Eye of the Tribal Flower AE cointest

[JohnMac56]

Jay, thanks for hosting this awesome cointest and thanks for your kind words and sharing your own story. I guess we have more in common than just geocaching, geocoins and spinning music...

 

Lately I've been working my tail off at my job (the busiest time of year for us) sometimes as much as 14-16 hours a day and have been in a kind of funk almost as if the depression I suffered when I quit using was creeping back into my life until I saw this cointest. Once I saw it and read a couple of other peoples stories I decided I would tell mine, and you know what, it has helped to pull me back out of the funk I was in. I guess I was just getting too busy with work and things to remember just exactly where I came from and putting it all out there for everyone to see made all the difference. I woke this morning feeling MUCH better (mentally) than I have in the past few months and I believe it was all from posting my story here!

 

So thanks for giving me an outlet for my story Jay! Also a special thanks go out to a couple of folks here who have emailed me privately about my post (you know who you are) and for sharing some of their own stories with me.

 

Stay strong brother and keep staying clean! If you ever need to talk just send me a line....

[+jasondulac]

I am thankful that my mom is here with me today.

My mom has bi polar as do I. 3 years ago here twin brother died. She was really close to him It was actually a miracla he lived as long as he did. He was born with water on the brain the docters said he wouldn' live past the age of 2. by age 5 he went compleatly blind and ended up in a home at age 18 he got pushed down the stairs and lost the use of his legs.. but no mater what what happend in his life he was always happy and that happines spread to all the people he talked to. his lats few years of life were tough he was put on a feeding tube but he still had high spirits. when he died my mom took it really hard and her ilness got bad. the year on there birthday she tried to take her life and also the year after that both times I found her it was hard to see my mom like this. so this year me and my dad talked my mom into taking counciling and it heleped she gone a whole year with out ending up in the hospital and for that I am greatful.

jason, i am sorry to hear that,, mabie you can point this thread out to your mom,, and mabie she will read it and have a bit different perspective on life. mabie it will show her shes not alone, and we all have our trials,, but we all wake up the next day and that is something to be thankfull for in itself. then theres so many reasons through out every day to be greatfull for things or peps.. it sounds like you mother is going thru a hard time, i hope she finds a way to look towards everyday and be thankfull!! i hope she has an awake as i have ,, i cant tell you the many blessings i have each and every day now!! life is so much different when you look at it from the other end.

life in this era has trained us to care about cars, and houses, and what we want to pass the time and money seems to rule the world. but this is not what we should pay attention to. your mother needs to heal, i lost my father at 13 it took me 8 years to heal from that and i hardly ever saw him. but after you heal you become stronger. send your mother our way and we will fill her heart with caring forum users and compassion for one another. i truely feel like this is sort of a second home for me , and am wowed at the type of person you become being here!! i hope your mom finds her strength and well being,, and you should tell her every day you are there for her and remind her how much you love her, that in itself will help the healing process, because she will have somthing or someone to live for and someone to be thankfull for. i hope i said this right. good luck in your trials with your mother jason!

Thanks jay for your kind words my mom been doing good this year beter than the past I also got her into geocaching wich she likes because it get's her out of the house she evan starting to get a mini geocoin colection going

[+gardengorilla]

I'm grateful for the precious little bundle that was born to us 9 days ago today.

 

July 25 @ 13:30 Kevin David Olofsson was born in Hudiksvall, Sweden. He was 3035g/6.7lbs and 47cm long/18.5" and his 'big little' sister Caitlyn and big sister Hanna are just smitten...as are mamma and pappa!

 

Kevin is our last baby, my body let me know this time that I was too old to do it again, sadly enough, but we're all over the moon happy to have him in our lives!

 

 

 

Congrats Naomi! He IS sweet!!! I haven't been on the forums for the last month or so....so I must have missed this...I am so happy you are both healthy and...a boy! They are awesome, soooo much fun!

[Team_Merchlinsky]

What I am grateful for...

 

My father I think is one of the bigest things i am grateful for . He has done so much for me as i was growing up i dont know where to start . He had a bad stroke back in Feb . He is no longer to care for him self . So my husband are kids and my selfe moved in to take care of him .

 

He is not able to work or drive . He has trubble using steps so every day is a challange . He now has to use a walker to get around . So this meens he can not cook or carry things . Basciley we have to do all most every thing for him.

 

Since the last stroke he has had 2 miney strokes if we where not here he would of not got help . Him and my mother are devoriced for 2 years now .

 

I am also gratefull that we are able to help take care of him . It is very hard to tacke care of some you you love and see them get worse.

[+goosetail]

Here is a cointest I promised for an AE version.

 

I am sooo greatful to be apart of the Geocoin forums, you users are the best. Im selling my AEs right now on ebay to raise money to pay my medical bills, and have been floored at the bids that have come in, and just want to say thanks, by giving a few coins away..

 

so the rules are simple,, all you have to do is,, tell me........ What you are greatful for.

i will decide what posts are the winners , i will also deside how many coins to give away, i will decide when to end the cointest and why the post wins.....

 

you may post as many times as you like but can win only one time... so with that said i also reserve the right to change the rules,,, ha ha ha so ,,,,, go!!!

 

I have a story and perhaps it will help you directly in some way.

In 1977 I had a brain hemorrhage from a ruptured aneurysm. After two brain surgeries and three month’s in the hospital I came out of it all with the most positive attitude one can imagine. I returned to school, I was 31 at the time, and became a operating room tech. Before this I would faint at the site of a needle. I had to see just how the repair was done. I did get several chances to participate in the procedure that was done on me. I spent many years working for the County of Los Angeles in the operating room and loved every minute of it. At a certain point my hips began to fail, avascular necrosis due to all the steroids I was given to keep the brain swelling to a minimum following the hemorrhage. I had to retire from the OR and have both hips replaced in 1993. I feel so fortunate to still be here and enjoying life. Geocaching and collecting geocoins is something I would never have wanted to miss.

