There are always ups…I love the ups!

As I walk this journey called life…

Title – “I Choose Love”

* Title page, background photo of a brook, Title comes in one word at a time

* Soft background instrumental music. Photo of girls walking down a path.

* Picture of mountains. Music continues. * Picture of sky lift up. Music continues.

I have realized that it’s all about choices.

I Choose Love

Here is where my story begins – in Southington, Ohio.

But how I choose to let life affect me…

And there are downs. Not a big fan of those.

* Picture of down sky lift. Music continues.* Picture of rapid stream. Music continues. Sound of water flowing.

* Picture of cabin. Music continues.* Music ends. Picture of Chalker High School . New upbeat 50’s music begins.

Well…that is totally up to me.

And then they say, “I do.”

And a handsome young man - my dad…meet…

When a beautiful young woman - my mom…

* High school picture of Mom. Continue 50’s music. * Music continues. High school picture of dad.

* Picture of stars - Wedding music begins. *Picture of wedding. Music continues.

And fall in love!

But something was missing… And life was happy…

Life was simple then…very simple.

Looks like love to me!

* Sound of wedding bells. Wedding picture of Mom and Dad in car.

* Soft music in background. Picture of yellow house.

* Light-hearted music. Picture of Mom and friends

* Music continues. Baby laughter sound. Baby in carriage.

A few years go by, so how about another?

So they decide to have a baby. It’s a boy – my brother!

* Baby picture of Terry. Music continues. * Baby picture of Tim. Music contines.

Life was getting better, so Mom and Dad decide to move to Florida...my first house!

And boy were they BUDDIES – from the very beginning!

* Picture of Terry and Tim. Music continues. * Picture of Lewis Street house. Music continues.

But this time it was A SISTER! That’s me!

But something was missing…

Life was carefree!Life was good. Life was fun.

* Picture of Terry on tractor. Happy music. * Picture of Tim on tractor. Happy music.

* Picture of Terry and Tim playing baseball. Music continues.

* Baby picture of Cindy with Grandma, Terry and Tim. Baby sounds.

I remember the fighting and the screaming…but, what went wrong?

…or was it?

And life is complete.Looks like love to me!

*Picture of boys holding Cindy. Music. * Picture of entire family. Music.

* Colored portrait of the 3 kids. Background darkens. Music darkens.

* Picture of Lewis Street house – tearing effect. Sad music.

Life is good again! Life is carefree.

Until, one day, love returns…

It was gone… and it was just us now.

What about love?! What happened to our happy home?

* Wedding picture – darkened. Music builds. *Picture of Mom and 3 kids. Lonely music.

*Picture of step-dad and mom. Wedding bells. * Picnic picture. Back to happy music.

Where love was evident.And he loved my mom dearly. What a happy home!

My step-dad is very good to us.

And happiness abounds.

* Picture of Cindy and step-dad at beach. Music continues.

* Picture of step-dad and kids and Christmas tree. Music continues.

*Picture of mom and step-dad. Happy music.* Christmas picture on the couch. Happy music.

How do we truly move on?When he left, I barely knew him!

They never told me what went wrong!

But there was always a void. No one talked about why Daddy moved away.

* Sad music. Picture of Ohio. * Music continues. Clipart question mark.

*Music continues. Picture of Dad, Tim, Terry, me

* Music stops. Picture of family. Picture fades to dark.

But what?There’s got to be something good that can come out of this!

I understand that we can’t go back to the simpler times. Things are different now.

I understand that mistakes were made…that lives were disrupted.

* Sad music continues. Broken heart clip-art.

* Music continues. Picture of yellow house.

*Music continues. Picture of kids on bikes. * Music stops. Picture looking up into trees.

I had a choice to make…Because, you see…along this journey called life…

*Picture of trail. Soft music. * Picture of a divided path. Music continues.

* Clip-art of anger . Music continues.

I could choose to hang on to hurts and unanswered questions.

* Clip-art of people hugging. Music continues.

Or I could choose to forgive, to accept and to love.

And we cannot hold onto our family forever.

You see, I have discovered that life is way too short…

* Picture of grave marker. Somber music. * Picture of sunset. Music continues.

* Wedding picture of Dad and Vera. Happy music.

Because now my dad is happy, too!

* Picture of Cindy and Chad. Happy music.

And I gain a little brother! (He is one of the good things that came out of this!)

And a dad who was the best man I’ve ever known.

I gained a precious step-mom.

When I chose to forgive…I gained wholeness.

So, even though I suffered division in my family...

* Picture of Tent with boys and me. Happier music. *Picture of both dads and mom with grandparents. Music continues.

* Picture of Vera, Allison, Joanna. Happy music. * Picture of Dad, Vera, me. Happy music.

Happiness abounds…because we choose love!

And although my mom and dad are no longer with me…

And a “little” brother who’s not so little any more.

I gained an honorable step-dad who calls me “daughter.”

* Picture of step-dad, Tim and me. *Picture of both dads and mom with grandparents .

* Picture of trees. Music continues. * Picture of whole family at reunion. Music ends happily.

Family Reunion Picture