Keep Believing In Yourself

Keep Believing In Yourself

There May Be Days When You Get Up,

In The Morning And Things Aren't The,

Way You Has Hoped They Would Be

That's When You Have Tell Yourself

That Will Get Better.

There Are Times When People Disappoint,

You And Let You Down

But Those Are The Time When You Must

Remind Yourself To Trust Your Own

Judgments And Opinions

To Keep Your Life Focused On Believing In

Yourself And All That You Are Capable Of

There Will Be Challenges To Face And

Changes To Make In Your Life

And It Is Up To You To Accept Them

Constantly Keep Yourself Headed In The Right Direction For You

It May Not Be Easy At Times

But In Those Time Of Struggle You Will Find A Stronger Sense Of Who You Are.

So When The Days Come That Are Filled

With Frustration And Unexpected Responsibilites Remember To Believe In Yourself

And All You Want Your Life To Be

Because The Challenges And Will Only Help You To Find The Goals That You Know Are Meant To Come True For You.

8 GIFTS TO SHARE.

1) THE GIFT OF LISTENING...

But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.

2) THE GIFT OF AFFECTION...

Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.

3) THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER...

Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."

4) THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE...

It can be a simple "Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

5) THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT...

A simple and sincere, "You look great in red," "You did a super job" or "That was a wonderful meal" can make someone's day.

6) THE GIFT OF A FAVOR...

Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

7) THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE...

There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

8/THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION...

The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone, really it's not that hard to say, "Hello" or "Thank you."

Mother's Love ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MUM'S LOVE

When you were 1 year old, she fed u and bathed u.

You thanked her, by crying all night long.

When you were 2 years old, she taught u to walk.

You thanked her by running away when she called.

When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals with love.

You thanked her, by tossing the plate on the floor.

When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons.

You thanked her, by colouring the Dining room table.

When you were 5years old, she dressed you for the holidays.

You thanked her, by plopping into the nearest.

When you were 6 years old, she walked you to school.

You thanked her by screaming,"I'M NOT GOING!".

When you were 7 years old, she bought you a baseball.

You thanked her, by throwing it through the next-door neighbour's window.

When you were 8 years old, she handed you an ice-cream.

You thanked her, by dripping it all over your lap.

When you were 9 years old, she paid for your piano lessons.

You thanked her, by never bothering to practise.

When you were 10 years old, she drove you all day; from soccer to gymnastic, to ane birthday party after another.

You thanked her, by jumping out of the car and never looking back.

When you were 11 years old, she took you and your friends to the movies.

You thanked her, by asking her to sit in a different row.

When you were 12 years old, she warned you not to watch certain TV shows.

You thanked her, by waiting till she left the home.

When you were 13 years old, she suggested a haircut.

You thanked her, by telling her she had no taste.

When you were 14 years old, she paid for a month away at summer camp.

You thanked her, by forgetting to write a single letter.

When you were 15 years old, she came home from work looking for a hug.

You thanked her, by having your bedroom door locked.

When you were 16 years old, she taught you how to drive her car.

You thanked her, by taking it every chance you could.

When you were 17 years old, she was expecting an impotant call.

You thanked her, by being an the phone all night.

When you were 18 years old, she cried at your high school graduation.

You thanked her, by staying out partying till dawn.

When you were 19 years old, she paid for your college tution,drove you to campus n carried ur bags.

You thanked her, by saying good-bye outside the dorm so that you would'nt be embarassed in front of your friends.

When you were 20 years old, she asked whether you were seeing anyone.

You thanked her, by saying, "It's none of your business".

When you were 21 years old, she sugested certain careers for your future.

You thanked her, by saying,"I don't want to be like you"

When you were 22 years old, She hugged u at ur college graduation.

You thanked her, by asking whether she could pay for a trip to Europe.

When you were 23 years old, she gave you furniture for your first apartment.

You thanked her, by telling your friend's it was ugly.

When you were 24 years old, she met your fiance and aske about your plans for future.

You thanked her, by glaring and growling, "Muu-ther PLzzzzzzz!!"

When you were 25 years old, she helped to pay for your wedding and cried and told you how deeply she loved you.

You thanked her, by moving half way across the country.

When you were 30 years old, she called with some advice on the baby.

You thanked her. by telling her,"Things are different now".

When you were 40 years old, she called to remind you of a relative's birthday.

