REFLECTIONS OF WHAT WAS , WHAT IS AND THE FUTURE

Wow!! Already the 4th of July!! Holidays seem to bring back so many memories; sad and happy ones.  I love the holidays and love celebrating each and every one. I have always tried to bring a sense of a
"celebration of our lives and being alive and together" to each of the holidays that we celebrate. Tommy and I are the family who string lights, any color lights everywhere around the house, inside and out just because...
 A week before the holiday approaches, I have already been digging on line for fun desserts, and ideas for the dinner decor.  I love to try new recipes but at the same time,  I fix things I know they will eat.
On July 3, I went right to work on my desserts.  Taking my time; making them and sampling them, of course. I love it when the kids are able to come in and spend time with us and for this 4th of July celebration, I was blessed with Nicole and her husband Yogi coming in on Friday evening to add to our FREEDOM celebration. Meagan and Justin would be in and out of the house all weekend and coming over for our 4th of July lunch on Monday with everyone.

I wake up on July 4th; ready to begin my day when my mind reflects back to this time last year.
Alot of times, you just go thru life and don't really remember what you were doing on certain days but when life gives you challenges, those are the times we sometimes remember for a very long time.

My mind goes back to my dad. Over 6ft. 5 inches in height. He was my hero.  He had worked hard and smart and owned his own business. He was very successful and loved what he did.  He and my mom traveled the world together and spent 24/7 together every day.  They planned to grow old together.
Unfortunately, that plan would be interrupted.
In May of last year, 2010, my dad just wasn't feeling well. Went in for some tests and they placed him right in the hospital. 3 days later, with tests results back, the doctor came to my dads hospital room to give him the news that not only him devastated him but devastated our entire family and all of those around the world who loved and respected him so much.
My strong, very patient dad, who took very good care of himself, was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer.  My world was turned upside down at that very moment.
So as I remembered back 1 year ago on July 4th, I remember so vividly going outside in his yard and watching the neighbors firework display.  My dad loved to go out and watch their's every year. One reason was because it was free. Dad could see a fantastic firework show and he didnt have to purchase any of the fireworks. My dad is what he always referred to as very frugal. My mom , dad and I would watch a wonderful fireworks show on that July 4th that unbeknownst to me, would be the last time that my dad and I would share time underneath the stars, crickets chirping and lightning bugs flying all around us.
So a year later, I am lying in bed, thinking how fast life changes. My dad always said that the only thing that stays constant in life is change and he was so right. 
At times, we are faced with choices. To get up and remember the good times and remember all that we have been blessed with today and blessed with for the future or
we can choose to pull the covers up over our heads and choose not to participate.

I choose to participate in life! To be an overcomer.  To look towards today and the future and know that we can make a difference in every persons life that we cross paths with. 
I choose to be thankful to God for allowing me to have such a strong, caring, loving, dad who lived each day to the fullest and helped so many others to believe in themselves and their dreams. A man whose life was lived with integrity.
As the kids and my mom came over to the house, it was a day of celebration! A day to remember that we are a nation of freedom and choices. A day to make memories for our children and future grandchildren.