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I’m now a proud aunt to a 3rd baby girl! On October 16, 2023, Emersyn Scott Steinman was born. Sisters Avery, 10 and Madilyn, 3, are happy to have another sister. Now I have another niece to spoil! I shared some pictures below. Also, my birthday was the 19th. I didn’t do much, except have some cheesecake after dinner. I don’t eat many sweets, so that’s a big deal for me. Although I do love cheesecake.

Emersyn and Me

Emmy

Madi, age 3

I’m so glad the pandemic is pretty much over. It’s allowed me to get out of the house more. That especially means ABLE, which I have been working hard at still. I believe being able to go to Sister Kenny twice a week has been one of the most beneficial things for me. Not only physically, but mentally as well. Being able to focus and connect the two is vital, especially for someone with a spinal cord injury. It also feels great to get some exercise.

I remember back when I was talking about how much water weight I had gained, causing edema. After being in the hospital in the beginning of March 2021, I wrote about my progress. The following quote is from a blog post I did August 9, 2021.

“Since being in the hospital to try to find the source of my edema, I’ve lost over 20 pounds of fluid. I guess they were right about my seizure medication being the source of my water weight gain. I feel so much better, and people have been noticing a significant difference as well. There is more fluid that I could lose over time, and I believe ABLE will help with that.”

After weighing myself this past Saturday, I can successfully say I went from 190 pounds before the hospital down to 134 pounds. That’s a total of 66 pounds, and I’m pretty sure most of it is water weight. I’m not trying to lose anymore, as I’m feeling healthier and better. I really notice a difference from the pictures I shared above with Emmy and the ones I shared in 2020 with Madi when she was born.

Jenni

Here are some recent poems I have written:

Feeling Pain

Pain walks into my life

needing more than I can give

no matter how loud I scream

it doesn’t ever want to leave

Like a homeless dog

who comes to the back door

wanting nothing more than help

not able to give it attention

Unlikely to leave me soon

I’m forced to feed it even more

finding a space within me

might take some freedom away

Lights flicker when I leave

any room between the gates

showing just how much I feel

like it will never be the same

An unbearable task at hand

I’ve come to an agreement

I seek for freedom to live a life

where doors are always open

Opening up

Something came into the world,

changing me, broadcasting out

ways I would have never known,

without experiencing this time

Feeling the movement growing

seeing strength outside the plain

breaking open, becoming bigger

I step beyond limitations aside

Using a footstool to reach higher,

diving into an ocean of beauty,

ripples spread, touching others,

giving eyes to see and ears to hear

Shedding away, opening my core

grateful to be alive during this time,

allowing an experience to view

vulnerable sides showcasing time

Poems and Quotes

Whether you’re looking for poems about life to celebrate a loved one or for yourself for inspiration, you’ll find that each one is unique and has a different meaning. They may be short, unique, strong and powerful or long, impactful, meaningful and courageous. Narrative poems may tell a story or simply paint a picture. Motivational poems about life encourage us to take on a new perspective. Other poems about life may stop you in your tracks and cause you to think. 

There are also many quotes out there. They may be only a sentence or two, but just as influential as a poem. These are reasons why I like poems and quotes so much, especially after my accident. They have the power to change people’s minds about certain issues and situations in life. 

That brings me back to my favorite quote and what I always say about it: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." This quote has two meanings for me. The first meaning is exactly how it’s stated. The second is a literal and more personal meaning. Life is not measured by the number of breaths I take, which happens to be 14 breathes a minute, but by the moment that took my breath away.

Jenni

Poems about Life Struggles

Life Is Precious

The gracefulness

of a butterfly,

how gentle,

and fragile they seem.

Gently fluttering,

on a calm summers day,

floating like,

a dream.

But sadly,

their time is over,

Hardly before it’s begun.

So enjoy

your special moments,

like a butterfly,

in the sun.

-Anonymous

The Roller Coaster Life

We are just in a whole crazy,

Perplexing roller coaster ride;

When we have problems,

We are at the downside.

But sure, the time will come

When with the sky we’ll collide;

Where the good feelings came

And the pain will all subside.

So when the time comes

 you are going to fall;

You should always know

That He’s the one to call.

