promptly inventing the rites of embalming, and with her magical powers in full force, Isis brought Osiris back to life and conceived their child Horus. Now that she was no longer grieving, Osiris was free to descend and became the King of the Underworld, ruling over the dead.

Isis is often shown wearing the symbol of an empty throne on her head, suggesting her husband’s absence and that she, herself, was the seat of the Pharaoh’s power. She carries the ankh, the Egyptian hieroglyph of eternal life. When in her funerary role, and as the protector of the dead, she is shown with wings. The ancient Egyptians believed that the Nile River flooded each year because of the tears Isis wept for her dead husband, and every year there was a ceremonial death-and-rebirth ritual.

When Christianity was trying to gain a foothold over paganism, the mother-and-child images of Isis and her son Horus in the many temples of Isis across the land were converted into images of Mary with her infant son Jesus, while images of Isis holding the body of her dead husband across her lap became Mary with the crucified Jesus.

For us today, Isis stands for qualities we all aspire to: feminine strength, deep caring about relationships, acceptance of our emotional depths, the act of creating life, and the wisdom surrounding renewal and reconnection. }

Thank you to Deborah King for providing this text.

Simply Mad About LOVE Stories - Day 8

Day 8 of "14 Days of Love Stories" is here and today's story is a special one for me...it my sister's Daphne story of love for her daughter (my adored niece) Mariana...it is a story I know well...

{ I am still collecting stories...send me yours at
simplymad@ymail.com }

Here is Daphne's love story...

{ My whole life I have been a very independent person, with my own opinions and points of view.  I am sensitive to injustices and my family is #1 to me but I never imagined wanting to be a mother.  As time passed, I became professionally successful, I was surrounded by a solid circle of family & friends and I was happy, but there was an emptiness, something was missing.

When I reached 30, seriously and for the first time in my life I asked myself what I wanted in life. And for the first time I flirted with the idea of being a mom.  From that moment on, my biological clock started ticking and that flirtation became a goal; a mission.


On April 12, 2000, all doubts vanished and what I had been waiting for it became a reality.  I was going to be a mother!  I remember vividly what I felt when I heard the new.  My biggest concern was if I would be a good mother; a concern I still carry with me.

Those expecting months felt like an eternity.  Patience has never been one of my virtues.  So much anticipation and excitement about that first meeting - I think about it and I can't help but to smile!


Maternity is, without a doubt, one of the biggest learning experiences life has to offer.  You give up your body, energy and space to another being without knowing him/her...without a doubt the greatest act of love I had made up until that moment!

Talking to her, playing music for her, singing to her and wondering how she would be like, what she would look like filled many hours of those long 9 months.  No other experience has come even close to being as wonderful as it was to feel her move inside my belly.  

I had a healthy pregnancy, but there were some difficult moments.  But nothing mattered, the focus was on the arrival of my baby girl.

The great day arrived which was incongruously - the most wonderful but painful (physically) day of my life.  Mariana Nicole Castano Barbeito came into the world on December 4, 2000 - she is a Millennium baby!  Twelve years have gone by and there has not been one day when I don't thank God for the biggest gift I could have dreamt of; I am blessed.

My daughter is the love of my life, what I love the most in the world and the only person I would make the ultimate sacrifice for without thinking about it.  She has brought great and fulfilling experiences into my life.  As a baby she was simply beautiful and now she is in the preamble to become an incredible woman.

Mariana has the perfect balance of equanimity, creativity, spark, intelligence, maturity and joy - she is extremely special.  She is my life partner, we travel together, we share clothes and secrets and even though we have a clear mother/daughter relationship, we also have a lovely friendship.

She is, by far, the most amazing person I know.  In these last 12 years she has taught me many important life lessons.  Time goes by faster than I would like and the baby everyone had to stop to look at has evolved into an soon-to-be -teenager.

I love her 24/7, 365 days a year, but Valentine's Day always makes me reflect on motherhood and how rewarding this journey has been.

I owe Mariana what I have become since she arrived she arrived in my life.  I am more patient and sensitive because of her; she has made me a better person.  I pray to God to help me be the best mother Mariana could have had, to bless her and protect her and to give me many more years to enjoy all the success and accomplishments I know she will have.

