Letting go…

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Within the last month, my life took a turn and was hit with so many challenges from all directions. But, I’m not here to dwell on them, but to simply say that I am blessed and humble to still have my health, my precious family, and a love that endures all things. God is Love.

When seasons come and go, leaving us with scars of the past, we can choose to hold on to the hurt and grief, or we can choose to pick ourselves us and just let go…. In retrospect, I have learned that letting go takes courage, but it also brings freedom, healing, and peace….

When we cannot change the things that are beyond our control, I have learned to embrace them and trust that my life is in God’s hands. Every single moment is part of a bigger plan. All that I have gone through has been essential in testing my faith, building my character, assuring my hope is not in vain, and filling my heart with a gratitude that is genuine and pure. For that, I am no longer struggling with the questions I used to have — “why me?” “what did I do to deserve this?”

I believe that who I am now were because of my struggles, my pain, my sufferings, my heartaches… Enduring them and persevering even when I felt the urge to give up, allowed me to see the will power and strength that we receive when we put our faith in God and believe in His grace to carry us through… Without these experiences, I could not have witnessed the reality of miracles.

So, the beauty of letting go in my words is “Let Go and Let God.”

Day 3 : 3 Good Things {Gold Blooded Invite, Paparazzi, Beautiful Mess}

Day 3 of 21 : 3 Good Things

 1. Thankful that we get to watch the Super Bowl with some of our closest friends that we haven’t seen in a long time. Got this letter in the mail written in gold ink from the “Gold Blooded Family” who obviously are true Niner die hard fans. We were also blessed with a gift inside that truly made us feel special. It’s not just the gift that touched our hearts, but it was the thought and effort that was put into it.

Thank you Jechane Reyes and family! We love you back and more!

2. Last summer, Mr. Co and I made a big step of faith. After shooting weddings for friends and family and other photography gigs, we decided to make it official. We shot our first wedding for 2013 a few weeks ago and this is me behind the scenes. Each wedding or session, I spend a lot of time sorting and editing hundreds, sometimes thousands of photos and I love it, even if it takes me days or even weeks. I love creating beautiful images that captures our clients’ stories.  Although, we are still building our business and learning to be better photographers every day, we love what we do and are passionate about capturing photos for others as well as for ourselves. It’s more than just a photo, its bringing memories back to life, evoking emotions that allow people to relive that special moment. Photos such a priceless gift…

3. I’m addicted to paint and I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of it. My artwork as always been my safe place, where I can let go and be free without the need to be perfect. When life gets messy, I get messy on canvas. This canvas has been my source of therapy which I call He{Art} therapy. The way I cope with stress or sorrow is to paint my heart out. Releasing all my negative emotions in this way is like transforming darkness into light, vibrant and colorful, energetic and peaceful at the same time. If I don’t like a certain outcome, I start over and cover it with white gesso so I can begin painting something new until I come out with something I really like. Sometimes it takes  3 or more rounds until I settle with a final piece. Here is the 4th version and I think I’ll stick with this.

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Would love to know if anyone else is doing a journal — online or not — of 3 Good Things. It doesn’t have to be every day like I am, but if you are or have done this, I’d love to know your thoughts and experiences. 

Day 2: 3 Good Things {The Walk, The Climb, The Natural High}

Day 2 of 21 | 3 Good Things

1. Mr. Co and I decided to make more time to go on walks so we can not only enjoy the outdoors, but to enjoy spending some quality time together. It feels good to be unplugged from the day to day routine of all our responsibilities revolving around work and family. Also, we both know that we need some exercise to keep healthy and strong so its been a goal of ours to make more effort to set aside this time for our health.

2. Our walk along the beach led us to hike some trails which I didn’t think I could keep up. There were a lot of steep, rugged, hills that I was a little nervous about climbing. But, I am so proud of  myself. After 2 hours of hiking, I ended up at the top of Mori Point.

3. This view was so worth it. Stunning. Beautiful. Breathtaking. I felt a rush of exhilaration, a natural high. Grasping every glimpse of beauty in sight, from the sunny blue skies to the ocean shores, to the birds that hovered in mid-air above me. Some of the best things in life are free. Life is good….

