Remember to ALWAYS ... Live ~ Laugh ~ Love

Anyone that knows me well knows that my favorite saying is "Live ~ Laugh ~ Love"!  I start my morning drinking coffee in my motto coffee mug.  I end every Christmas card and journal entry with the saying and try to remember to incorporate those three simple words into my everyday!  It's really hard some days!  It's ironic that last Thursday I wrote my journal entry specifically about how I really needed to take a step back in life and focus on Living ~ Laughing and Loving!  It's ironic because on Friday I was reminded just how important it really is!  

I woke up on Friday to find out a man that lived up the street from us had passed away after a car accident and left behind his wife and two boys - ages 14 and 10 I believe.  While we haven't had an opportunity to meet the family in person, we pass their house everyday going in and out of the neighborhood.  He was always outside, usually throwing the baseball with his boys and always waved and shared a smile as people drove by.  My heart sunk when I heard the news.  I couldn't imagine the families grief and feeling of loss.  It's something that we all know is possible but never really acknowledge it would happen to our families.  

Later in the afternoon I got a voicemail from a number that I didn't recognize.  When I listened to the message, it was Elijah.  He was calling from his friends phone to let me know he was fine, but he had been in a car accident.  Even though he started the message with "I'm fine" my heart sunk once again!  Everyone in the accident (3 cars) had to go to the hospital except him and his friend.  They were very fortunate as it sounds like things could have been much worse.  This immediately made me think .. what if he would have had to go to the hospital and I am so far away?  What if something even worse happened?  I felt helpless as a mother!  

As if that wasn't enough, I then found out that one of my best friends (since kindergarten) lost her father unexpectedly.  I felt instant guilt because I am hundreds of miles away and I just wanted to be there for my friend.   When I called to tell her how sorry I was, I instantly started crying when I tried to leave a voicemail.  So many of my childhood memories - most of them - are from being at her house and include her dad!  He will be missed!

So ... why am i writing this today?  As a reminder to everyone and to challenge us all to cherish life. It is so short and so precious.  LIVE everyday like it's your last!  LAUGH till your belly hurts!  LOVE unconditionally- and tell those you love, you love them everyday!  Share it and pass it on!

LIVE ~ LAUGH ~ LOVE