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The full measure of a man is
not to be found in the man himself,
but in the colors and textures that
come alive in others because of him.
- Albert Schweitzer

Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Remember, what you possess in the world will be found
at the day of your death to belong to someone else,
but what you are will be yours forever.

Henry van Dyke

When we seek to discover the best in others,
we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.
- William Arthur Ward

Patience is never wasted; patience is a
process through which a soul passes and
becomes precious. Souls who have risen
above the world's limitations and sorrows,
the world's falseness and deception, they are
the souls who have passed through patience.

Hazrat Inayat Khan

A human being is a part of the whole, called by us "Universe," a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest--a kind of optical illusion of our consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and foundation for inner security.

Albert Einstein

Look deep into nature, and then
you will understand everything better.
- Albert Einstein

There are no little events in life; those
we think of no consequence may be full
of fate, and it is at our own risk if
we neglect the acquaintances and
opportunities that seem to be casually
offered, and of small importance.

Amelia Barr

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious
privilege it is to be alive -
to breathe,
to think, to enjoy, to love.
- Marcus Aurelius

It is with great sadness that I share with you all the following about our dear Caryn. Her son shared the following today:

"The world's thy ship and not thy home."-St. Therese of Lisieux

Journal entry by caryn kuhlman — 6 hours ago

Hello everyone,

This is being written my Sam Kuhlman, Caryn's youngest.

My mother, as you all know, is probably one of the strongest people I have ever met. From her spiritual life to her personality, she is always a rock for those around her. To this day it has never ceased to amaze me how many lives my mom has touched. I could go on and on with stories of how I was at the grocery store and someone would come up to me and say, "Sam! How are you? How is the family?" And quite honestly I would look back at them with puzzling eyes and I want to say, "Hey! Who are you?"

When I dwell on all the things my mother has done in her lifetime this becomes a little less of a mystery. My mother has been a Realtor longer then I have been alive, she was a member of countless community organizations, cub scouts, boy scouts, more school functions then I care to remember, Crusillo, always active in the church, and the list goes on and on.

As a child though I never could truly grasp the depth of this network my mother has made over the course of her lifetime until my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer roughly 7 years ago. At that time my brother was in college and I was leaving for school the following fall. I was lucky enough to be with her for the beginning of it, but my mothers friends were there to fill in wherever needed. And you know what? I can't remember a single occasion that anyone griped or groaned, and lets face it, I love my mother with my whole heart but if you don't think she is opinionated then were not talking about the same person.

Since being in remission from breast cancer, so much has happened in my moms life. Both my brother and I graduated from college. We both got married to women my mother overwhelmingly approved of and loved. She has gotten to see and spend time with 5 of her grandchildren who love her with that true child like joy. She went on a pilgrimage to Rome which is something that I know was a longing in her heart. Last of all but certainly not least, is the fact that there has been countless memories from then until now that I would not trade anything in the world for.

But the thing I will always thank my mom for at the top of the list is for my faith. If it was not for my mom becoming a member of Crusillo and finding her own faith live, I quite honestly do not know where I would be today. She is the reason I am Catholic and that will always be the source of my faith. For all of you who know my mother, you know that was her identity and the joy of her life radiated from that like a wellspring, and that's one of the many reasons we love her.

In the past month my mothers status quickly changed and it was something we were not expecting. But every step of the way I'd be dammed if I didn't say Caryn was the same Caryn day in and day out. She is Stubborn, caring, opinionated, loving, funny, and overall the person we have always known and loved.

It is with great sadness, yet true joy, that I am here to inform you that on August 9th, 2018 My mother, surrounded by loved ones, passed away to see the face of God.

I know I have been writing this all in the present tense (or tried to) and I did that with a purpose. My mothers life doesn't end here. She will continue on forever in our hearts and minds. I know I wouldn't be one half the person I am today without her. I know she is up in heaven looking down on us and finally having the ability to intercede on our behalf.

I always turn to the idea that life on earth is but a journey. All of the saints have spoken about this at one point or another. I choose the quote "The world's thy ship and not they home." by St. Therese of Lisieux because I think this captures that perfectly. We are but pilgrims in this life, helping each other reach that one goal.

Thank you, from the deepest recesses of my heart for everything any of you have done for my family and for my mother. However short or long you have been in my mothers life, you have done for us so much that I can never repay that true unconditional love that you showed her over the course of her lifetime.

To close this out I think of the last words I had with my mother when she was fully aware of the world around her. I had to go to a business trip out of town and I came to visit before I left. I told her "I love you and I'll see you when I get back." I didn't realize it at the moment but I am glad I said it. It was like a goodbye without saying goodbye, because I'm not back yet. One day I will see her again, and that is truly when I will have come home.

-Sam Kuhlman”

Weeping may last for a time but joy comes in the morning.

I have not been on the board in quite some time. It is not that I have not thought of so many of you over the years - but a lot has been occurring in our family life.

Caryn was a sweet dear who I met through this place where we came together to share, question, advise, seek, plan get-togethers, pray, uplift, commiserate, and so much more. I count it a privilege to have known her and be known by her. And I know I will be reunited with her some day.

Love to all of you.

Diana

(Diagnosis Class of 2011)

Living the life. Cherishing the love.

This wasn't Caryn aka "exbronxgirl," was it?

When we think we're separate, we lose power. Whenever I say "my," I have lost my power. Power is not my power; it is not enlarging oneself as a separate individual. It is only gainable as part of a larger whole. Then you communicate with the rest of yourself--which may be a tree. You, reciprocally, are moved by the universe. Whenever you shut down connectedness, you get depressed. Psychic awareness breaks in as a gift. It's fearful to know we're connected to everything in the universe, because then we're responsible.

Glenda Taylor

The number of the hours in a day is fixed, but the quantity and quality of energy available to us is not. It is our most precious resource. The more we take responsibility for the energy we bring to the world, the more empowered and productive we become. The more we blame others or external circumstances, the more negative and compromised our energy is likely to be. -Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz