A Tribute to Loving Friends & Family

Let me be the first to say that I know deep down I haven't always been the best person/friend/sister. . . . . . .

The love that we withhold and are shown since birth can sometimes get lost amongst the racing - almost betrayed ways of the world. Understanding, compassion, and truth get lost and adrift when we consume ourselves only around the ME ME ME-ness of our society. "What will make ME happy?" or the now, sadly too common - "What is in it for me?"

Feeling that we, as individuals are supposed to know our place here in our human form on earth, some of us tend to lose ourselves as spiritual individuals, and lose out on the most important tributes life here has to offer: Love
LOVE comes in many different expressions: from holding the door open for a stranger - to falling asleep next to your partner in life, or providing companionship for all and not judging anyone and giving without expecting anything in return. I can't say forever, but as far back as the fifth grade I have felt some of these unlatching - being stripped away, and then eventually turning me into another one of the hustling aristocrats out there today... I thought I knew what I wanted to become or how I should be.... but surrounding me all along was everything I needed-truth in friends, true love (within oneself), and the one and only mighty God. Now, I'm not referring to God as the Jesus that represents Christianity, but the Creator of all. After many tribulations, and being put through so many tasks of worldly responsibility at such a young age, the roller coaster of human life burdens only just began for me at 11....now, I'm not using this in any way as an excuse for the hurt I've inflicted onto others; however, not until the last year or so have I had such an unveiling of truth. The truth of love and it's power it can have to bring us back into ourselves as an open rose, unveiling our own self to be exposed and truthful. As humans we go through cycles just like a rose. Changing and reemerging into something beautiful again, only when we choose truth, love, and light... While we are here, I've learned to love without receiving and live without waiting to die.... I hope each of you know what you mean to me and how much I love all of you for still loving me, even though I'm still learning on how to be - Me...

I give Thanks, Courage and Love to my sister, Mary

(Isn't she a beauty-inside and out)

I give Thanks, Health, and Love to my older sister, Krista

(She took me to my first concert-NKOTB: New Kids On The Block!

(Hey what's so funny they WERE cool once)

I give Thanks, Apologies, and Love to my wonderful friend Christine

(10 yrs outta high school and she still rocks!)

I give Thanks, Hope, and Love to my friend, Monique

(Wassup! Wassup!)

I give Thanks, Health, and Love to my partner, Chad

(aka "Baby Daddy")

I give Thanks, New Beginnings, and Love for my partner's mama, Kat

(aka Sue)

I give Thanks, Hope, and Love for my lil' family that once was of 3

(and give Thanks, Hope, and Love for the upcoming family of 4)

I give Thanks, Peace, and Love to my mom, daughter, & Grandpa Reynolds

(Wish we got to know each other more - Rest In Peace)

I give Thanks, Health, and Love to my grandma, Anne

(I am her namesake as she would say)

I give Thanks, Health, and Love to my dad, stepmom, and stepbrother

(Heres to many more adventures)

~There are many more of you out there, and I am thankful for you all for befriending, caring, and loving me or better yet putting up with me! We are spirits in human bodies... let's love & live for living & praise one another!

To Life, Love and Living!

PEACE

Mother's Day 2007

Happy Mother's Day 2007

Peek-a-Boo through the poppy field!

Beautiful yellow, orange and yellow-orange colored poppy's...

Sooo Beautiful like us girls!

Mariah and I in a poppy field out in Blue Lake, CA. Off of Hwy 299 not too far up the road from here. It's awesome to bike ride through the hatchery and the levees have trails that go along the Mad River. You can see baby in my belly poking through the bathing suit top. We rode our bikes all over, and had snacks while playing in the river. We watched birds through binoculars, chased polly wogs, collected rocks and Mariah did some fishing.

You can see Mariah with the fishing pole behind me here, looks like she's poking me with it! Little turkey, but naaah she's just trying to catch a fish. I'm slightly blocking my baby belly which at this time wasn't so big. Aagh and I could still wear those shorts too! Happy Mother's Day! YEAH!

We rode our bikes through the hatchery and across a bed of rocks to get to this spot, it's all the way in the back of the hatchery. Chad and I don't have fishing licenses so Mariah was fishing ;-)

This is one of my favorite places to go, especially for a bike ride!

The Infamous MJB turns 11 on May 19th 2007!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIAH JUSTINE BOYCE

born May 19, 1996 - weighing in at 8lbs 6oz

Mariah wanted to cut her own cake, check out this monsterous piece, you know it!! Check this piece out baby! Number 11 representing on the softball! Woot woot!

Good morning birthday girl in her ever so COOL p-jay's

Mariah turned 11 on May 19th, 2007. WOW! 11 years has already soared by faster than one can blink. She just graduated the 5th grade and is moving onto middle school this year 6th -8th grade. Cannot believe how much she has grown up already. MJB has become a wonderful athlete, musician, and outdoorsgirl. Mariah plays all sports and is very competitive. Mariah's favorite sport as for now is SOFTBALL, but she plays basketball, soccer and is going to expand her horizons this next year at her new middle school ZANE, wonder what fall sport she'll try out for, they are offering volleyball (which her mom wants her to try because she is gonna be a tall girl) also they have golf and soccer. So we'll see which one she trys out for, maybe all three and see which one she makes!

She loves to bike, hike, go body surfing, boogy boarding, skateing, skateboarding, camping, and loves to play her instruments: recorder, trombone, guitar (acoustic and electric), and she even tries to play the keyboard. Mariah is a fan of legos, and can build them up and so detailed more than any kid out there I know! She got a new mountain bike for her birthday with gears, so she can keep up with the big folks' when we're out on our mountain terran bike rides-splishing and splattering mud all over! The best is when it flicks up from the back and splatters your clothes... woohoo!