December...Remember

Today is December 1. I absolutely cannot believe December is already here. It is hard to believe how much time is flying. This month holds some happy times with the happiest season of the year! I love Christmas. It feels like everyone is so much happier and ready for a fresh start with the new year. It is insane to think how much my life has changed over the course of the last year and how much it is still changing. 2010 has held the remainder of Zack's deployment to Iraq, his home coming, huge adjustments, 23rd birthdays for us both, the move to Texas, big decisions, the adoption of another dog, the begin of culinary school, our 1st anniversary, our 1st major holiday without our family, and SO much more. It is crazy how many ups and downs we have had but it has changed us a lot and brought us even closer together. We have had such an emotional roller coaster and so many obstacles to face but we always seem to make it through. We have come up with our life slogan of "enjoy the journey" and it is so true. It is probably the most profound concept that has ever fit my life. We are learning with every step that it is all part of the Master plan and it is our job to stick together and enjoy the ride.

I know first hand that sometimes the hustle bustle of life really gets your spirit down but a little prayer and a look around at your blessings can change it all. From your spouse to your kids, your pets to the dinner you serve, they are all major blessings. Such a cliche statement but truly the best things in life are free...the moments we share with our family and friends can never be duplicated or relived. Our life is so short and we rarely stop to recognize that. The scripture below says it for us! 

I was addressing some Christmas cards and on my side of the family and I have a file saved on my flash drive that has most all the addresses I needed. It was the template for all the address labels that were on my high school graduation party. I was just getting the ones I needed and getting ready to press the little red dot to close it when I saw a name. It was my grandpas name. When I looked at the whole list it was mind boggling to see that 5 family members and 1 friend on that list have passed away since then. We are working on 6 years but still it is so crazy to me! It really has had me thinking a lot and really making me focus on what/who I have in my life right now. I used to go to breakfast with my grandpa at this really kinda gross place with the worlds best chicken fried steak and we would always sit and talk about whatever the mood struck. I don't know if it was the grease or my amazing grandpa, (pretty sure the latter) but it always made the day great no matter what was happening in my life and was the perfect anecdote for the broken heart. Those breakfast dates are all I hold onto of my grandpa and those "free" moments changed so much in my life. Those times we some of the best and at the time I didn't even know it. Slow down, catch your breath and look around because your life is a precious gift. It's not promised to you to have tomorrow so enjoy your journey today.

James 4:14 --"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."