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Day 1: 3 Good Things {Gift of Time, Gift of Family, Gift of Art}

A few weeks ago, I took a stroll on Main St. in Half Moon Bay while my husband was doing work at the greenhouse nearby. With a whole hour to myself, I had the opportunity to browse through some art galleries, gift shops, home furnishing boutiques, and bookstores.  The simple joy of discovering so many inspiring pieces of art, designs, and patterns whether it was on a canvas, a journal cover, on pillowcases, or stationery, had my heart swooning. However, if there’s any place that you would find me hanging out at for hours, it would be at a bookstore. That’s where I get lost in a world of imagination, inspiration, and self-discovery. With everything in this new age revolving around technology, I am still the type who loves to slow down to take the time to look at, feel, and turn the pages of a book.  But, if you haven’t guessed, I’m still a bit late to the party and do not own an iPad…yet. Ha! Otherwise, all my days at Barnes and Nobles will soon be over… Except for the date nights where hubby and I enjoy hanging out together with piles of our favorite magazines and books to read while drinking a vanilla soy latte.

Anyways, at the local bookstore, there was a book that I came across titled, “Three Good Things: A Novel” by Wendy Francis. I briefly skimmed through it to see what the story was about.  Here is the theme:

ELLEN M c CLARETY, a recent divorcée, has opened a new bake shop in her small Midwestern town, hoping to turn her life around by dedicating herself to the traditional Danish pastry called kringle. She is no longer saddled by her ne’er-do-well husband, but the past still haunts her—sometimes by showing up on her doorstep. Her younger sister, Lanie, is a successful divorce attorney with a baby at home. But Lanie is beginning to feel that her perfect life is not as perfect as it seems. Both women long for the guidance of their mother, who died years ago but left them with lasting memories of her love and a wonderful piece of advice: “At the end of every day, you can always think of three good things that happened.” Ellen and Lanie are as close as two sisters can be, until one begins keeping a secret that could forever change both their lives. Wearing her big Midwestern heart proudly on her sleeve, Wendy Francis skillfully illuminates the emotional lives of two women with humor and compassion, weaving a story destined to be shared with a friend, a mother, or a sister. 

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Surprisingly, it reminded me of my sisters and I. After losing our mother when we were very young, we each experienced our share of hardships that would leave us wishing our mom was still around to nurture, comfort, and guide us through all the stages of growing up. Whenever I would remember her words of advice to “love one another and do unto others as you would want others to do for you”, I would find myself with the resolve to do what I need to do to make things right or better for whatever situation I was facing. Those are the same words I now share with my own kids, hoping it will serve them as they grow older as well.

As I sit here in my bed, I was having a moment of deep thought to myself and was trying to collect all the lessons that life has taught me these past few years.  Overall, I feel very fortunate and blessed despite my past circumstances.  Many times, I wonder how I survived it all when I know there were so many incidents that would have left me completely shattered and torn. Just like the story in this book, at the end of the day we can choose to let seeds of sorrow, anger, fear, doubts, or resentment breed negativity in our hearts or we can choose to be thankful for the good things rather than focus on the bad things. It all comes down to a choice. Whatever choice we make, leads us towards two separate paths, towards freedom or towards destruction. I believe when we choose to be thankful regardless of the situation, we can wake up the next day with a brand new attitude to keep moving forward, letting go of our past and trusting that we are a work in progress. We can live free from our past and embrace life to its fullest, knowing that each season has its storms needed for personal growth in our character, wisdom, and faith. Life is a journey…

With this in mind, I hope to maintain a log of my “3 Good Things” every day, even through days that are imperfect. Research shows that it takes 21 days to develop a habit and I’m determined to make this my habit. Life will always have problems and it is so easy to be negative. It takes little to no effort to be quick to complain and think the worst of everything and everyone. However, it is more of a challenge to be positive especially when our current outlook doesn’t appear to be so. Tapping into my ‘one word’ for this year on having COURAGE, this is definitely going to be a challenge for me in that respect.

With my husband and I laid off, we never thought we’d see this day to have to depend on government assistance where it is barely enough to provide all of needs, giving us no other choice but to make sacrifices and work extra hard on our creative business hoping to make a profit, all the while taking care of our small children and wanting to provide the best for them. I’m always struggling and battling with being discouraged, which I find myself praying on my knees to overcome feelings of pity, doubt, and insecurity. It is a heavy burden to carry when you don’t know what tomorrow will bring if your rent isn’t paid or if you can’t pay your bills. Everyday, we wake up hoping for new opportunities, looking for answers, waiting for a change. And yet, we managed to get by and our needs are met through local and personal resources, but sometimes unexpectedly. It’s amazing that even in the smallest ways, we see God’s provisions and we are SO thankful and humbled. After awhile, my husband and I realized that this season in our lives has become more than a blessing than a curse. With having so little, we suddenly feel rich in the things that truly have value — time, creative gifts, and family. In the last two months, we were able to invest more time and effort into the things we are passionate about  – our photography business, our individual creative pursuits ( my art and hubby’s plant nursery), and most of all, in our FAMILY. God knows we needed this time together, more than ever. 

