Hard for me to wrap my head around...

So picture this... I'm in bed, in a hotel room (Hampton inn comfy bed) and the Atlantic Ocean is right outside my window... I hear the ocean waves crashing on the beach. Football is on in the background, and I'm about 15 minutes away from bed. ALONE. Heaven!!! Yes??? Yes... but this is just my physical existence. Mentally, I miss my baby girl and hubby. I haven't even been gone 24 hours yet and I miss them a whole lot. The smell of her sweaty head as she sleeps, the sounds of her whines when she doesn't get her way. The sighs of DH (dear hubby) when I annoy him.... ahhh.... great sounds I miss.

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OK - so my post title. I've been thinking a lot these last few days about a number of amazing COMPLIMENTS that people have given me, both in comments and emails from friends, family and blog buddies alike that I just can't wrap my head around. Many have come from my "Nice Sarah / Mean Sarah" conversation... My challenge is, that people are telling me that I am their role model, their inspiration, etc.... HUH?!?!? I feel like my response should be "whatch-you talkin' about willis?!?!?" I mean, do you really have the right person? Are you sure you aren't thinking about some other Sarah? Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York perhaps? Or your neighbor? I guess I can understand it in a theoretical, "book" sense because so many of you are that same exact thing for me. But when I look at myself in the mirror, I just don't get it or see it. Because, you see, my role models are people who I feel like are fighting much greater battles, or whose experiences somehow seem more valuable than mine. Like...

• My Mom - who despite repeated physical challenges she seems to have thrown in her way, keeps going with an amazing attitude and grace, and faith in god.
• My Dad - who although being a PITA at times, loves me more than sometimes I recognize and appreciate, and who is truly one of the most caring people I know... and also who can come up with a really inappropriate joke at just the right time.
• One of my BF's in VA / Neighbor, who lost someone really important to her a year ago +, yet continues to find room in her heart to cheer me on and drink wine with me, and make me laugh (and snort) and who is always loving and kind to my kid
• Another BF in VA who has a family member looking for a better work opportunity, yet continues to keep her chin up and be able to throw out the sarcastic and wonderful commentary whenever needed
• My BF in CA who has found the courage to change her lifestyle and not care what her friends and family think - but instead, chooses to do what is right for her family... and challenges me to do what is right for me and my family
• My other BF's in PA who somehow know when I need the email or phone call and always, always come through... and don't forget to remind me about who I was in 5th grade! (Safari Sarah ring a bell?!?!?)
• Our surrogate "mom" / "grandma" / "friend" Glenna who continues to suffer through cancer and may lose her 2nd kidney - but has a faith so strong it doesn't matter
• My friend Tracey who is fighting and beating breast cancer.
• And her husband Mike, who is fighting along side and hasn't lost his sense of humor.
• A certain person who I've idolized for ever and who, although related, is more like a best friend - who has challenged me when necessary, listened when needed, and constantly makes me laugh
• Another very special person who is nursing a broken heart
• My hubby, who has a sense of honor and "right" greater than anyone I know... and who puts up with me and encourages me on a daily basis and loves me no m.atter what
• My baby girl who is learning what it means to be a little fish in a big pond and how to "play the game" when she is too young to have to play it.
• All my blogging "girls" who are fighting this good and hard fight, as hard as, if not harder than, I am..

My list could go on and on... and so I don't quite know what to say to those of you who have given me such special encouragement, except Thank You. Thank YOU! Yes, YOU! For reading, and understanding and keeping me motivated. I want to say that maybe I don't deserve it, but maybe I do.... So, again, thank you. I will try to keep on living up to it! And please know, you are all inspiring to me too... Really! What a great place to have to be able to be such a help to others, and allow others to help us. Very cool!

OK - off to bed by myself. The conference starts at 7am tomorrow, so I am thinking I may come back during lunch to run on the boardwalk or go tomorrow after the conference and forego the "party" crap... Good night!