Progress

135 days and 12 hours closer to home. ♥

My Cousin Is Super-de-duper

You can't beat this ♥
RAWR!!!!

Let's Do This Instead...

I wish I knew who posted this first.
I would thank them for it. ♥

The Butterfly Project.

The rules are:
1. When you feel like you want to cut, take a marker, pen, or sharpies and draw a butterfly on your arm or hand.
2. Name the butterfly after a loved one, or someone that really wants you to get better.
3. You must let the butterfly fade naturally. NO scrubbing it off.
4. If you cut before the butterfly is gone, you’ve killed it. If you don't cut, it lives. If you have more than one butterfly, cutting kills all of them.
5. Another person may draw them on you. These butterflies are extra special. Take good care of them.
6. Even if you don’t cut, feel free to draw a butterfly anyways, to show your support.
7. If you do this, name it after someone you know that cuts or is suffering right now, and tell them. It could help.



Please do this instead of cutting. It's healthier. I'll draw a butterfly on you if I ever meet you. I promise.

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence”

Aristotle

Calendar of Events

August 15th: Warped Tour
http://vanswarpedtour.com

September 10th and 11th: Move Conference in Portland
http://www.twloha.com/move/move-conference/

September 26th: Blue October Pick-Up the Phone Tour
http://www.pickupthephone.org/

1 in 19 million

Stand up.
Speak out.
19 million Americans struggle with depression.
I am 1 of those 19 million.
I will be heard.

Random Acts of Love: Day 40

My son came to visit today. It's been a long time since I've seen him. Not long in comparison to other people I suppose, but about a month is long for me. He has felt uncomfortable about visiting because I still see him as my little boy. It was a nice visit. We had pizza and played games. And I taught him how to make salsa. Not a big deal to anyone else, but my son loves salsa. He has since he was a baby. Teaching him how to make it himself was hard... it felt like now he really doesn't need me anymore. But now he knows that I know he's a man ♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 39

I love True like one of my own children. Sometimes kids need time away. Just to think. To relax. To just be a kid. Today I took True to get Jamba Juice and take the truck through the car wash. Most relaxing experience all day, for both of us ♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 38

Silly? Yes, horribly. But she really just wanted the experience of drawing a mustache on a passed out drunk person. So, we searched high and low for an intoxicated sleeper. The one we found was not quite what we were looking for. He was pretending. But since we made such the effort to find a victim for our friend, he made the effort to make her wish come true. Team Acts of Love are the best ♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 37

On rare occasion I get to play nurse on the road. Usually it for banged up boys who get scraped up doing mechanic work or building a structure of some sort. Today it was for a rough and tumble girl wielding a knife. A knife which she cut herself on not once, but twice and then managed to get blood on her face, hands and clothing. Lucky for her, I am excellent at first aid and know how to get blood out of clothing before the stain sets ♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 36

This was my epic turning point. A man came up to me today and asked about my arm. "Explain To Write Love On Her Arms", he said, "Explain why you are doing this". And so I began, "To Write Love On Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. I am a cutter, struggling with depression. So is my daughter. I am fighting to make a difference. I will make a difference. I will."
Telling him my story was my random act for the day.

That man hugged me. "I know you will", he said. [And that was his] ♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 35

I went for a drive with the most amazing girl today. She inspired me and gave me new found hope in my purpose. We talked of things most people don't understand and shared experiences that are rare and hard to come by. We had a strange connection that usually take years to achieve. Our drive ended up being pointless as we were blocked from our destination, but the things we learned on our journey made it all worthwhile. Today I made a new friend and I am blessed ♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 34

I was standing in New Seasons Market and I got a text from my cousin telling me how awesome I was. I don’t remember being awesome but she made me smile all the same. I decided that people should be surprised like that all the time so I bought these cards there. I’m going to mail them out to people so they can get the same smile I did ♥

“If you do not breathe through writing, if you do not cry out in writing, or sing in writing, then don't write, because our culture has no use for it.”

-Anais Nin

Random Acts of Love: Day 33

I know it seems silly but sometimes it's the little things that make a world of difference. You have no idea how much this jelly meant to a 13 year old boy. The smile he gave me for buying him this made my entire week. ♥

Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with.