THREE GOOD THINGS:

1. My supportive and patient Husband who I get to spend more time with each day (he used to work long hours), driving each other crazy, but loving every minute of it.

2. My two boys who do not complain about not being able to have material things that most kids have, but understand that LOVE AND FAMILY is more important than things.

3. My small corner at the kitchen table where I can paint and create art…. AND dream of being a full-time artist one day….

Hope you’ll join me in creating a habit to be thankful each day for 3 Good Things <3

He{ART} Canvas | Transformed

 He{ART} Canvas | TRANSFORMED

digital fine art print will be available soon!

see my process below

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collaged the canvas with patterned papers + modge podge

 once the collage dried, i painted + scraped on layers of paint in teal + yellow

 sketched and painted a butterfly with a white wash

added details to butterfly with shapes and filled them in with water soluble crayons

felt it needed a touch of something…. scalloped background was added in to give it some character. 

VOILA!

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butterflies have always fascinated me, not only because of their intricate beauty of their wings, but because of the transformation that takes place from a caterpillar to a butterfly. i know there’s so many deep spiritual interpretations about the symbolism of butterflies in different cultures and beliefs, but to me it holds a special meaning in my journey. my life story can be told through the parable of a butterfly. it’s a bedtime story that i have told my kids at night, over and over again. they seem to love it so much and never get tired of it, always asking me to tell them the same story over and over again. so, if you’d like to hear it, i’ll be sharing it in my next post. hope you’ll come back and be enlightened by this fictional tale based on a true story. a story of my life… and how i was transformed and formed wings like a butterfly.

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What would you do?

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WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU KNEW YOU COULD NOT FAIL???

I discovered Sharon Hughes of Pansy, Cottage & Garden through her Launch Your Creativity video series called “Inspiration Delivered”. One of her video installments called “A Palette Full of Purpose”  was such an eye-opener as she introduced it with this profound quote, “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?” WOW. Hmmmm… Right then and there, my heart suddenly burst with an unknown enthusiasm and I began to seriously take the time to THINK about this…

This is such a powerful question that really caused me to change my perspective. Sometimes, we need something like this to help us realize that there is more to just living life. There is something more to our existence then we think or believe.  I recall that there were so many times in my life, during different stages throughout my journey, that I would have that deep yearning to know, ”What is my purpose and what am I called to do?” Of course, as a mother, my purpose was and will always be evident– my lifetime purpose as a mother who strives to do the best I can to love, nurture, teach, and guide my children in all stages of their lives. But, one day they will have outgrown the nest to embark on their own journeys and experience life on their own, hopefully knowing where to turn to when faced with the inevitable adversities of life. My doors to my heart will alway be wide open and my arms ready to embrace them, offering words of faith, wisdom, insight, and prayers.

But, other than that, then what?

When my days have suddenly become void of parenting full-time into this whole new chapter of my life, what next? Of course, I can travel and I will have the leisure of finally doing all the fun, creative things I’ve always longed to do without time restraints and limitations, but I want to make those last years in my lifetime as meaningful and purpose-driven in the ways I never could have imagined myself to ever take hold of. I want to live out my dreams that I’ve carried in my heart for so long. We all have a calling that is more than serving our families and ourselves. I believe that we all have a special gift that we can offer to the world, especially to those who are in need. And that is my desire, to be able to help bring hope and joy to others through my love for art. I don’t really know how it’s going to happen or if it will happen, but all I can do is keep doing what I love and let God lead me there.