Mariana Nicole, you are my sun, my moon and my stars forever...I love you!

Your mommy }

Simply Mad about Norm & Jessica's Story - day 6

Jessica & Norm - 12/12/12

Hello!!!  Day 6 of "14 Days of Love Stories" is here.  This story was not sent to me, but rather I found it on Style Me Pretty and I am thrilled I did.  This touching story is full of love, courage, support, optimism and a very charming 1966 green VW bus!  Read on!
Credits - Ashleigh Taylor Photography & TEAM Hair & Makeup


Here is their story...

{ My husband Norman and I eloped in Santa Barbara on 12-12-12. Our wedding was not the one of our dreams, but it was better! Norm and I have been together four and a half years. We met a week after I moved to Las Vegas and were giddy in love from day one. Norm and I were ready to marry long before we did. The big obstacle in our way was cancer. Norm had a seizure in January and was diagnosed with grade 4 brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme. By September, he had SIX brain surgeries. He has fought through chemo-radiation, tumor recurrence, and bi-weekly infusions. Putting his health first, we postponed our wedding. 
 

pretty Jessica

A few weeks ago, I unveiled to Norm his new blogsite. He cried happy tears and said he also had a surprise. “I’ve been thinking a lot about when we should get married, and I can’t think of a better date than 12-12-12.” The date was set. Without seeing his next MRI though, we could make no wedding or travel plans. We decided we would marry on 12-12-12, no matter what. Whether in the infusion center, in a hospital room after another surgery, or in the Cedars-Sinai chapel, we were getting married! Great news came on November 28, when Norm had a perfect MRI! We had been prepared for the worst and now we had a wedding to plan!! We took a couple of days to get our thoughts around what was best for us. We quickly realized that a traditional wedding and reception would cost more than we could justify spending. We wanted our day to be special, but had to be responsible and save money toward future treatments. With less than two weeks notice, flying family cross country was also not realistic. We decided to elope.

I LOVE that bus!!!

Norm always wanted to take our restored 1966 VW bus up the coast of California. This was one of those dreams we never “had time” for before. Why not fulfill this dream with a road trip elopement? We decided on a beach ceremony near Santa Barbara and photos in the rolling hills that Norm and I both love. Afterwards, we would take off, free as (love) birds in our bus. Norm and I love photography, and I wanted to capture the carefree spirit and adventure of our day. Thank goodness for Style Me Pretty! I spent hours looking at the blog and gathering vendor info for the Santa Barbara area. We booked our photographer first, then bought Norm’s wedding band and outfit. I ordered a dress online from J. Crew. It was delivered to our doorstep four days before the wedding! In the end, our vendors really made the day. With very little notice and a tiny budget, they worked together to make our day better than we ever dreamed! Ashleigh Taylor Henning suggested a beach location, and pointed me toward Simply Bouquets and Crushcakes. She went above and beyond for us and made us feel like we were the cutest couple in the entire world.

happy couple

Mar & Nicole with TEAM Hair & Makeup stepped in like a surrogate family on the morning of 12-12-12. They created excitement that had a ripple effect through the entire day. Not wanting us to miss a thing, they staged our first look and first dance in their studio. They lit candles and downloaded our songs from iTunes, just moments before my groom arrived. They played John Denver’s “Annie’s Song” as Norm walked around the corner to see me for the first time. That first look brought me to tears and was the most special part of the day. Thank you Mar for working your magic! Our families were also with us that day in spirit, if not in person. Norm and I carried with us reminders of our loved ones: his mother’s diamond, a “wedding ring” quilt from my grandmother, earrings from my grandfather, his grandparents’ wedding rings from Germany, and many more. On one shoe, I wore a flower clip that I had worn 20 years earlier as flower girl in my aunt’s wedding.
We drove our mint green “Happy Bus” to Refugio Beach. Our wedding officiant had worked with us over the phone and through email to make sure the ceremony was personalized and everything we wanted it to be. With our photographer as witness, we said the vows that we had wanted to say for so long. We kissed and were introduced to the world as Mr. and Mrs. Norman Bruns! That day was, far and above, the best day of my life. Norm and I are more in love than ever before. He is still the man I fell in love with: kind-hearted, positive, always up for an adventure or a good laugh. I think our wedding day was in that same spirit! Thanks to all who made it so special! }