-MARK TWAIN

Uber Excited Happy Dancing Commencing Now

Random Acts of Love: Day 32

So Kimmie and I have found that jogging in the morning gets the day moving and walking in the evening winds the day back down. Tonight we planned our walk a little earlier so we could have babies in tow. Lily and Sam have only met one other time but we figured it would be nice to get them out and moving, plus it would tire them out for a good nights sleep. What we didn't know was that they would be best of friend by the end of the walk. Walking 3 hours earlier made my daughter the happiest kid today ♥

I Miss Summer

As an adult, summer is just not the same.
I can't laze around in the heat of the sun
and spend my time playing in the water like I did when I was younger.
I suppose if I were wealthy things would be different, but I'm not;
ergo, it isn't.
The season just seems to elude me,
playing peek-a-boo with my inner child.
A trait which makes my 5 minute glimpses of childhood bliss seem like
big screen technicolor with surround sound.
One day, summer, we will have 133,920 minutes in a row.
I promise ♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 31

My cousin Erinn is pretty much the coolest kid in Roseburg, Oregon. She makes me smile from 134 miles away. Yesterday, I saw that she joined the To Write Love On Her Arms Street Team and it filled me with pride to be related to such an awesome girl. So today I bought her a TWLOHA shirt so she would know how special I think she is... scratch that... how special I know she is. ♥

My Next Tattoo?

Random Acts of Love: Day 30

Today was rough. I cried a lot. I cried some more. And then, when I thought I was done... I came home from work and cried again. Knowingly, my friend Kimmie texted me to come take a late night walk and burn off some anxious energy. So I found my sandals and my jacket and made way to the door where a big, excited Tank was prancing about. I won't lie, I hate walking the dog. He wants to explore and tug and pull his way along. There is no calm, there is no strolling. But I took him anyway. And he is extremely tired but extremely happy ♥

Little Girl...

You are very much on your own journey which I neither lead nor follow. I can show you the path, but I cannot make you stay on it. I will not travel down the road of self destruction with you, but continue to offer you a tether to safety. Threatening to harm yourself will not make me falter. You have a choice, you have free will to make your own decisions. I am a beacon to light your way home, I just won't force you to come back against your will. I am sorry you are in pain. I will help you if you accept it, I just won't take blame for the pain you continue to inflict on yourself. Know you are loved and that the change must start with you.

Chose your words carefully. Speak with intention. Love others. Accept love from those who offer it. Do good things. Make good decisions. Learn from your mistakes. There are no excuses. Take responsibility for your life and live it to the best of your ability.

Remember that I love you.

"You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection."

~ Buddha

Random Acts of Love: Day 29

I own a pretty awesome little light table. It saves me from having to go to the shop to work on pieces a lot of times. I also have a pretty awesome business partner. He has never let me down and has been a true friend for years. Today he called and needed my light table. This act of love was a total, hands down gimme. Without question or hesitation I offered to drive it out to where he was working at a mobile event. Seventy-five miles later, I'm home again and he has the light table. ♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 28

I love the Mann family. They are sweet kind and giving. They are always there to lend a hand, an ear, or even a shoulder to cry on. Today is the anniversary of the passing of an important woman in their family. Today I was lucky enough to share in their memories and help complete a tribute ♥

Adoration: The Love Project

Solace Counseling

Solace Counseling from To Write Love on Her Arms. on Vimeo.

Random Acts of Love: Day 27

My random act of love today is a secret. But it involves silicone bracelets and someone I am proud to have as a friend. When I am able to tell everyone, I will. But for now... just assume it is awesome ♥

While there’s life, there’s hope.

-Marcus Tullius Cicero

We Shall Not Forget

I invite you to visit the Invisible Children website to remember [or learn about] a true hero: Nate Henn.
http://www.invisiblechildren.com

Random Acts of Love: Day 26

I can’t get enough of these post-its.
Post-it vandal ♥

Persevere: The Love Project

Random Acts of Love: Day 25

Today I registered to be an IMAlive Volunteer.
I am not giving up on the world... or you ♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 24

Ray lost his sunglasses yesterday. He had bought them at a merch booth at the Rip City event we were at. He was totally bummed, mostly because he had just bought them that day to replace a pair almost exactly like them that had broke. Last night I looked through the phone book for the people who had sold the pair to him. He was amazed that I had even paid attention to who sold them, mostly because he didn't. When we got to the shop they remembered him and told him that was the last pair. Epic Fail. So tonight, when I got home, I searched madly on the internet for the elusive wayfarers that he liked so much.
Ray's sunglasses are being sent out tomorrow morning ♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 23