Eventually, you’ll soar up;

The wheels will start to roll;

‘Till you reach the peak,

and You’ll be standing tall.

-Anonymous

Past, Present, Future

Our past we can’t recapture.

It’s over and it’s done.

No way to recover time;

All those days are gone.

No amount of coloring

painting with bright hue

can change the way things happened.

No way to make it true.

No use fretting over

Regretting bygone days

No need to get entangled

In memory’s purple haze.

Or caught up in unraveling

( or, of hoping we could do )

things that didn’t go the way

that we would want them to.

The future is uncertain

No way for us to see,

the things that tomorrow’s holding,

for you or for me!

NOW is what’s obtainable,

just moments here to share.

The future comes so quickly –

unseen but waiting there.

Seize the present moments.

Grab all we can contain!

Our future are elusive.

Our past we cannot chain!

-June Kellum

Faith and Courage in Life

In life there are people that will hurt us and cause us pain,
but we must learn to forgive and forget and not hold grudges.

In life there are mistakes we will make,
but we must learn from our wrongs and grow from them.

In life there are regrets we will have to live with,
but we must learn to leave the past behind and realize it is something we can't change.

In life there are people we will loose forever and can't have back,
but we must learn to let go and move on.

In life there are going to be obstacles that will cause interference,
but we must learn to overcome these challenges and grow stronger.

In life there are fears that will hold us back from what we want,
but we must learn to fight them with the courage from within.

God holds our lives in his hands. He holds the key to our future.
Only he knows our fate.

He sees everything and knows everything.
Everything in life really does happen for a reason: "God's Reason" 
 
-Anonymous
 

Happy Thanksgiving

More Than A Day

As Thanksgiving Day rolls around,
It brings up some facts, quite profound.
We may think that we're poor,
Feel like bums, insecure,
But in truth, our riches astound.

We have friends and family we love;
We have guidance from heaven above.
We have so much more
Than they sell in a store,
We're wealthy, when push comes to shove.

So add up your blessings, I say;
Make Thanksgiving last more than a day.
Enjoy what you've got;

Realize it's a lot,
And you'll make all your cares go away.

-By Karl Fuchs
 

Faith, Love, Peace and Joy

Faith: Bigger than yourself. I don’t claim to understand it. I trust in something bigger than myself.
 

Love: if you want to feel that kind of love, you have to give it first. It will change you and everyone around you.

Peace: Like a river… It flows and never stops.

Joy: Love, living, and sacrifice. I thank God for choosing me. It is well with my soul! This life I live.

-Anonymous

Quote of the Day

"I will act now. I will act now. I will act now. Henceforth, I will repeat these words, each hour, each day, every day, until the words become as much a habit as my breathing, and the action which follows becomes as instinctive as the blinking of my eyelids. With these words I can condition my mind to perform every action necessary for my success. I will act now. I will repeat these words again and again and again. I will walk where failures fear to walk. I will work when failures seek rest. I will act now for now is all I have. Tomorrow is the day reserved for the labor of the lazy. I am not lazy. Tomorrow is the day when the failure will succeed. I am not a failure. I will act now. Success will not wait. If I delay, success will become wed to another and lost to me forever. This is the time. This is the place. I am the person."
-Og Mandino

A Poem That Fits

Determined I Shall Be

Keeping myself optimistic
Each day begins anew
Looking on the bright side
That's what I had to do

Erasing negative thoughts
So doubts will disappear
In knowing I have patience
I continued to persevere

Persistence always helps
In using determination
I'm never one for giving up
Whatever the situation

In believing all is possible
That is so true of me
Everyday I remind myself
Determined I shall be

-Hope

One Day at a Time

Finish every day and be done with
it. You have done what you
could. Some blunders and
absurdities no doubt crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day; begin it
well and serenely and with too high
a spirit to be cumbered with your
old nonsense. This day is all that
is good and fair. It is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations, to
waste a moment on yesterdays.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Forgiving

The Compassion of Love Is the Compassion of Forgiveness

Many people are locked up in guilt,
feelings of unworthiness,
broken hearts and spirits,
fearful of being rejected.

To forgive is to call back
and to reveal that the person is loved, cherished,
and full of worth;
to forgive is to liberate
from the broken, crushed self image,
from feelings of guilt.
Forgiveness is to refined
the kiss of peace,
the kiss of covenant,
and to celebrate unity.