Simply Mad About LOVE Stories - day 4

Hello! It is day 4 of "14 Days of Love Story".  Angela from Never Nola has shared a second story with us.  Thank you Angela!  This time is her grandparents' love story we get to enjoy.  It is beautifully written with lessons about never giving up and it shows bad weather is not always a bad thing...read on & enjoy!

{ send me your story } who are you in love with?  tell me! you can send your story to simplymad@ymail.com

Here is Gladys & Aldo's LOVE story

{ My grandfather Aldo caught his first glimpse of HER at his fathers funeral in May of 1946. It was her family who owned the funeral home, and she was working in the office for the summer.

During the months that followed he was so Intrigued by this beautiful woman that Aldo would find business and personal reasons to develop a relationship with her father, hoping to know Gladys better. Aldo sent penny postcards almost weekly, asking where he could meet her…Gladys on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with him.

A few months later Aldo was invited to have dinner at Gladys’s summer home in Bayville, NJ. He anchored his boat- the NOLA just beyond the reef and swam to shore. He walked up to the home to find Gladys’s wearing a Tattered Old Swimsuit and her fathers Overalls, painting the house… She stared back startled at the soaking wet man in his swim shorts, horrified that he was their dinner guest.

Several weeks passed and Aldo and his friends decide to embark on a 2 week adventure aboard the NOLA. They sailed along the Hudson River as a Northeastern storm began to encroach upon them. They were in Bayville at the time and (strategically) decided to anchor outside of Gladys’s home. That night the storm hit and beached the NOLA on shore. Aldo spent 3 days waiting out the storm; sharing stories, playing games, and woo’ing the woman he would later marry.

Finally, they were dating… and were attending the Military Ball In NYC. They danced until 2am, and then went to an early morning Mass. It was LOVE.

When Aldo was transferred to Alaska for several months on business, he and Gladys promised to be in touch. They wrote each other every day while he was gone. He returned on Valentines Day 1947 and within a week of his return, he proposed.

July 26, 1947 they were married.

From the Storm that washed the NOLA on shore, the girl who was NEVER interested, and the boy who NEVER gave up,  bloomed a Love story made for the movies. A story so inspiring that it needed a name. An idea so simple that NEVER giving up on what you want, will eventually bring your NOLA to shore… }

Simply Mad about LOVE Stories - day 3

Welcome to day 3 of "14 Days of Love Stories".  Today's is the story of a dear couple friend of ours, who preferred to stay anonymous...:o) 

This is a story of sweet love found in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.  A master love plan in his mind...a total surprise for her heart!

{ send me your story } there is plenty of time and every love story is worth telling - email  me at simplymad@ymail.com

Here is their story...
{ We were business partners in a cruise vacations business.  We became very close almost inseparable.  At that time he was going thru a divorce and I would give him advice about how to try and work things out with his wife and when that didn't seem possible, I would introduce him to and try to set him up with my friends.  In October 2007, we attended a business conference held on board a cruise liner while it made its way from NYC to London across the Atlantic.  In attendance were many colleagues from the travel industry who knew us well and with whom we had attended previous conferences. 

One of the formal nights the entire group ended up in ship’s disco as it pretty much happened every night of the 6-day trip.  At one point during the night we went to the outdoor area of the disco to have a cigarette but we could still hear the live music playing.  As if fate was waiting for the perfect moment – a moment when we would be alone - the music switched from danceable to slow and the singer said: “those of you who are in love and want to express that love to your partner, this is the time.  Dare to do it!  This is your chance!”  He asked me to dance repeatedly and I kept saying noooo…it was a slow song and I was shy.  He insisted so much that the man sitting next to us started egging me on to accept the invitation to dance.  At that point I couldn’t say no anymore without starting to look childish so I agreed.  Half way through the song he whispered in my ear: “it seems I am falling in love with you”.  I pushed back, looked at him and laughed.  I couldn’t believe it!  He then  said: “what you say is not important, I just had to tell you how I felt regardless of what your response or decision would be". 