You thanked her by saying you were "really busy right now".

When you were 50 years old, she fell ill and needed you to take care of her.

You thanked her, by reading about the burden parents become to their children.

And then, one day, she quietly died.

And everything you never did came crashing down like thunder on your HEART!!!!

"ALWAYS REMEMBER TO LOVE THY MOTHER,

B'COZ YOU HAVE ONLY ONE MOTHER IN YOUR LIFETIME"

One Day

One day a young man was standing in the middle of the town proclaiming that he had the most beautiful heart in the whole valley.

A large crowd gathered and they all admired his heart for it was perfect. There was not a mark or a flaw in it.

Yes, they all agreed it truly was the most beautiful heart they had ever seen. The young man was very proud and boasted more loudly about his beautiful heart. Suddenly, an old man appeared at the front of the crowd and said,

"Why your heart is not nearly as beautiful as mine." The crowd and the young man looked at the old man's heart. It was beating strongly, but full of scars, it had places where pieces had been removed and other pieces put in, but they didn't fit quite right and there were several jagged edges.

In fact, in some places there were deep gouges where whole pieces were missing.

The people stared -- how can he say his heart is more beautiful, they thought? The young man looked at the old man's heart and saw its state and laughed. "You must be joking," he said. "Compare your heart with mine, mine is perfect and yours is a mess of scars and tears."

"Yes," said the old man, "yours is perfect looking but I would never trade with you. You see, every scar represents a person to whom I have given my love - I tear out a piece of my heart and give it to them, and often they give me a piece of their heart which fits into the empty place in my heart, but because the pieces aren't exact, I have some rough edges, which I cherish, because they remind me of the love we shared. Sometimes I have given pieces of my heart away, and the other person hasn't returned a piece of his heart to me.

These are the empty gouges -- giving love is taking a chance. Although these gouges are painful, they stay open, reminding me of the love I have for these people too, and I hope someday they may return and fill the space I have waiting. So now do you see what true beauty is?"

The young man stood silently with tears running down his cheeks. He walked up to the old man, reached into his perfect young and beautiful heart, and ripped a piece out.

He offered it to the old man with trembling hands. The old man took his offering, placed it in his heart and then took a piece from his old scarred heart and placed it in the wound in the young man's heart. It fit,

But not perfectly, as there were some jagged edges. The young man looked at his heart, not perfect anymore but more beautiful than ever, since love from the old man's heart flowed into his. They embraced and walked away side by side.

This will make u cry

Jenny was so happy about the house they had found. For once in her life 'twas on the right side of town. She unpacked her things with such great ease. As she watched her new curtains blow in the breeze. How wonderful it was to have her own room. School would be starting; she'd have friends over soon. There'd be sleep-overs, and parties; she was so happy It's just the way she wanted her life to be.

On the first day of school, everything went great. She made new friends and even got a date! She thought, "I want to be popular and I'm going to be, Because I just got a date with the star of the team!" To be known in this school you had to have clout, And dating this guy would sure help her out. There was only one problem stopping her fate. Her parents had said she was too young to date. "Well I just won't tell them the entire truth. They won't know the difference; what's there to lose?" Jenny asked to stay with her friends that night. Her parents frowned but said, "All right." Excited, she got ready for the big event But as she rushed around like she had no sense, She began to feel guilty about all the lies, But what's a pizza, a party, and a moonlight ride?

Well the pizza was good, and the party was great, But the moonlight ride would have to wait. For Dan was half drunk by this time. But he kissed her and said that he was just fine. Then the room filled with smoked and Dan took a puff. Jenny couldn't believe he was smoking that stuff. Now Dan was ready to ride to the point But only after he'd smoked another joint. They jumped in the car for the moonlight ride, Not thinking that he was too drunk to drive.

They finally made it to the point at last, And Dan started trying to make a pass. A pass is not what Jenny wanted at all (and by a pass, I don't mean playing football.) "Perhaps my parents were right....maybe I am too young. Boy, how could I ever, ever be so dumb." With all of her might, she pushed Dan away: "Please take me home, I don't want to stay." Dan cranked up the engine and floored the gas. In a matter of seconds they were going too fast.