Forgiveness implies an understanding
of our own poverty, wretchedness, brokenness, and sin;
it implies too an openness
to receive the hand and words of love.
-Jean Vanier

You Get Proud by Practicing

by Laura Hershey

RIP

If you are not proud

For who you are, for what you say, for how you look;

If every time you stop

To think of yourself, you do not see yourself glowing

With golden light; do not, therefore, give up on yourself.

You can get proud.

You do not need

A better body, a purer spirit, or a Ph.D.

To be proud.

You do not need

A lot of money, a handsome boyfriend, or a nice car.

You do not need

To be able to walk, or see, or hear,

Or use big, complicated words,

Or do any of those things that you just can’t do

To be proud. A caseworker

Cannot make you proud,

Or a doctor.

You only need more practice.

You get proud by practicing.

There are many many ways to get proud.

You can try riding a horse, or skiing on one leg,

Or playing guitar,

And do well or not so well,

And be glad you tried

Either way.

You can show

Something you’ve made

To someone you respect

And be happy with it no matter

What they say.

You can say

What you think, though you know

Other people do not think the same way, and you can

keep saying it, even if they tell you

You are crazy.

You can add your voice

All night to the voices

Of a hundred and fifty others

In a circle

Around a jailhouse

Where your brothers and sisters are being held

For blocking buses with no lifts,

Or you can be one of the ones

Inside the jailhouse,

Knowing of the circle outside.

You can speak your love

To a friend

Without fear.

You can find someone who will listen to you

Without judging you or doubting you or being

Afraid of you

And let you hear yourself perhaps

For the very first time.

These are all ways

Of getting proud.

None of them

Are easy, but all of them

Are possible. You can do all of these things,

Or just one of them again and again.

You get proud

By practicing.

Power makes you proud, and power

Comes in many fine forms

Supple and rich as butterfly wings.

It is music

when you practice opening your mouth

And liking what you hear

Because it is the sound of your own

True voice.

It is sunlight

When you practice seeing

Strength and beauty in everyone,

Including yourself.

It is dance

when you practice knowing

That what you do

And the way you do it

Is the right way for you

And cannot be called wrong.

All these hold

More power than weapons or money

Or lies.

All these practices bring power, and power

Makes you proud.

You get proud

By practicing.

Remember, you weren’t the one

Who made you ashamed,

But you are the one

Who can make you proud.

Just practice,

Practice until you get proud, and once you are proud,

Keep practicing so you won’t forget.

You get proud

By practicing

A Poem That Fits

Determined I Shall Be

Keeping myself optimistic
Each day begins anew
Looking on the bright side
That's what I had to do

Erasing negative thoughts
So doubts will disappear
In knowing I have patience
I continued to persevere

Persistence always helps
In using determination
I'm never one for giving up
Whatever the situation

In believing all is possible
That is so true of me
Everyday I remind myself
Determined I shall be
-Hope

This poem relates to how I'm feeling now with everything going on. I am determined to stay positive and believe that everything will be okay. In this current situation, it can be easy to get depressed. I'm not going to give up.

Jenni

I Have Hope

Coping

Two people with callenges finding it hard to cope.
One with blindness and bitterness.
One with paralysis and hope.

The one with blindness and bitterness wonders,
what would of been.
The one with paralysis and hope wonders,
what will be.

The one with hope is happier and never gives up.
We all need hope.
To cope we have to accept what we are given in life.
To cope we have to have hope.
-Barbara Goodhew


I thought this poem was kind of interesting.

Jenni

A Kind Word

Too often we
underestimate the
power of a touch,
a smile, a kind word,
a listening ear,
an honest compliment,
or the smallest act
of caring, all of which
have the potential
to turn a life around.
-Leo Buscaglia

I have this book that has poems and quotes in it and I was reading it this morning. I really love to read other people's words, especially if they are encouraging or inspiring. I came across this poem and ended up reading it over a couple of times before moving on to the next. After I was done reading others in the book, I went back to it to read it again. The words are so simple yet so powerful and true. There are many people out there who are struggling or just having a bad day and it seems that just the littlest thing could help change the outcome. A friendly smile to a stranger or a compliment to someone close to you might just be all it takes.

