Reflections~

As 2011 came to a close I reflected back on a wonderful year full of family, friends, LIFE in general.  My favorite new life of 2011 was Leo of course =)  Hands down the BEST part of my 2011 was LEO, everything about him!  I am forever grateful to have gotten pregnant with him,  that he lived inside of me for 10 months, something that is the most incredible gift a mother is given.  I LOVE BEING PREGNANT(through the good & bad days!)  I have realized I would do it over and over again...  And the BEST moment of all, July 28th when I brought him into this world, when my doctor laid him on my chest, and I wrapped him in my arms!  I say this all of the time, but he is truly one of the sweetest things I have ever known, I would have 5 more if they were like him...well maybe not 5 ;) 

Just a handful of hours before I met my Leo!

While there was so much JoY in 2011, there was also sadness. One of the hardest chapters of 2011 for me was when my friend, one of the most incredible souls I've ever known, was taken way too early. The absence of Michael in my life has made me very sad. I miss my dear friend so much! There truly aren't many days since he's passed(last memorial day,) that I don't think of him. I miss his laugh, his hugs, our talks, my hair appointments with him, eating salad and carrot cake at Mizuna, sharing our new favorite music(both junkies,) just him, he was such an AWESOME SOUL!!! 

As I write I also think of a friend, a mother, who is losing her only child.  Her 11 year old son has had the fight of his life, battling cancer for 7 years, and sadly is losing, his days are numbered.  DARN YOU CANCER, especially when it comes to a child, I will never understand this!  As a mom, I cannot even imagine, it is truly a mothers worst nightmare, just unimaginable, and I CANNOT fathom.  It has consumed me for weeks now.  I want to take it away for her, I(along with hundreds,) have prayed for a miracle, and each day am realizing it's just not going to happen and I wish I could understand why not!?  Even though I am not Brandon's mother, I carry this with Jo Lynn and pray that the holy spirit has filled Brandon, as well as her, and will take away this unimaginable pain.  It is one of the saddest situations I have ever heard of!  There are just no words.  Life is too short and these situations always make me think a little harder!  To appreciate everything I have, not to take life/people granted, to live peacefully,  to be GRATEFUL, and trust our loving God every day!  Now I realize it is not always that easy, and I fail at these things miserably at times.  As I write the Serenity Prayer pops into my mind, so I guess it's a good time to share it since it's on my heart.
The Serenity Prayer~

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen. 
--Reinhold Niebuhr

ChEeRs to an incredible 2012!  May you have health, happiness, love and joy!