As Dan drove on in a fit of wild anger, Jenny knew that her life was in danger. She begged and pleaded for him to slow down, But he just got faster as they neared the town. "Just let me get home! I'll confess that I lied. I really went out for a moonlight ride." Then all of a sudden, she saw a big flash. "Oh God, Please help us! We're going to crash!" She doesn't remember the force of impact. Just that everything all of a sudden went black. She felt someone remove her from the twisted rubble, And heard, "call an ambulance! These kids are in trouble! Voices she heard...a few words at best. But she knew there were two cars involved in the wreck. Then wondered to herself if Dan was all right, And if the people in the other car was alive.

She awoke in the hospital to faces so sad. "You've been in a wreck and it looks pretty bad." These voices echoed inside her head, As they gently told her that Dan was dead. They said "Jenny, we've done all we can do. But it looks as if we'll lose you too." "But the people in the other car!?" Jenny cried. "We're sorry, Jenny, they also died." Jenny prayed, "God, forgive me for what I've done I only wanted to have just one night of fun." "Tell those people's family, I've made their lives dim, And wish I could return their families to them." "Tell Mom and Dad I'm sorry I lied, And that it's my fault so many have died. Oh, nurse, won't you please tell them that for me?" The nurse just stood there-she never agreed. But took Jenny's hand with tears in her eyes. And a few moments later Jenny died.

A man asked the nurse, "Why didn't you do your best To bid that girl her one last request?" She looked at the man with eyes so sad. "Because the people in the other car were her mom and dad." This story is sad and unpleasant but true, So young people take heed, it could have been you.

HE PLAYED HIS BEST..........

This is the story of Robby. He was a young boy who

lived with his elderly mother. His mother wanted him to

learn how to play the piano because she longed to hear

her son play for her. She sent her son to a piano

teacher who took Robby in under her guidance. However,

there was one small problem because Robby was not

musically inclined and therefore was very slow in

learning. The teacher did not have much faith in the

boy because of his weakness. The mother was very

enthusiastic and every week she would send Robby to the

teacher.

One day Robby stopped attending the piano lessons. The

teacher thought that he had given up and in fact she

was quite pleased since she did not give much hope to

Robby. Not long after, the piano teacher was given the

task to organize a piano concert in town. She sent out

circulars to invite the students and public to attend

the event. Suddenly, she received a call from Robby who

offered to take part in the concert. The teacher told

Robby that he was not good enough and that he was no

longer a student since he had stopped coming for

lessons. Robby begged her to give him a chance and

promised that he would not let her down.

Finally, she gave in and she put him to play last,

hoping that he will change his mind at the last minute.

When the big day came, the hall was packed and the

children gave their best performance. Finally, it was

Robby?s turn to play and as his name was announced, he

walked in. He was not in proper attire and his hair was

not properly groomed. The teacher was really nervous

since Robby?s performance could spoil the whole

evening?s brilliant performance. As Robby started

playing the crowd became silent and was amazed at the

skill of this little boy. In fact, he gave the best

performance of the evening. At the end of his

presentation the crowd and the piano teacher gave him a

standing ovation.

The crowd asked Robby how he managed to play so

brilliantly. With a microphone in front of him, he

said, ?I was not able to attend the weekly piano

lessons as there was no one to send me because my

mother was sick with cancer. She just passed away this

morning and I wanted her to hear me play. You see, this

is the first time she is able to hear me play because

when she was alive she was deaf and now I know she is

listening to me. I have to play my best for her!?

SUCCESS PRINCIPLES

This is indeed a touching story of love and excellence.

When you have a passion and a reason to do something,

you will surely excel. You may not be talented or

gifted but if you have a strong enough reason to do

something, you will be able to tap into your inner God

given potential.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE

"Find the good. It's all around you. Find it, showcase

it and you'll start believing in it."

Fresh Fish

The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the waters close to Japan

have not held many fish for decades. So to feed the Japanese population,

fishing boats got bigger and went farther than ever. The farther the

fishermen went, the longer it took to bring in the fish. If the return trip

took more than a few days, the fish were not fresh. The Japanese did not

like the taste.

To solve this problem, fishing companies installed freezers on their boats.

They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats

to go farther and stay longer. However, the

Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen and they did

not like frozen fish.

The frozen fish brought a lower price. So fishing companies installed fish

tanks. They would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks, fin to fin.

After a little thrashing around, the fish stopped moving. They were tired

and dull, but alive. Unfortunately, the Japanese could still taste the

difference. Because the fish did not move for days, they lost their

fresh-fish taste. The Japanese preferred the lively taste of fresh fish, not

sluggish fish.