The highest calling is never revealed to us right away and I know that it’s a lifelong process as we discover more about ourselves through our experiences, our joys, our sorrows, our triumphs, our defeats, our trials and tribulations, and through our relationships and connections. It’s an evolving process as life takes me through the ebb and flow of unexpected twists and turns. However, I am a firm believer of writing out our dreams, our goals, our aspirations, our deepest desires of our heart and soul. The power of the written word can sometimes activate those events to lead you in the right direction and motivate you to climb those mountains to pursue what you have envisioned. I look back and read some of my old journals, not having a clue what I wrote back then, but realizing that the words that poured out of my heart onto these pages, eventually became a reality. Words ARE powerful, but that’s a whole different post saved for another day…

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FEAR. That is what I feel has held me back all this time and it is the one obstacle in my path that I’m constantly battling with. I’ve always been afraid of failure almost all my life. I think the question I probably would have asked myself instead of the question above is, “What if I failed to do what I dreamed of doing?”. Completely backwards from the original question, right?  But, you know what? There’ll be a moment in your life that you finally get so fed up being afraid. You finally realize how important it is to not only you, your friends or family, but to the world we live in, that your story or your piece of beautiful art can really change or touch another soul. And that is God’s purpose for me and I no longer want to be afraid of what He has placed in me, nor do I want to fear what I know I’m called to do. At this age in my mid-30′s, I’m just now beginning to step out of my comfort zone and accept that who I am, IS WHO I AM. Don’t forget, I am human, so I do get a little envious and insecure once in a while, but I’ve gotten to this point in life where I no longer back down when I feel that way. I’m determined to not waste any more time feeling sorry for myself or comparing who I am to others. It doesn’t do any good, but hinder me from reaching my full potential. We all have potential to achieve our dreams. It’s just a matter of how much we really, really, want to see that dream come true. You have to really desire it with all your heart and soul. Believe. Have faith. Don’t give up!!

After realizing how fragile life is, losing so many loved ones pre-maturely, it’s not worth forsaking who you are and what you were created to be. You only have one life! YOLO! But, I know for some of us, it’s not that easy letting go of the past and for some, it is.  Once you do take that leap and decide to move forward, there’s this freedom and liberation that fills your soul. Suddenly, an inner revolution takes place and there’s this well of courage that is birthed within you. There are times that it gets knocked down, but you just have to get back up and keep taking it one step at a time. I will never know if any of those things on this list will be fulfilled, but I don’t want to give up trying and exhausting all the opportunities that are out there. There is so many resources and avenues towards reaching your dreams, you just have to take the time to do the research and surround yourself with the right people, more often times than not, it is almost through a personal connection. Go out, be bold, be beautiful, be you!

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So, ask yourself… “What would YOU do if you YOU knew YOU could NOT fail???”

Mercy Skies

Caught a glimpse of this beautiful picturesque sky. Simply breathtaking. My soul was captivated by how the light reflected upon the feathery clouds. I only had my iPhone to capture this image, but even so, I’m still so mesmerized by it. I love whenever God’s creation suddenly displays itself at the spur of the moment, sort of like a surprise gift. Even in the midst of my chaotic life, little things like this gives me a chance to stop and take a breath. Life is still good. Regardless of how burdensome it can be, I look at the inexplainable beauty around me and remember that it takes time for things to change and develop, before it can suddenly turn into something beautiful…

In His time, in His time
He makes all things beautiful, in His time
Lord, please show me everyday
As You’re teaching me Your ways
That You do just what You say
In Your time

In Your time, in Your time
You make all things beautiful, in Your time
Lord, my life to You I bring
May each song I have to sing
Be to You a lovely thing
In Your time

Transparency | Keepin’ It Real

Eek, it’s September! And I’ve only blogged once or twice last month… Life happens as always! If you read my previous post then you know that a lot has happened in my family. There were countless times that I’ve wanted to do nothing, but blog my heart out. Not because I had a project to share or because I wanted to talk about art, but simply because I needed to vent, to lay all my emotions out, and maybe cry while I’m typing it so that I can just get it off my chest… Sometimes it’s alright to have a GOOD cry.

For the longest time, I’ve contemplated whether I should be more personal on my blog and questioned if what I had to share is even going to have a significant impact on others. Growing up I was always conscientious of myself and what others would think if they really knew ME. I know it takes a level of confidence and courage to be transparent and real and so lately, I have struggled between the desire to be more open about my personal life and the fear of rejection and criticism. To put my very personal heart-felt thoughts before the world is a little frightening. It’s like being bare naked in public so to speak and knowing everyone’s eyes are on me makes me feel very vulnerable and intimidated…

What I’m trying to say is…. I ready to step out and be bold… Letting it all out and Be real.Be authentic. Be Brave. 

But, this attitude didn’t just come out of nowhere. I needed a push and a shove which came through the empowering words of Jennifer Blair.