My sister in law had always told me he liked me…she would say: "look at the way he looks at you" and I would always say" “noooo, he is my partner…no way!"

We finished dancing and re-joined the group inside.  I thought about what had just happened and the truth was that I liked him, I liked being around him, I felt very comfortable around him and at that point nothing else seemed important – why not give it a shot?!  I looked at him, I caressed his hair and then he kissed me!  That’s how it all started!  We tried to hide what was going on from our colleagues on board, but our efforts to conceal our new found love went out the window when we were caught kissing in a dark corner like two teenagers.  That was over 5 years ago…today we live together and we are happier than ever! }

Simply Mad about LOVE stories - day 2

Day two of "14 Days of Love Stories"  is here!  Christine sent us her parents'- Maureen & Hector - love story.  Christine live in Hayward, California not far from where this love story unfolded.

Very touching love story full of perseverance,  patience and determination - at the beginning from Christine's mom and later on from her dad.






Here is Christine's parents' story...
{ It all started in 1968, my parents were both 11 years old. My father was a navy brat, so he and his family were always moving around. His family moved into a house in Hayward, Ca, which happened to be 4 houses up the street from my Mom's, who lived with her parents and 6 siblings. There were lots of kids in the neighborhood then, so they all played together. My Mom told me that she would be sitting outside with her friends talking and hanging out and my Dad would be running up and down the street with his friends lighting of fire crackers and then go inside and call the cops telling them it was my Mom and her friends. The cops would show up and talk to the girls who would then say it was the boys in the neighborhood. My Mom said that my Dad and his friends would always shoot the girls in their butts with beebees. Despite all the "girls YUCK!" flirting, my Mom still had a crush on my Dad. Once they were high school age, my Dad and his family packed up and moved to Japan for about 3 years or so and my Mom was devoted to trying to stay in touch with my Dad and his family. 

Maureen & Hector at their wedding

At that time, my Dad just saw my Mom as a friend. My Mom wrote my Dad, his 2 sisters, his mother and his father each a letter every single week they were gone. Things didn't work out between my Dad's parents while they were living in Japan, so his mother packed up the kids and moved them back to their house in Hayward. Of course my Mom was ecstatic! It was then that my Dad developed feelings for my Mom and they took each other to their Senior Proms. My parents continued dating after high school and got married in 1980. They moved into the house my Dad had lived in, in Hayward.  My Mom's parents still lived down the street. By 1988, my parents had 4 kids, 2 boys and 2 girls. In 1994, my parents pack all us kids up and we moved into a bigger house...it was the 17th house my Dad had lived in. In 1995, my Dad developed Multiple Myeloma (bone cancer) in his right arm which caused him to have to retire as a police officer. We were devastated. The following years were filled with lots of hard and emotional times. The doctors told him that with his type of cancer, he wouldn't live more that 3-5 years. My Dad lived just under 10! 


At the time of his passing, he was the 3rd person on record at Stanford known to live almost 10 years with his type of cancer. In the last 6 months of his life, my Dad had started setting goals of certain days he wanted to make it to for different reasons. Making it to a certain date meant extra retirement benefits would kick in to help my Mom financially. Some of his other goals were to make it to Thanksgiving so that he could have one more turkey dinner with my Mom. And Christmas so that he could watch his kids, who were now in their teens and early 20's, open gifts with that same look of excitement they had as little kids when Santa came. That year, we had a Star named after him and presented him with the certificate of authenticity on Christmas Day. He was pretty impressed with that. His final goal was to make it to Jan. 26, 2005 because my parents were to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, which also happens to be my sister's birthday. He made every single one of his goals and died the following evening. It was very sad to see him go, but in the end, all he cared about was spending time with his family and celebrating his love with my Mom one more time. We just recently hit the 8 year anniversary of his passing and this story crosses my mind every year. It is an amazing story of LOVE that I love sharing! }

Thanksgiving dinner - Hector reached one of his goals!

