Out with the old...

I have a hard time believing that yet another year has passed so quickly. It has been an amazing journey of love, loss, and general living. I have an even greater appreciation for longer hugs, more kisses and phone calls for no reason except to say “I love you“ or “I miss you“.

It has been a year of growing, changing, and learning. I lost more than I could imagine with a single phone call, experienced things I had never even considered, and started my life over. Some moments were fleeting -- others will be with me forever. I realized that sometimes there is truth in “out of sight, out of mind”, that old friends can be forgotten, and relationships will change or die… sometimes both. I have learned that I am more important to some people who I thought didn‘t care, and less important to some that I thought were close. I have been brought to my knees with grief, brought to tears by sadness, and nearly was destroyed by terror. I have also been tickled by innocence, overcome with love, and surrounded by joy. For all these things, I am grateful. I am a stronger woman than I was yesterday. Day by day I am learning more about the person I am, in hopes that I may be who I hope to become.

For this year, these 52 short weeks, I am challenging you to remember to say “I love you” to those who matter most. I also urge you to call someone you haven’t talked to for a while to remind them that you care. Call someone new every week. You never know how much that call might mean, or when it might be the last time you hear that voice on the other end. Life is so unsure. No one is promised a tomorrow.

I want to leave you with the prayer that I prayed for you tonight. "I pray for those of you that I love, those who I have lost, those who were left behind, and for those that I have never met. May God’s blessings rain down on you like a warm summer shower. May you know peace that comes from within, the joy in a child’s smile, and true love. May you be able to learn from mistakes and be always ready to forgive. May you be a friend to all - and have all the friends you need. I pray that your health is great, your wealth is good, and all your debts are paid. May the Lord bless you and keep you safe and sane. --Amen"

I love you for who you are and not who I wish you were.