Cherish the moments....

Good evening friends.  It is with both a happy and a heavy heart I write to you tonight.  Ever had that feeling?  So thankful for something but so sad for someone else at the same time?  

Today, I feel that way.   A precious little four year old girl was playing happily at home with her baby brother earlier in the week and collapsed.  She was taken to our local hospital and then flown to a children's hospital in Atlanta.  She never regained consciousness and they never determined what happened.  She passed away this morning.  Wow...four years old.  Don't you think that stopped me in my tracks and made me hug my four year old little girl a little tighter?  

I can't imagine what the family must be going through.  I even begin to fathom what it would be like.  I know somehow God would see me through, but I just can't see myself ever handling something like that.  

So, Today, I have been very thankful yet very sad at the same time.  

I took the day to just sit and watch Darbee Rae play.  To hug her every time she crawled in my lap.  To tell her "I love you."  To cherish each little moment because none of us know when God will call us home.  

It makes me step back for a minute and look at life and think.  

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

Be happy.

"Everything in life need not be perfect to be perfect."

Surround yourself with those you love.

"Friends are the family you choose for yourself."

Go for it.

" Life is a journey and only you hold the map."

Take time to enjoy precious moments.

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve

me and I learn."

Try something new

"You miss 100% of the shots you do not take."

Be yourself.

"The thing that is really hard, and really amazing is

giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming

yourself."

Smile

"Wrinkles are mementos of smiles we've had."

Love

"Before you were conceived, I wanted you. Before you were

born, I loved you. Before you were an hour old, I would die

for you. This is the miracle of life."

Be silly!

"You don't quit laughing because you've grown old.  

You grow old because you quit laughing."

Think.

"Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are

the window through which you must see the world."

Dance.

"It's easy to stand with the crowd; It takes

courage to stand alone."

Cherish memories.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because 

it happened."

Cherish priceless moments.

"You aren't wealthy until you have something money

can't buy."

Hold hands.

"You have two hands.  One to help yourself, the 

second to help others."

Pray.

"When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the

morning light, for your life and strength. Give 

thanks for your food, and the joy of living. If you see no reason

for giving thanks, the fault lies within yourself."

Do something that makes you happy.

"Be happy while you're living, you're a long

time dead."

Spend time with those you love.

"If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the entire

evening would be in the palm of my hand."

"Think freely. Smile often. Tell those you love that you do. Rediscover old friends. Make new ones. Hope. Grow. Reach out. Pick some flowers. Share them. Keep a promise. Laugh heartily. Let someone in. Hug a child. Slow down. See a sunrise. Listen to rain. Trust life. Have faith. Enjoy. Make mistakes. Learn from them. Explore the unknown. Celebrate life."

Be thankful my friends for each day.

Tonight as I head to bed, I will thank God for giving me another day with my family and yes, I will hug

my little girl a bit tighter.