It's a New Year

I know I don't post here very often, but the last month has been a very eye opening experience for me. It's definitely been the most difficult time of my life. I realized a lot of things. I realized how much I missed my extended family and friends, and how much they are always there to help. My co-workers and even my students were there to help me, and show that they care. I realized how much I missed *really* being at church. I forgot what it was like to actually sit down and watch a TV show, let alone a couple of movies, without having to be productive at the same time. I forgot what it was like to have those really intense prayer sessions. I have been so busy trying to keep up with all the big things that I had forgotten about so many of the little things. I forgot how much I miss just having the energy and motivation to get up and do things around the house... put things away, cook, and even clean. I miss those late night Monopoly and Uno games that would seemingly go on forever. I miss sharing road trips. I miss a lot of things I would even complain about. I've shared in the pain of others, and understand now more of what they are going through. I am so much more thankful for what I've had. And most of all, I realized just how much people mean to me. Some are still here, some have passed on, and some I haven't heard from in a while or even years. But they all have a special place in my heart. I know it's easy to say and not truly understand the true meaning of it until you experience it. But cherish those moments you have with those you love. You don't always appreciate just how much they mean until they are gone. It's my goal to start doing those things a lot more than I did before.