Jenni

Installing Love

INSTALLING LOVE Author Unknown

Tech Support: Yes, ... how can I help you?

Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install Love. Can you guide me though the process?

Tech Support: Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?

Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?

Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?

Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install Love while they are running?

Tech Support: What programs are running?

Customer: Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge, and Resentment running right now.

Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?

Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?

Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.

Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?

Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.

Customer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says, "Error - Program not run on external components." What should I do?

Tech Support: Don't worry. It means that the Love program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.

Customer: So, what should I do?

Tech Support: Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self; Realize You’re Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.

Customer: Okay, done.

Tech Support: Now, copy them to the "My Heart" directory. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.

Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal?

Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes awhile, but eventually everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.

I think we all need to install love!

Jenni

An Inspirational Poem

Hold on Another Day

When darkness
like a heavy stone falls
and you're crushed by the weight of it all
Hold on another day
When your tears are streaming to the floor
and it seems your heart can't take any more
Hold on another day

When you think the whole world's against you
and your sweetest dreams
have all crumbled, too
Hold on another day
When your soul
is shattered to the core
and you don't know
what you're living for
Hold on another day

When false friends
prove themselves untrue
grinding your trust
like dust under their shoes
Hold on another day
When it's hard
to even breathe a breath
and you believe you would welcome death
Hold on another day

Hold on another day
Don't give up or give in
Hold on another day
start all over again
Sorrow comes to each and everyone
But tomorrow will bring a brand new sun
Hold on another day
Hold on another day
-Ben Laney

I don't know about you but this one made me tear up a bit. It hits very close to home. I guess it kind of sums it all up for me.

Jenni

Good Poem

I Will Be Worthy of It

I may not reach the heights I seek,
My untried strength may fail me;
Or, half-way up the mountain peak
Fierce tempests may assail me.
But though that place I never gain,
Herein lies comfort for my pain-
I will be worthy of it.

I may not triumph in success,
Despite my earnest labor;
I may not grasp results that bless
The efforts of my neighbor.
But though my goal I never see
This thought shall always go with me-
I will be worthy of it.

The golden glory of Love's light
May never fall on my way;
My path may always lead through night,
Like some deserted by-way.
But though life's dearest joy I miss
There lies a nameless strength in this-
I will be worthy of it.

-Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Cute Poem

Little drops of water, little grains of sand
Make the mighty ocean, and the pleasantly land:
So the little minutes, humble though they be,
Make the mighty ages of eternity.
Little deeds of kindness, little words of love,
Help to make earth happy, like Heaven up above.
-Julia Carney

I Believe...

I received this in an e-mail. I'm not quite sure who wrote it but I found it to be very true.

Subject: Things to think about

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born. A Death Certificate shows that we died. Pictures show that we lived!
I Believe....That just because two people argue, doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, doesn't mean they do love each other.
I Believe...That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.
I Believe...That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I Believe...That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I Believe...That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I Believe...That it's taking me a long timeto become the person I want to be.
I Believe....That you should always leave loved ones withloving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I Believe...That you can keep going long after you think you can't.
I Believe...That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I Believe....That either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I Believe...That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I Believe...That money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I Believe...That my best friend and I can do anything, or nothing, and have the best time.
I Believe...That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.
I Believe...That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I Believe...That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had, and what you've learned from them.....and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I Believe...That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I Believe...That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I Believe...That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I Believe...That you shouldn't be so eager to findout a secret. It could change your life forever.
I Believe...Two people can look at the exact samething and see something totally different.
I Believe...That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.
I Believe....That even when you think you have no more to give, if a friend cries out to you........you will find the strength to help.
I Believe...That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I Believe...That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything.
Be thankful for all the wonderful people who help us throughout the journey of life.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Jenni

Just Be Yourself

Just Be Yourself

To be who you are
is to be enough.
To share who you are
is to share enough.
To do what you love
is to do enough.

There is no race to win
and nothing to be proven,
only dreams to be nurtured,
a self to be expressed,
and love to be shared.

Never doubt your worth,
and always know,
without any doubt,
that you are truly valued.
-Donna Newman

A little poem to show that just being yourself is enough.

Jenni