Here is how we smile when we’re together:

Mom and I on Saturday

Now you know why I will miss her so much when she completely loses her memory. I treasure each day with a phone call or visit now and will honor her with them then. I love my mom.

Today I went to my nephew Andy’s fiance’s Bridal Shower. It was a wonderful day! The hostess, Andy’s aunt on his dad’s side, was amazing. Her house, the shower treats and decor…everything was perfect. I love the woman Andy is marrying. Her name is Trisha and she’s smart and witty, considerate, lovely and funny! She is his other half, his bookend.

What made the day doubly special is we got to go around the porch in a circle and say who we were and how we knew Andy, what relation we were to him. I never thought about what I might say. I listened to the others, joined in the fun and watched the look of delight, love and laughter on Trisha’s face when we spoke of him.

Then came my turn…I couldn’t believe what I said. I said that Andy came along in a very low point in my life. My own little son had died and I was sick with sorrow. I spent so much time with my sister Suzy and little Andy, they were my best friends…and my heart healed as I spent time with this wonderful little boy. I said Andy restored my heart.

I was a bit embarrassed for bringing up the death of my little boy at such a joyous occasion, but my words came straight from the heart. I love my nephew and thank my sister for being so very generous with him.

What a gift! And what a beautiful way to bring me back from the land of mourning. A wonderful, happy, healthy baby boy a year younger than my Davey gave me back my heart!

Thank you God for using him in my life this way…I pray you bless his and Trisha’s life most wonderfully! It was an awesome day!

Together for 32 Years!

My Love For 32+ Years and Best Friend!

Thirty-two years ago on July 27th, my husband Mike and I recited the entire chapter of I Corinthians 13 back and forth to either during our wedding ceremony. The LOVE Chapter of the New Testament laid the groundwork for our marriage and we have treasured these words of God ever since.

It has kept our marriage strong in the love of God and our love for each other. A love not born of selfishness, but rather giving. A love not filled with jealousy, one upsmanship, or jockeying for position. Not filled with who is right and who is wrong, but rather consolation and support.

We have been there for each other through the tough times and celebrated in them midst of them. Now we enjoy a deeper friendship, respect, joy and passion than I thought it was possible to know on this earth.

My husband, Mike likes this quote from Gale Sayers: “The Lord is first, my family is second, and I am third.” He doesn’t just like the quote, he lives it. And his family, my daughter and I reap the benefits, the support, the love…I return it by having his back as he has mine.

Is loving unconditionally possible for human beings? I have lived it and I know it is. By the power of God alone, we can put him first, each other second and ourselves last.

That is the secret of our marriage, putting each other first, having fun together, being best friends as well as lovers. The Lord, the support of family and friends provide for the rest of this loving community.

I treasure our days together. Yesterday was special, but so are they all! Unconditional love, forgiveness, fun and lots of hugs and kisses are the order of the day at the Sweiger household. Thank you God for being there for us and for the wonderful gift of each other!

Davey at 6 months

“I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death.” — Robert Fulghum

Next to her picture on the mantel, is one of her brother. I could not help reflecting on my dear little son, who’s been in Heaven for the past 30+ years. He only lived eleven months. He was such a precious child like his sister. Desperately sick with a bad heart, yet such a brave and strong spirit. A joy-filled, loving, wonderful child.

And because it’s Easter I was thinking about the Son that died for us. What the Father lost. What He did for us that we might have fellowship with Him. I am so touched to the core, by the love that He showed in sacrificing His only son.

The death of a loved one is hard to bear and doesn’t lessen with time in some ways. I went to a grief class years ago and they said grieving is like a taffy pull, one minute you’re fine and then you snap back to the worst sadness again.

Comfort IS found in Joy and Laughter. I do believe the above quote is true and the author most insightful. When I think of my son I remember his laugh, his wise eyes, his depth of understanding for a life he was really too young to understand. He was a wonderful gift to me and his father. And perhaps there we find our joy. In the gifts that we experience, in the love that we share, in spite of the grief that comes with loving.

This Easter day I remember my David and his precious life. My Savior and His precious Love for us all — and my heart is filled with the enormous gift my life is.

“Only after disaster can we be resurrected. It’s only after you’ve lost everything that you’re free to do anything. Nothing is static, everything is evolving, everything is falling apart.”
— Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club)

It’s hard to know what to do for Japan. The news is so terrible, it’s depressing, almost immobilizing. Who are we, one person to help in the face of such a tremendous, overwhelming catastrophe? Thousands of people are dead! Many, many more are still missing or injured. And almost half a million people are homeless. Now they are under threat of a nuclear disaster some experts are depicting will be much worse than the Three Mile Island Disaster. What can we do? The only thing we can do is look into our hearts, every one of us, and see what our insides tell us to do for the country of Japan and the people who have survived this devastation. People who are hurt, homeless, mourning and stunned by the destruction in their lives.

