I can shut my eyes, conjuring his smile and warm eyes, and find a smile through the tears as we say goodbye to a boy who was loved every day.

Moments when gratitude comes easily is a result of sitting at the bottom of life’s rollercoaster. That’s why we can truly appreciate the good stuff. And who does want to feel all the awesomeness of the good stuff?

The compelling reward on the other side drove me, guided me through situations where it would have been easy, and understandable to proclaim the timing wasn’t right. In those situations, I knew what I wanted, and despite what could be seen as an inopportune time, I forged ahead.

A large tear formed in my eye after the line, “Home can be the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Indiana’s early morning dew, High up in the hills of California, Home is just another word for you,”

“Baby animals are unaware of the predators and survival skills their mothers are teaching them from birth, and I realized I did the same, and my children were unaware as well. “

All human beings are entitled to be angry, sad, or happy in reaction to situations they find themselves in, and I am not unique. The noteworthy difference is that I am exposing my thoughts and experiences in black-and-white on a public page, bearing my soul for readers to scrutinize or applaud.