Well, it was my birthday this week. I turned 28 again!!!

Ha!Ha! Birthdays are funny things I've decided, I really don't like them very much because I don't want to get old. But, this year I tried really hard to be happy!! In fact, this year was a different birthday altogether. I went to a funeral of one of my best friend's mom's. It was a beautiful service, and full of amazing tributes to a truly angelic lady. I felt a lot of things during the meeting, but most of all I felt gratitude. Gratitude for my life, my health, my family and friends. For freedom and so many tangible blessings. I am so very, very thankful to have a relatively easy, cushy life, which I of course, take for granted. I am thankful, so thankful for a husband who is a good provider and such a wonderful husband and father, for children who are healthy and I think, really good kids!!! For good, loving, kind parents who created a magical, happy, strong childhood and a stable home. I remember lots of fun birthdays growing up, but mostly I remember that my mom and dad loved me. When we came out of the funeral, there was a message on my phone from my dad. He said, that even though they are very busy, (which they are this week!!!) they didn't forget me and he told me how much he and my mom loved me and how proud they are of me. Even as a 28 (sort of :) ) year old, I still need to hear that!!!! I am thankful today that they are still alive and well, and that I can call and talk to them, and I hope I will not take them for granted, because someday they will be gone!!! I have beautiful sisters, cousins, and friends, who I hope know, how much I love them. They help me daily try to be a better person.

One of the final remarks at my friend's funeral was that she lived her life to the fullest. She accomplished the things on her "list" and she died with no regrets. I hope I can be like that, I hope I can touch people's lives in such a way that when I die, people remember that I did my best, that I was grateful and helped others and loved as much as I could. 

Lesson learned on this, my 36th b-day, live like today is my last!!!!! Live so that I can say, "I have no regrets", I did my best!!!!