What I Learned

Life has this funny way of teaching you lessons that you don't think you need. When my Mom passed away suddenly, I was 15 and most certainly didn't need any lessons. As an adult, however, its easy to see just how valuable my experience has been in influencing who I've become - regardless of how painful it was at times.

You never know.
The obvious one - you never know when your time will come. If you died right now, how would you feel about your the day? The year? Your life? What is the lasting impression you left on those around you? Its hard to carpe the diem, but you just have to. Life is a magnificent blessing and frighteningly short.

Whoever said "time heals all" is a flippin' liar.
Its been 14 years and its not healed. Why would it be? A person is taken from your life, leaving a hole. It doesn't heal, but do you learn to live with it. It reminds you, saddens you, comforts you.

Take pictures with your kids.
My Mom was a great photographer and documented our entire childhood with boxes of 4x6's, but looking back, she wasn't in many of them. There are very few pictures of just me and my Mom and while I cherish every single one of them, I wish there were more. I know she was there, but now these are all I have. It doesn't matter if its not "a good picture." I don't want to deprive my kids of memories because I was wearing a shirt I didn't like or hadn't showered yet. Take pictures. They will thank you one day.