love

Guest Blogger Month III: Post #28

~ Harper220 ~ 2 Comments
Kim Boda is a force to be reckoned with my friends. She is a phoenix who has risen from the ashes and uses the lessons she learned to help others achieve inner peace. I feel so blessed I met her through Snapchat and am grateful she decided to share her LOVE story as Post #28 on Yankee Doodle Paddy’s Month of LOVE Guest Blogger Series. What follows is an excerpt from a magazine article that featured Kim, and then some of her own reflections. Hold onto your hat. This powerful lady speaks the TRUTH!

Continue reading →

Guest Blogger Month III: Post #22

~ Harper220 ~ 3 Comments

While today is day 22 of the Guest Blogger Month of LOVE series, and we only have another 6 days to go, I felt an urge to post a love story like no other. Because there is and only ever will be one Mikaela! Since she passed from this life on October 12, her husband Rob has kept her spirit alive by posting photos of Mikaela each day on his Facebook. Sometimes his commentary is longer than others, but it is really his selfless act of bringing joy to all of us by posting his #photobomb and #smile- a- day series of Mikaela. And wow does she have an amazing smile. So sit back, grab some tea and tissue and savor this patchwork of Facebook posts (along with my own reflections) of this angel on earth, now in heaven, Mikaela. Continue reading →

Guest Blogger Month III: Post #20

~ Harper220 ~ 6 Comments

I love stories like the one you are about to read. They are thoughtful and also unpredictable. JoAnn Krall is a successful professional in the world of organization. The Sensible Organizer is JoAnn’s company and she is so down to earth and the voice of reason. But don’t mistake “having it together” for not having to deal with major life issues. Quite the contrary. Usually these folks who are organized and methodical are those who have had some sort of chaos in their past. But the cool thing about JoAnn is how she has come through it all with the everlasting scent of LOVE!

Continue reading →

Guest Blogger Month III: Post #17

~ Harper220 ~ 4 Comments

“Every day is a new day” as we have all heard. And within each day we have the chance to be surprised. Last year that happened to me when I received a message on social media about my Converse shoes. Well, to be honest, they weren’t mine as such, they were “hand me ups” from my daughter. But I loved wearing the Irish green “chucks” so much! A lovely man named Pierre messaged to say he admired my Converse and to tell me that he also posts photos on social media of others with wearing theirs. Then the biggest surprise of all was when Pierre, who I found out was an artists, did a portrait of me as a gift.  We’ve kept in touch and during this Month of LOVE Guest Blogger Series, he agreed to submit a love story, so let me introduce to you a super cool kind soul… Continue reading →

Guest Blogger Month III: Post #16

~ Harper220 ~ 5 Comments

Well, we are more than halfway through the Month of LOVE Guest Blogger Series and the stories we have read thus far have been emotionally moving and spiritually inspiring. And that is all because folks have been brave enough to share their inner most feelings about a topic that is more than red hearts and romance novels. LOVE is indeed beautiful, refreshing, exciting, and tender but it is also at times challenging and gut wrenching. Today’s Guest Blogger Post #16 is from a Snapchat friend called Wundersnapper! This story is RAW! It is also written in a unique style, almost stream of consciousness. It might not be for everyone to read as the author says, so you have been forewarned.  But in spite of the loss and pain in this story, there is hope. And that hope lies in the most precious beings, Wundersnapper’s children.
Continue reading →

Guest Blogger Month III: Post #15

~ Harper220

Having a blog is a great thing. It is a fun and creative outlet. It is a form of self expression and it is a way to connect to others from all over the globe.  While I haven’t ever been paid for my blog or received free merchandise, I know for some it is a way to earn money and/or freebies from businesses.  Yes it is also work. But for me it is a labor of LOVE, especially during the guest blogger Month of LOVE series in February. As this is the third year hosting, some might suggest I’ve heard nearly all types of LOVE stories at this stage.  My answer is, NOPE! Not even close! Why? Because every person who submits a story is totally unique therefore their stories will be as well.

Case in point, today’s blog post by Ron Stefanaski. He contacted me back in August of 2018. He had read one of my stories and commented on the post. Then he emailed and asked if I take guest blog submissions. I shared with him these links for the first Guest Blogger series and the one from last year as well. And I told him for the entire month of February I accept guest blogger submissions but the only caveat is that they must tie into the theme of LOVE!

Ron replied that he had a story that might fit the theme and also help promote his own blog which is focused on helping teenagers find employment. Jobs for Teens HQ is his website which is a resource for teens looking for employment. But I found reading some of his blog articles that adults can be helped by some of his tips for teens in the work place. And Ron’s submission for the Month of LOVE guest blogger series here on Yankee Doodle Paddy is an example.  Continue reading →

Guest Blogger Month III: Post #11

~ Harper220 ~ 3 Comments

As I begin to introduce Guest Blogger Post #11,  I am also introducing a first on Yankee Doodle Paddy. For reasons you will understand once you read this LOVE story, the author asked to remain anonymous. It is a gut wrenching story and I need to say that in case there are any triggers or if you feel you have to be in the right space and place to read it. It isn’t graphic or anything, just that if you are like me, empathetic, you’ll want to reach through your screen and hug this person and comfort them. But here is the good news; by the grace of God and the writer’s angels (some of whom may even be reading this), there is a silver lining. And as I always say, our highest purpose often comes from our deepest pain. That is in fact how my purpose to spread LOVE was born. So thank you to the angels that helped this person! May we all be grateful to our angels, even if they are unaware of just what they did to help us! Our hearts know and are blessed because of it. And thank you to this guest blogger for trusting me with this sensitive and powerful piece….. Continue reading →