I don't mind the heat and I don't really mind walking. The Cimarron Inn is 1.8 miles from The Epicenter Bowling Alley. We stayed at the Cimarron, we worked at the Epicenter. We also walked. Manny is not a fan of walking in the heat for long distances down a busy street. So aside from stopping to take a picture of this gianormous dandelion, I walked beside him and talked him along. I know he didn't need me to, he could have made it there perfectly fine. But words of encouragement are what friends do ♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 22

I am not one to address people I don't know by name. Using someone's name gives you an intimacy I am not used to with people I am not very comfortable with. When talking to strangers or people I barely know, I tend to say, "excuse me" or just wait for them to look my way. This was my 4th time in the Denny's in Klamath Falls. This was my 4th time seeing him. This was my first time acknowledging him by name. We aren't friends. We may not even see each other again. But today I introduced my friend Ray to Byron, one of the nicest waiters I've ever met. ♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 21

Somewhere between Salem and Sisters is mile marker 59. We stopped there to get out, stretch our legs and take in nature. It's just a dirt turn-out near the river but a beautiful spot all the same. Manny and Ray took off down to the river bank while I snapped picture after picture of the surrounding beauty. When I focused in closer to where I was standing, I saw a red soda straw on the ground. Moving the camera away from my face, I noticed litter all along the turn-out. Gloved up, with trash bag in hand, I scoured the area until all the litter was picked up.
Love Earth. Save the Planet ♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 20

Post-it Vandal. I'll admit it. I love these things ♥

Remembrance: The Love Project

Random Acts of Love: Day 19

I am not a fan of scrubbing tubes. Seriously NOT A FAN. Sadly, I'm picky about who scrubs my tubes for me, so it's usually me. I am however, willing to scrub Manny's tubes when I have to scrub my own because he is willing to do the same for me. But that is it. Unless it's today and your name is Sharkbait and you are every so lucky that I am in a loving mood. Bait... your tubes are clean ♥

VOTE

Please vote for the Kristin Brooks Hope Center to win $250K for online suicide prevention: vote here http://bit.ly/vote_hope

"If you had one phone call to make before you died, who would you call, what would you say, and why are you WAITING?!"

-Unknown

Random Acts of Love: Day 18

My husband stayed up all night with a man named Mike on the side of the road while Mike took apart my truck from gas tank to engine because it wouldn't start after a stop at The La Pine Mini Mart for food and drink. At about 4 a.m. he had wrapped me up in a blanket and given me a pillow so I could try and sleep through the ordeal and after an hour of sobbing I fell into a troubled sleep just wanting to be home in my own bed with my children near. At seven a.m. the truck was fixed and we were on our way, both of us exhausted. I told myself I would drive until I reached the rest stop just past the Detroit Dam where I would take a nap or wake my husband to drive the rest of the way. When we got there, I shut the engine off and took a deep breath. Thirty-eight miles to Salem. Thirty-eight miles to a warm bed. Thirty-eight miles to baby hugs.

I gathered myself together, kissed my sleeping husband and drove the rest of the way home.

Random Acts of Love: Day 17

I have known Madee since she was a little girl. I hadn't seen her in quite some time but I did catch up with her again a few months ago. She is an amazing artist and a wonderful person. I don't think she realizes how awesome she really is. I wanted to make sure she always knew, where ever she goes in the world, whatever she does, she is going there and doing it loved.♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 16

Post-it Vandal Strikes Again ♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 15

Today I saw the Traveling Vietnam Wall. Beside it stood the Global War On Terror Wall. These soldiers all died on my birthday. I am grateful for my freedom. Today I decided that from now on, for my birthday I will honor them. Each year to remember them, I will have eight candles for eight brave people. I will remember them with love ♥

Random Acts of Love: Day 14

I work weekends in a mobile tattoo studio. Sometimes my seat for the ride is an ice chest between the regular seats of the van. I am not a fan of those times. There never seems to be enough cushion, even when sitting on pillows and blankets. This trip, Nat was the sitter-of-the-chest. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, so I let her ride in my backseat. ♥