Chin up, they can do wonders these days in the OR.

[+mysts99]

This coin is beautiful but I am just grateful to say that I am most thankful for my son. He is my heart and my life. He is an absolue joy and my proudest accomplishemnt. I am also thankful for my family, especially my mother. We lost my father nearly 4 years ago and my mom has proven what a strong woman she is. She is 85 years old and still lives on her own. I am there several times a week to keep her company, and then any time she needs me, but she is so independant. She is a real example of the greatest generation, which is dwindling fast.

Edited August 8, 2009 by mysts99

[+pumpkinking27]

I am greatful for my son. bottom line, he was born almost a year ago, and it was the happiest day in mine, and my wife's life. We couldnt be more greatful for him.

[+Chi-Town Cacher]

What am I grateful for? Well, there's all the usual really important things like family and friends, but I want to take a moment to acknowledge a group of people we don't pay a lot of attention too. Those people are the moderators here on Groundspeak. Although there are times they have to kind of firmly push us into compliance with the site rules it is that same not so pleasant job of theirs that keeps this site from deteriorating into an unpleasant environment with lots of over the top fighting or from gradually becoming nothing more than a huge advertisement for vendors. So to all the moderators thank you for the job you do because without you folks slinging some bricks at us from time to time this place would not be nearly as nice to hang out in. Keep up the good work and know you are appreciated even if we don't say it often enough!!!!

[+drgnfly19822]

Iam greatful and thankful for the wonderful family, health, friends, love and job that I have. My family may not have much but atleast we can put food on the table, love and I real feel for the people that can't afford to do so. I really have a big heart and find it hard, not to be able to help those that need funds for food, and health. No one should every be in need for the essentials of life. Lets hope we all win a millions to help the ones that need it for health and food.

Edited August 9, 2009 by drgnfly19822

[+drgnfly19822]

I am greatful for the troops (and their families) that are fighting oversea, so we at home can have a better life. They must have such big heart and be awful courageous to do that for all of us. Their families must be so worried about their loved ones. God bless you all.

[+DJ.J.ROCK]

I just love this cointest, i have mailed out all my winners this far, and have another on the auctions

 

heres the link theres 11 hrs left and it stands at 8.50

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=250479257791

[love2cat]

Life has been really interesting for me this year. I have learned a few life lessons, taken some bumps, struggled, felt depression, lost friends, gained friends and learned to slow the pace at which I live my life. The story I share happened a few months ago, however it has had tremendous impact on me.

 

Our family traditionally gets together on Sundays for a family dinner. My step dad was somewhat lucid and lethargic that day and seemed to be maybe inebriated. My mom was annoyed and I just simply ignored it. My mom was going to watch our kids that night and we (the Mrs. And I) had anticipated a quiet time at home alone. About 9:30 that night my mom called and said she was going to take him to the hospital due to the fact he had a headache that was persistent and he was just out of it. My wife and I headed to town to p/u our kids from my sister (she was at my moms still so she waited for us to return to town). After we got home my mom called and said that my step dad just had a seizure at the hospital and they were quickly running tests to figure out what was going on. My wife works in the medical field so she rushed back to town to aid and be with my mom. Sometime between 1:00 and 2:00 am they found he had two aneurysms and one burst. At 3:30 that morning he was flown from Kalispell to Seattle to be with specialists there. That same morning my wife called and made arrangements to have friends and family immediately come to our house to watch our kids and animals so we could make an 9 hour trip to be by my step dads side. Once we arrived it was extremely difficult to see him hooked up to all this life support equipment and not knowing what the outcome might be. After 3 weeks he was able to return home and was severely limited due to the damage done. I never really appreciated my step dad before this. I always thought of him as my mom's husband, that's it. During this healing time, I was able to reflect and see the light of his ways. He was not a mean guy, he loved me, he wanted the best for me, he wanted me to excel, He really was treating me as his own son, and I was failing to realize it.

 

Through this whole ordeal I learned a lot from reflection and was grateful for many things including him being able to be with us today.

 

When I reflect on this whole ordeal the two things I’m most grateful for are;

 

1. Friends: When we were able to call friends at 3:00 am and make arrangements so early in the morning on extremely short notice to take care of our house, kids and animals while we took my mom to Seattle, I’m very grateful!!!

2. My step dads aneurysms: This may sound peculiar, however if it were not for these, I would never have forced myself to realize the big picture I was missing. I was running my life at full throttle not paying attention to what was passing me by, LIFE. Each friendship, family member, acquaintance means more to me then ever before. Every second of every day has meaning, and we need to take it in, we don’t know what the future may bring. I’m EXTREMELY grateful!!!!!

[+Mar-elendili]

Just got back from holiday and I see there's plenty of great threads going on... it will take a lot of time to catch up with everything!

 

Jay, I'm really sorry to read about your health and I send you my best heartfelt wishes. I hope you will get better soon and that your geocoin sales will help you out!

 

As for me, I'm very grateful to have a good health, I haven't had any serious problem as of yet and I hope it will go on. I am also grateful to share so many things with my husband, almost every activity that appeals to one appeals to the other as well, so we get to spend a lot of time together and share a lot of great experiences together. And I am quite aware that must be rare.

[MrsJonesen]

I received my coin today, with a nice note that brightened my day. Thanks, Jay, for hosting the cointest. I wish you strength through your ordeal and best wishes for a most positive outcome for your health issues.