folded wisdom

A candle burns for you always.

LOVE makes the world go around.

To: Theo

I appreciate you because you are so full of life - because you live the Vida Loca - because you can be so sweet and tender and so tough too! Love, dad

Will you be my Valentine?

Valentines Day isn't the only day when it's good to say "I love you." Every day is the right day to say... I love you!

There is no love in the entire world like the love I feel for you! You are a bright, shining star in the sky of my life. Like the stars that sailors use to direct them over sea - You direct my life. Know that first and always I love you!

Did I tell you I love you today and everyday. Good days, bad days, always. Did I? Did I tell you yet today? Well I do - I did - I always will! It really is quite simple. Yes indeed. I know it's all not easy. There's good days and bad days for us all. But I'll always be there cheering when you make it. I'll always help you up when you fall.

Have I told you recently just how much I love you? How proud I am of you? Well I love you so much it almost hurts sometimes. And when you try your best at whatever you do I'm so proud of you. I don't care if you win or lose if I see you trying your best.

In sports, in Spanish, in everything. Just try your best and win or lose, A+ or C-, you never have to feel bad. I will always love you!

Life is good! But there are still things that must be done that are hard and no fun. Life is good! But there are still people who do bad things that hurt us, hurt people we love, that hurt our world. Still, life is good! ... Because there is Love.

(Learn & Live Theo)

Christmas time is about Love Theo! It's about the Love of little babies. It's about how all of us - all people in the world - love babies. The Swiss, the Italians, the French, the Germans, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Israelis, the Palestinians, the Iraqis - everyone. Everyone loves babies. If we could only all love each other. What a great world it would be!

Good morning! You know what my job is? You know what the most important thing I have to do in this whole world is? To love you no matter what! To help you however I can! To teach you love other people! To teach you to love yourself! To help you be what you want to be! That's all!

Cry when it's time to cry. Love when it's time to love. Laugh when it's time to laugh. Love when it's time to love. Help when it's time to help. Love when it's time to love. Accept help when it's time to accept it. Love when it's time to love. Work when it's time to work. Love when it's time to love. Play when it's time to play. Love when it's time to love. Speak when it's time to speak. Love when it's time to love. Listen when it's time to listen. Love when it's time to love.

Two candles for two kids. Two kids that I love so much. Two kids whose hopes and dreams are my hopes and dreams. Joanna's moving on to college -- the big university life out in Arizona.  You've got three more years here in high school, a lot of living and learning to do.  But you'll do it I know.  I have faith in you Theo.  I got your back!

Take a moment, everyday - even if it's just one, but at least one - take that moment, in that moment remember you are well loved. And after you have taken a moment to remember that you are so well loved, take another moment to reflect on those that you love as well. Your mom (me, maybe?), your sister, GG, your aunts and uncles and cousins - certain friends can find themselves included on your list. Remember that loving someone doesn't automatically mean they will love you in return. You have to earn love, and even then, sometimes your loving them is still not enough. Love is hard & love is sweet.

Workin' hard! Chippin' away at the rock of life. Tickin' off the words, the seconds, the sweat and the cracklin' synapses. Thinkin' to myself on paper - aimin' my love towards you like a sunbeam - all inclusive, all encompassing - always there for you. Constant as the Northern Star and a whole lot closer. ("Put your arms around me like a circle round the sun.") There's nothing like lovin' - the giving and the getting of it. Soak it in Theo - and never hold back from giving it to whomever you feel needs it - wants it, deserves it, returns it. Work hard my son for your future depends on it. It's not a scary thought, it's an awesome one. Grab the bull by the horns and wrestle it to the ground!