My grandparents were married for over half a century, and played their own special game from the time they had met each other. 

The goal of their game was to write the word "shmily" in a surprise place for the other to find.  They took turns leaving "shmily" around the house, and as soon as one of them discovered it, it was their turn to hide it once more.

They dragged "shmily" with their fingers through the sugar and flour containers to await whoever was preparing the next meal. 
They smeared it in the dew on the windows overlooking the patio where my grandma always fed us warm, homemade pudding with blue food coloring. 
"Shmily" was written in the steam left on the mirror after a hot shower, where it would reappear bath after bath. 
At one point, my grandmother even unrolled an entire roll of  toilet paper to leave "shmily" on the very last sheet.
There was no end to the places "shmily" would pop up.
Little notes with "shmily" scribbled hurriedly were found on dashboards and car seats, or taped to steering wheels. 
The notes were stuffed inside shoes and left under pillows. 
"Shmily" was written in the dust upon the mantel and traced in the ashes of the fireplace. 

This mysterious word was as much a part of my Grandparents' house as the furniture.  

It took me a long time before I was able to fully appreciate my grandparents' game.  Skepticism has kept me from believing in true love-one that is pure and enduring. However, I never doubted my grandparents' relationship.

They had love down pat.  It was more than their flirtatious little games; it was a way of life.  Their relationship was based on a devotion and passionate affection which not everyone is lucky enough to experience.
Grandma and Grandpa held hands every chance they could. 
They stole kisses as they bumped into each other in their tiny kitchen. 
They finished each other's sentences and shared the daily crossword puzzle and word jumble. 
My grandma whispered to me about how cute my grandpa was, how handsome and old he had grown to be. 
She claimed that she really knew "how to pick 'em."
Before every meal they bowed their heads and gave thanks, marveling at their blessings: a wonderful family, good fortune, and each other.

  But there was a dark cloud in my grandparents' life: My grandmother had breast cancer.  The disease had first appeared ten years earlier. As always, Grandpa was with her every step of the way.  He comforted her in their yellow room, painted that way so that she could always be surrounded by sunshine, even when she was too sick to go outside. 

Now the cancer was again attacking her body.  With the help of a cane and my grandfather's steady hand,they went to church every morning. But my grandmother grew steadily weaker until, finally, she could not leave the house anymore. 

For a while, Grandpa would go to church alone, praying to God to watch over his wife. 

Then one day, what we all dreaded finally happened. Grandma was gone.  

"Shmily."  It was scrawled in yellow on the pink ribbons of my grandmother's funeral bouquet. 

As the crowd thinned and the last mourners turned to leave, my aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members came forward and gathered around Grandma one last time.
Grandpa stepped up to my grandmother's casket and, taking a shaky breath, he began to sing to her. Through his tears and grief, the song came, a deep and throaty lullaby.

  Shaking with my own sorrow, I will never forget that moment.  For I knew that, although I couldn't begin to   fathom the depth of their love, I had been privileged to witness its unmatched beauty.


     S-h-m-i-l-y: See How Much I Love You.

Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa, for letting me see.

Women have strengths that amaze men.

They carry children, they carry hardships, they carry burdens...but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.

Women wait by the phone for a "safe at home call" from a friend after a snowy drive home.
Woman friends keep secrets you told them years ago and never bring it up again...

Women have special qualities about them.
They volunteer for good causes. They are pink ladies in hospitals, they bring food to shut ins. They are child care workers, executives, attorneys, stay at home moms, biker babes and your neighbors.
They wear suits, they wear jeans, they wear uniforms.

They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up for injustice.
They are in the front row at PTA meetings.
They vote for the person that will do the best job for family issues.
They walk and talk the extra mile to get their children in the right schools and for getting their family the right health care.
They write to the editor, their congressmen and to "the powers that be" for things that make for a better life.
They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.

They can wipe a tear, cover a cut and pat you on the back at the same time.
They eat a little so their family can have more.
They rush to school to pick up a sick child.
They stick a love note in their husband's lunch box.
They do without new shoes so that their children can have them.
They go to scout meetings and are chaperones on class trips.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They don't make excuses for defending their family or friends.
They give a friend some money in times of trouble.
They love unconditionally.

They are loyal, honest and forgiving.
They are smart, knowing that knowledge IS power. But they still know how to use their softer side to make a point.

Their world consists of goodness, love and caring. Women want to be the best for their family, their friends and themselves.
They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They get teary eyed when others do great things.
They save their anger for the unjust and the insincere.
They tell people that need to be told to straighten up their act.
They lend a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen and a voice to make suggestions.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a new marriage.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They have so much sorrow at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is not any strength left.
They can control situations that seem uncontrollable.
They can round up energy when they are tired.
They can stay up a little longer to talk to someone that needs a friend.
They will rush to be by your side when you are lonely.
They will give up their favorite TV show to help with homework or read a bedtime story.

A woman's touch can cure any ailment.
They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
She can make a romantic evening unforgettable.
She can bring out the best in her husband, children and friends.
They don't mind standing in the shadows.
They are not there to push, but to gently encourage.
They are cheerleaders, teachers, loves and important in many peoples daily lives.
They can whisper a kind word, scream a loud cheer and laugh away a fear.
They can mend your broken spirit and give you back your self-esteem.
They can knit a family back together after a break or a loss.

Women come in all sizes, in all colors and shapes.
They live in homes, apartments, cabins and trailers.
They drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.
They have hearts that forgive and forget an injustice.
They have hearts that remember a kindness.
They have hearts that beat with loyalty and love.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world spin.
They can cry and laugh at the same time.
They can be sad and hopeful at the same time.
Women do more than just give birth.
They bring joy and hope.
They teach us to dream and make goals.
They give compassion and ideals.
They climb into a persons life and make everything better again.
They give moral support to their family and friends, and all they want back is a hug, a smile and for you to do the same to people you come in contact with.

Women are leaders, but don't want followers.
They want people to grow into the best person they can be.
They want to touch you in a way that will make you share your goodness with others.
One touch can turn a bad day into a better one.
One extra minute of her time will make a child feel special.
One more kiss will make her husband feel loved.

Women have a lot to say and a lot to give.


After God made Adam, He improved by making Eve.