Simply Mad about LOVE stories

Hello!!!!  First day of February and first day of "14 Days of Love Stories" - we have some good ones coming.  This first story is a sweet story of finding love in an unexpected place... The pretty and bubbly Angela from Never Nola sent me her love story with her hubby and I had a good time reading it, I hope you will too...

Here is Angela's love story...
{ In the spring of 2004, a new church group with young single people... sounded... well, like a meat market! But my friends insisted I join them. I caved! I walked in and instantly noticed a boy with eyes bluer than the sky, with a smile that lit up the room, and I think I fell in love right there! I walked past him about 15 time to go to the water fountain, trying to drum up the nerve to say hello. I failed. During the last class though, to my surprise, he came and sat down right next to me!! (apparently he had been eying me too). We chatted after, and he asked for my phone number. He was in town visiting a friend & was headed back to Idaho a few days later, so the next  evening we squeezed in a date before he headed home. 

Angela & Colby

Over the next several months we kept in touch casually, as friends, because we were both seeing other people. He was then sent down to Arizona to work on a camp ground that was about an hour away from me. We hung out with groups of friends, still just friends for about 8 months... all the while realizing how much we had in common with each other and enjoyed each others company. Every moment spent with him I could feel the connection, the enjoyment and thrill for life! He was exhilarating to be around.

Shortly following, our previous relationships were over, and we moved out of the friend zone and began dating. In March of 2005, I moved to Idaho to attend school where I had several friends attending (or as he claims -- for him!) That may be slightly true... but dont tell him that... shhh...

By May 2005 (two months after I moved to Idaho) we were engaged, & on August 20th. 2005 (five months after I moved to Idaho) we were married!  Yes! Quick I know! But why wait? We will be celebrating 8 years this summer, I thank god every day for this man in my life.  Sometimes you just know, and with him it was that way. We have 2 beautiful children, and an incredible love that grows every day.

One of my favorite love songs is by Brad Paisley: "And I Thought I Loved You Then..." and those words have never been more true with each passing day. I love you Colby! }

Simply Mad about story-telling and spreading love

"Every love story is beautiful, but 

ours is my favorite"

Love is in the air...or it will be soon! The beginning of February is around the corner and you know what that means...Valentine's Day is just a little over 2 week away!  Love fills the air, gifts are bought, flowers are given, chocolates are eaten and hugs are exchanged.  What a lovely holiday!  But one must not forget to celebrate love and friendship all year round.

We all enjoy a love story that warms the heart and makes us go, "awwwwww".  What better time to share such stories than now?  Let's have a love-sharing festival here on Simply Mad's blog!

Send me your story of love and I will feature it here during Simply Mad's "14 Days of Love Stories" from February 1 - February 14th.  If I am lucky enough to get more than 14 stories (fingers crossed) then I will publish more than one per day.  And if I get many, many stories, who knows maybe we will end up with "A Full Month of Love Stories".  Feel free to include pictures with your story!

Wouldn't it be nice to sit down with a cup of tea or coffee (or something a little stronger) and reminisce about your journey together?  Remember all the reasons your relationship is as great as it is and where did this great love you share blossom from?  Go ahead!  Write down!

Love comes in infinite shapes, sizes and colors; a mother's/father's love for a child, love for our pets, sisterly/brotherly love, love we share with our parents, there is the love we feel for our better halves, or why not tell your love story with yourself!

{ No strings attached } This project is about pure love and the joy of sharing it.  This is not a contest that requires you to "like me", "follow me, "tweet me" or "pin me" to participate...Nope!  No conditions here.  This it about love - sharing it, spreading it, feeling it, giving it and celebrating the month of love and friendship!

Share this post with your friends!  The more stories we get the more love we can sprinkle around us.

All you need to do is email me your story at simplymad@ymail.com.  I will let you know I got it and when it will be shared :)

Let's fill the air around us with enough love, happiness and warmth to last us well beyond the end of February.

Hope to see your story in my inbox!
Mad