At my local bookstore, I went and got a copy of the latest Artful Blogging publication and came across an article called “Sharing Your Heart Through Art” by Jennifer Blair of Jennifer Blair Photography. The title of that article is what caught my attention since that is what my blog and my vision for my art is all about. Everything that I create embodies a purpose of reflecting the deepest parts of my heart. My motto is to ‘embrace life through my He{Art}’ and when I art journal or do any mixed media canvases, I call those pieces — He{Art} Journal or He{Art} Canvas. My creations are a tangible manifestation of the emotions and inspirations that I can’t really express in words, but can express in little quotes and verses, colors, shapes, textures, and layers upon layers of paint. I never begin a project or page with a pre-determined idea or concept. It’s almost always intuitive, just letting my heart lead me in every stroke and mark that is evoked by the rhythm of my emotions and moods…

What Jennifer Blair wrote in this article, gave me a piece of courage to be more of an open book on my blog and not to be afraid to share the most intimate pieces of your heart. Sometimes, we don’t realize how much our readers want to connect with us on a personal level and not just for our art. I remember learning or hearing this somewhere that people always love a good story. Our creations may be beautiful and attractive, but its the stories behind them that really draw people to connect with your art and to the unique person YOU are.

“not everything in the heart is pretty, but inspiration is not always found in perfection. Sometimes it is the broken pieces that people connect with the most. Sharing those things are a risk worth taking. I am fully convinced that what we share takes on a bigger purpose when we dare to be transparent and real.” ~Jennifer Blair; Artful Blogging Aug-Oct 2012

Sharing my heart with you is very precious to me and I hope that whatever it is that I do share will touch the hearts of many. I have traveled a journey of many hardships and painful experiences that has cultivated my soul with humility, faith, and strength. I know there is a world of others that may have gone or currently going through much, much, worse than I that I can not even relate to, but I believe that there are also many others who can relate to me and hopefully find consolation and comfort in knowing that they are not alone. May I, too, be comforted in discovering who you are and those who are willing to connect with me in this life journey. xoxo

Missed Opportunities [Long Post]

In Loving Memory of Ben Abarientos | August 11, 1957 – August 18, 2012

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It was just a typical Saturday morning. We all woke up and had a good breakfast together as a family. Our plans were to head off to Half Moon Bay as we do every weekend and continue clean-up work in the greenhouse, our sanctuary where we retreat to after a long week. Despite the 20 minute drive from Pacifica, the journey there is always breathtaking with views of the Pacific Ocean, gorgeous sandy shores, and cute cottage beach homes. Also, with agricultural land and wide open fields of produce growing along Hwy 1, always seems to take us into another place, although it’s just a skip and a hop away from the busy city of San Francisco. We needed to work on a major greenhouse project that was going to take a lot of our time and attention that day. Of course, with our boys it would be a little risky to have them around, so we dropped them off to spend the day with my Aunt and Uncle. I was looking forward to the time alone with my hubby and just working on getting our greenhouse up to par with what we have envisioned. It’s a lot of work, but we both know that it will be worth it once everything is set up by the time Spring of next year rolls around. He will have his beautiful plants organized and ready for it to flourish and I will have my art studio space while being surrounded by a beautiful oasis of plants.

As the sun began to set, we got ready to head home to continue the rest of our evening and maybe lounge on the couch to watch our usual shows on Netflix or On Demand. The Office has been a favorite comedy show of mine and the hubby and we have been watching episodes from the first two seasons so far. Absolutely hilarious. Laughter is always a good remedy for the soul. We were planning to pick up the boys from my aunts house, but then I received a phone call from my Aunt, thinking she was probably calling me to ask where and when we would be heading over, but the moment I answered the call, I hear a panicked and hysterical auntie screaming in my ear. She called to tell me that she found out my Uncle Ben had passed from a heart attack that afternoon. My uncle was found laying by the pool in their backyard and no one knows how long he was out there. My heart simply broke.

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My Uncle Ben, my mom’s brother, was only 58 years old. In fact, we had just celebrated his birthday along with his brother, my other uncle, exactly a week before. My aunt, whom just called me with the sad news, is also my mom’s and uncle’s sister. Hope that made sense. She threw both uncles a birthday party (yes, they are both August babies) and everyone in our family, including myself, was there when he blew out his candles for the last time. I was devastated, but also confused with mixed emotions. A sudden loss is always hard to process at first. Although I knew he had recently discovered that he was having health issues with his heart, I always thought he still had a lot of life in him and that his chances were good. Questions and thoughts about what he was doing at the time, why wasn’t anyone around, would he have made it if someone were right beside him at the time, and why did it have to happen right before he was scheduled to have a bypass heart surgery. Even if he was told that he had a 50% chance of surviving the surgery, at least we all would have been able to spend some adequate time with him at the hospital before he went in. The “what if’s” plague my mind constantly. What is the most heartbreaking of it all is that he passed the same day that his youngest daughter left their nest to move out to LA for post graduate school. She left to begin her new journey on her own, without having any clue that would be her last goodbye…

