Consequences

You don’t marry someone you can live with, you marry the person who you cannot live without.

Life is not what it's supposed to be. It's what it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

What is love? Love is when one person knows all of your secrets, deepest, darkest, most dreadful secrets of which no one else in the world knows. And yet in the end, that one person does not think any less of you.

It is your strength and determination that have infuriated me. That strength and resilience has also made me fall in love with you.

He spoke again as if he hadn’t just shattered his promise and her security. Her house of glass now lay in a pile of shards.

The heat of the summer transformed the green grass into long brown straw, only the weeds were green. Claire didn't mind, the weeds had pretty flowers. Unlike Tony's flowers, which had been sentenced to his yard, gardens, or clay pots, these flowers grew free wherever they wanted. Furthermore, weeds were survivors. When all else died, the weeds remained. Yes, Claire liked weeds.

It is not the circumstances that make a person a success. It is how that person responds to those circumstances

Childhood was the past. It couldn't be changed, only remembered.

She put her arms around his waist and looked up at his face. “I did? What did I take?” He bent down to kiss her. She stood to meet him halfway. His lips softly touched her lips and her neck as his hands became tangled in her hair. “I believe it was my heart.

God she hated the dance. A blow to the cheek one minute and discussing a romantic getaway the next. It was the one step forward, two steps back waltz. She wanted to scream. Sitting on the side of the bed, Claire allowed herself tears and swallowed

Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.

Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it. —Bill Crosby

Actions have consequences, I have told you that. Why is that difficult for you to understand?

This was wrong. Tony didn’t want to have feelings. The sex was great. It was okay to want her, dominate her, and control her. It was not okay to want to be with her, please her, and love her. Yet every one of his senses desired Claire.

I want you to make me a promise. A promise, that you will do your best to follow my rules. That you will do your best – to never give me cause to hurt you again.

We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival. -Sir Winston Churchill

Claire believed she was teetering literally on the edge of sanity. A strong wind was all it would take to blow her one way or the other. Iowa had its share of storms, strong winds and tornadoes, they were all unpredictable. It made an ironic parallel for her life.

He recognized the difference in her touch. Looking down into her green eyes, he said, “I need to keep working.” “No, Claire, I need to keep working to be a man you are proud to be married to.

Life is not what it’s supposed to be. It’s what it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference. —Virginia Satir

There is something perverse about more then enough. When we have more, it is never enough. It is always somewhere out there, just out of reach. The more we acquire, the more elusive enough becomes.

God help me, I do care about you.” Gently hugging her against his chest, he tenderly moved her hair away from her angelic face. Seeing her sleep, peaceful and trusting, his thoughts of waking her for his desires were quickly replaced.

Claire knew she was in control of her actions, she could choose to fight or complain. Her plan was for self-preservation until she was free. This had been a good old-fashioned thunderstorm, loud and boisterous but no real damage.

Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their life. —William James

If things look right on the surface the underside is rarely questioned. However, things may be great in reality, but if one perceives them to be amiss, it is difficult to change that perception.

Tomorrow is a mystery. Yesterday is history. Live today, it’s a gift, that’s why they call it “present.

Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it. —Bill Cosby

Anyone can give up. It’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength. —Unknown

The worst thing you can do for love is deny it; so when you find that special someone, don’t let anyone or anything get in your way.

My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can. —Cary Grant