Today I would like to take a pause from our normal adoption blogs, to take a moment and remember my Mom. Seven years ago today she took her last breath in a room surrounded by her loving family. That was a day that will forever be a part of my memory just as my Mom will forever live on in all of our memories. Every year on this day I take a moment to remember all that she meant to me and to our family and I ask God to take care of her in her final resting place. We all miss her and we will always carry her memory with us in our hearts for the rest of our lives. That year was a very difficult year for us, filled with joy from our engagement and sorrow from the loss of a beloved parent. This year has also definitely seen its ups and downs, not just for us with our bumpy adoption journey, but for many of our family members and close friends. Many of our friends have lost a beloved parent this year and several of our family members and close friends are either battling cancer themselves or helping a loved one through their difficult battle, or even coping with the loss of a loved one while battling cancer.

Therefore this year along with remembering my Mom, I also wanted to take this time to stop and say a prayer for our family and friends. These are the times in life when we all need to stop and reflect on the little things in life that we tend to overlook. The things that add richness to your life, the laugh of a loved one, the smell of your favorite food, or simply the warmth of the sun on your skin. The things that enrich our life and add beauty even during difficult times. We should all find a few seconds in our day to stop and just experience life. For everyone experiencing a difficult time, be strong, hang in there, take a moment to find the hidden beauty that life has to offer, focus your grief and anger towards something productive and fight the battle, laugh, cry, and make new memories with loved ones and most of all experience all that life has to offer.