Without me having to go on about the details and events that took place after everyone discovered the sudden loss of my uncle, I just want to share what my heart and my soul has experienced throughout this whole ordeal. You would think after losing my parents and grandparents, that it gets easier each time a loved one is gone. Yes and no, at least in my experience. It’s something I feel I’ve been able to cope with a little better as time went by, but the initial pain and sorrow always runs so deep and it lingers on and remains hidden until you celebrate the holidays, a birthdays, a milestone, or a lifetime event that you could only wish that those loved ones were there to share it with. Yes, the good memories are treasured and kept within our hearts, but it doesn’t come without the feeling of sadness and sorrow. Bittersweetness will always reside in the back of my mind, one day I’ll smile upon their memory and one day I’ll drown myself in tears. Some days, I wish I was up there with them. Yet I digress, that there is always hope to see them again one day. We never know when that day will come to be reunited together when we, too, must begin a new journey in eternity… Every day is a day closer and I try to live out my days the best I possibly can and hoping to always remember to cherish all that truly matters and the blessings that God has given to me.

The last time the kids paid him a visit at his home and got to spend a little time with him.

My Uncle Ben was very lovable, humble, hardworking, and had a funny sense of humor. At the memorial service, everyone who paid a tribute to him shared so many wonderful memories of his life and most of all and how he has touched many hearts. So many tears overflowed and hearts were aching immensely. But we all have found comfort in one another and also knowing that his soul is at rest. We all know he is in a better place and in God’s loving hands. He loved golf which my cousins, Jeff and Joy, thought of the perfect idea. Each immediate family signed a love note with their names on a golf ball and we placed it underneath his pillow. I love how my cousin came up with the thought, “Just Keep Swinging”.

Now that the memorial services have ended, I always find myself reflecting on what lessons I can learn from it. As usual, it’s the thought of how our loved ones are and how we often take the time we have with others for granted. But, this time I learned something new. I learned that there are ALWAYS opportunities to connect with someone before we find out that it is too late…

The weekend of my uncle’s birthday, I came to the party and didn’t feel like my usual self so most of the time I sat or stood in the background. I remember a heaviness in my heart that night and could not put a finger on it. I wanted to socialize and spend time with everyone, but a part of me, felt the need to be isolated. If anyone knows me well, I am usually a mingler who loves engaging with others, but not that night. I kept looking at the time and planned that I would leave a little early, but decided to wait until we sang happy birthday and stayed to watch my uncles blow out their candles and cut the cake. I remembered telling myself to be sure that I take a picture with my uncles before I left. I guess I let it slip my mind and forgot all about it. That night as I lay in bed, I broke down and cried. I felt so emotional and vulnerable. I started to analyze my thoughts and  tried to come down with a conclusion, but perhaps my soul knew that it was my last time and chance with my uncle that night. It could very well be that my intuition was  trying to tell me something or prepare me for this loss… I don’t know for sure, but all I know is that next time I need to listen to my heart and follow my instincts.

Now I am left with a sense of regret, that I should have took that picture with him the night of his birthday like I had originally planned. I feel like it was a missed opportunity, not because of the picture, but because I would’ve at least spent a little more time with him had I known it could be my last time, maybe I’d laugh at his usual jokes, I would have told him I loved him very much, and I would have at least been able to embrace him and his life a little bit more. And now that opportunity is gone.

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So what I wanted to share is don’t pass up the opportunities that you know you have while you still have a chance to tell someone you love them or to just be present in the moment with them. It’s not easy when life is hectic and you have a million things pulling you in all directions. I know it all too well and sometimes am guilty of it.  As we grow older, our lives change, our schedules get busy with school or work, we have our families to take care of, some of us move far away, or we simply just lose touch, but every time we lose a loved one, then do we realize how important we are to one another and how much we need to keep our families close. We realize the priceless value of time and those we love, but we also are left with a very valuable lesson — once a loved one is gone, they can never be replaced… once time has passed, you can never rewind it. All is left are the memories….

“Fly away home…” | Doves released at my Uncle’s burial