So how did Japanese fishing companies solve this problem? How do they get

fresh-tasting fish to Japan? If you were consulting the fish industry, what

would you recommend?

How Japanese Fish Stay Fresh:

To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the

fish in the tanks. But now they add a small shark to each tank. The shark

eats a few fish, but most of the fish arrive in a very lively state. The

fish are challenged.

Have you realized that some of us are also living in a pond but most of the

time tired & dull, so we need a Shark in our life to keep us awake and

moving? Basically in our lives Sharks are new challenges

to keep us active and taste better.....

The more intelligent, persistent and competent you are, the more you enjoy a

challenge. If your challenges are the correct size, and if you are steadily

conquering those challenges, you are Conqueror. You think of your challenges

and get energized. You are excited to try new solutions. You have fun. You

are alive!

True Story -- Worth Reading!!!

At the prodding of my friends, I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Hondorf. I am a former elementary school music teacher from Des Moines, Iowa. I've always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons-something I've done for over 30 years. Over the years I found that children have many levels of musical ability. I've never had the pleasure of having a prodigy though I have taught some talented students.

However I've also had my share of what I call "musically challenged" pupils. One such student was Robby. Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single Mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson. I prefer that students (especially boys!) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby.

But Robby said that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano. So I took him as a student. Well, Robby began with his piano lessons and from the beginning I thought it was a hopeless endeavor.

As much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm needed to excel. But he dutifully reviewed his scales and some elementary pieces that I require all my students to learn.

Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed and tried to encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson he'd always say, "My mom's going to hear me play someday." But it seemed hopeless. He just did not have any inborn ability. I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled but never stopped in.

Then one day Robby stopped coming to our lessons.

I thought about calling him but assumed because of his lack of ability, that he had decided to pursue something else. I also was glad that he stopped coming.. He was a bad advertisement for my teaching!

Several weeks later I mailed to the student's homes a flyer on the upcoming recital. To my surprise Robby (who received a flyer) asked me if he could be in the recital. I told him that the recital was for current pupils and because he had dropped out he really did not qualify. He said that his mother had been sick and unable to take him to piano lessons but he was still practicing. "Miss Hondorf . . .. I've just got to play!" he insisted.

I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital. Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was something inside of me saying that it would be all right. The night for the recital came. The high school gymnasium was packed with parents, friends and relatives. I put Robby up last in the program before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing piece. I thought that any damage he would do would come at the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor performance through my "curtain closer."

Well, the recital went off without a hitch. The students had been practicing and it showed. Then Robby came up on stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked like he'd run an eggbeater through it. "Why didn't he dress up like the other students?" I thought. "Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?"

Robby pulled out the piano bench and he began. I was surprised when he announced that he had chosen Mozart's Concerto #21 in C Major. I was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimo to fortissimo. From allegro to virtuoso. His suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so well by people his age. After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo and everyone was on their feet in wild applause.

Overcome and in tears I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in joy. "I've never heard you play like that Robby! How'd you do it? " Through the microphone Robby explained: "Well Miss Hondorf . . .. remember I told you my Mom was sick? Well, actually she had cancer and passed away this morning. And well . . . she was born deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard me play. I wanted to make it special."

There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening. As the people from Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed into foster care, noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy and I thought to myself how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil.

No, I've never had a prodigy but that night I became a prodigy. . . of Robby's. He was the teacher and I was the pupil For it is he that taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself and maybe even taking a chance in someone and you don't know why.

Robby was killed in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April of 1995.

Family

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,

Oh excuse me please" was my reply.

He said, "Please excuse me too;

I wasn't watching for you."

We were very polite, this stranger and I.

We went on our way and we said good-bye.

But at home a different story is told,

How we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal,

My son stood beside me very still.

When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.

"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heart broken.

I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.

While I lay awake in bed,

God's still small voice came to me and said,

"While dealing with a stranger,

common courtesy you use,

but the family you love, you seem to abuse.

Go and look on the kitchen floor,

You'll find some flowers there by the door.

Those are the flowers he brought for you.

He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.

He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,

you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."

By this time, I felt very small,

And now my tears began to fall.

I quietly went and knelt by his bed;

"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.

"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"

He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.

I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.

I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."

I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;

I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."

He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.

I love you anyway."