Here is a link to Satellite photos taken before and after the 8.9 massive earthquake and tsunami hit Japan.

My heart has told me to help with this by prayer and giving — and by putting a button on this site and on the Libbytalks on Twitter site that will take you to the Red Cross site where you may give if you wish. Please pray and give, and pray some more for the people and the land that is Japan. May they begin to flourish again soon!

We put childhood pictures up on Valentines #Usguys

“A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.” Groucho Marx — LOL

To get in touch with the innocence of childhood we put up childhood pictures of ourselves on Valentine’s Day. I loved it! Haven’t been satisfied with my Twitter “grown-up” Avatar since.

Being on Twitter is a lot of fun. Anyone who knows me or who has ever read this blog know I derive a terrific amount of enjoyment from it. A couple of weeks ago a nice looking guy with a long name by Twitter standards @StephenCaggiano asked me to join the #Usguys stream on Twitter. It was a, “Come on in the water’s fine”-kind of friendly invitation — which belied the intellectual sophistication of the group. I couldn’t resist, so I did. They’re a great bunch — very friendly and carrying on conversations rich in content on social media, techie stuff, customer service, you name it 24/7. I wasn’t always joining in because I’m new and I couldn’t see a good place to plunge into. Now often I do and will usually snag someone to have a great conversation with. That is what is so fun about Twitter. Pulling someone out of the stream for a little one on one, or two or three. #Usguys and they are very adept at it. It isn’t surprising to see 5 – 6 conversations going on at once under the #Usguys hashtag with 2-3 people mentioned in each, linking each other together by Twitter name to keep everyone informed of what each other is saying. This may sound a bit confusing! You really have to see it!

Why don’t you so a search for #Usguys and see what you turn up! Fascinating, illuminating and funny tweets 24/7 I’ll guarantee. They could almost advertise it. Well I guess I am!

Here’s a link for more information: http://stephenjcaggiano.com/2011/01/26/usguys-directory/

Good friends meet at last!

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”
— C.S. Lewis

Last week was one of the funnest ever in my life! And meaningful! And active! A non-stop crazy-girlfriends stupendous, exciting chat and shop — eat and drink pop, do toenails, have slumber parties extravaganza! My friend from twitter and Facebook, Heather @AliveinMe flew into Minneapolis from Philadelphia last Saturday and stayed the week! In that time she found a BIG place in me and my dear husband’s heart! We will never be the same again. So endearing she was to our family…we miss her and my 80-year-old mom misses her. Mom has dementia and doesn’t remember people well. But, she remembers Heather. We talk about her every day!

We had such a great time! Ordained by the Author of all great fun and great plans for us! The Lord was so good to us…kept us from sniffles though the weather was frightfully cold. We stayed up until the early morning hours making beaded necklaces! And talking. Always talking. Like we had known each other forever. And we have! Virtually!

We raced through the week like our tails were on fire. Trying to absorb all we could from each other. Making necklaces (our favorite ones to give to each other), many went to me since I was a newbie at beading. I was keeping my attempts and Heather was showering me with gifts, not for any other reason than two generous hearts meeting and reaching out to each other with the true love of Jesus! I kept her supplied with tea, water, pop, her every need, so she could rest and stay well and jam making jewelry for her mom’s shop. We chatted and laughed and talked and smiled and enjoyed immensely each others company! Oh yes, and took about 100 pictures! Which we kept posting on Facebook! We did our own nails and toes but counted on department stores for new makeup and trying each others brands like long-lost sisters sharing their secrets! We hit the best beading shop the first day to stock up for the necklace making nights and we fared well! I now have 10 for myself and Heather has 30 to sell at her mom’s store! My math has never been great, but I’m not sure I contributed to the profit margin. Oh well, I will, I am carrying on…it is such fun!

My dear friend’s gone home to her family. My husband Mike and I are missing her. I am quite lonesome, but there are remembrances all around the house, an artificial flower arrangement I love with butterflies in it. I bought her one at the same time and we didn’t know it until we got in the car! A beautiful glass pitcher threaded with blue and green transparent color from my favorite shop. She has left little parts of her love and joy everywhere. We hope she returns very soon, or we will get in my car and drive to Philly! Chilly Philly! Love you all! Facebook and Twitter friends! Take a chance and get to know each other better! Love you Heather so aptly named @AliveinMe. You are sure aLIVE, full of joy and love and definitely glowing in Jesus. As for me @libbytalks, it has now been confirmed that I can talk all day and all night too!

Best Friends Forever!