I said, "Son, I love you too,

and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

FAMILY

Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company

that we are working for could easily replace us in

a matter of days.

But the family we left behind will feel the loss

for the rest of their lives.

And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more

into work than into our own family,

an unwise investment indeed,

don't you think?

So what is behind the story?

Do you know what the word FAMILY means?

FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OUa

LUNCH WITH GOD...

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer (iron brew in SA context) and started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her some chips. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.

Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old woman also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, "Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?" She replied! "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before her son responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

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.. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime! Embrace all equally!

Have lunch with God ........ bring chips.

Send this to people who have touched your life in a special way. Let them know how important they are.

I did!!!!

You may be going through a tough time right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith.

Send it on if your heart says so. Have a beautiful day…

WILL U MARRY ME??...Cute Story..

The first time I asked her to marry me was when we were six years old.

"I'll be the husband," I said, "and you can be the wife."

"No," she replied simply.

"Yes," I said.

"No," she replied again and walked off.

After a few moments, I walked off too. It’s no fun playing house alone.

The second time I asked her to marry me, was when we were fourteen.

We were partners in a dance for the annual school program and I was waiting for her to come out of the dressing room.

I was dressed in a black suit and bowtie. As she stepped out of the dressing room in a pink dress that came down to her knees,

I took a deep breath. She looked like an angel that had just stepped down from the heavens.

As we waited for the teachers to give the signal for us to get on stage,

I stared at her and tried to find my voice.

She caught me looking and smiled as she asked, "What are you looking at?"

"Will you marry me?" I blurted out.

Her smile turned into a grin, and a second later she burst out laughing. I didn't mind.

I could see stars in her eyes. Still laughing, she took my hand and led me onto the stage.

The third time I asked her to marry me was on her sixteenth birthday.

We were at a picnic with friends and the two of us were sitting by ourselves under a tree as the rest argued about which game to play next.

She laughed at something someone was talking about in the distance. I heard the tinkling of bells in her voice.

I plucked a daisy that was growing nearby and gave it to her as I said, "Will you be my wife?"

She blushed as she looked at the flower, and then burst out laughing again.

She took the flower and ran to join the rest of the group. I followed.

The fourth time, we were eighteen.

We were sitting in the cafeteria in college as she sat sipping on a glass of orange juice and telling me how beautiful the last poem she read had been.

After speaking continuously for a few minutes, she stopped and said,

"What happened? Why aren't you saying anything?"

I looked into her eyes and said, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

Will you marry me?"

As before, she burst out laughing again and said,

"You're not old enough to get married yet." And then she started talking about another poem.

The fifth time I asked her to marry me was the day of our graduation.

We were both twenty-one.

I got down on one knee with a red rose in my hand and said to her,

"Will you, now, take me to be your husband?"

She grinned this time, and replied, "You're always in a hurry.

You wanted to do your post-graduation, right?"

I shrugged, got back on my feet, and walked with her to the convocation hall.

Four years later, I had finished my post-graduation and had a job in a multinational company.

We were sitting in an ice cream shop when she brought it up.

"You haven't asked me to marry you in four years," she said.

"What happened? Did you change your mind?" She was smiling widely.

"What do you think?" I teased.

"I think you're afraid I’ll reject you again."

"You haven't really rejected me even once, till now," I countered.

"You never really said 'No'."

"I did when we were six," she pointed out.

"She remembers", I thought to myself, as I smiled at the memory.

I held out a spoon of ice cream for her to taste, and said, "Alright, so you rejected me once."

"So?" she asked as she tasted my ice cream.

"So nothing," I replied.

She rolled her eyes in silence. She was no longer smiling.

"Well?" I asked. "Do you think I've changed my mind?"

She frowned as she said, "I don't know." She looked beautiful even when she frowned.

I watched her for a few seconds and said, "Why don't you ask me to marry you this time?"

"Me?" she replied, eyes wide in surprise.

"Why?" I asked. "What's wrong with that?"

She blushed. "No," she said.

"Are you rejecting me again?" I asked.

"No, no!" she said quickly.

"So then you are saying 'Yes'?"

She stuck her tongue out at me as she realized what I was trying to do, and went back to eating her ice cream.

"Hey," I said, as I took her hand in mine. "Marry me."

She scrunched up her nose as she replied, "Are you sure?"

I'd been sure since I was six. "Yes," I said simply.

And she just smiled and nodded.