Family...It's all in the timing

Hello Blogland! This week over at Crafting By Designs we are having an Anything Goes Challenge. A Day for Daisies is our sponsor and one lucky winner will win 4 digis of their choice. So click on Crafting By Designs and take a look at the beautiful inspiration our Design Team has created.

I chose the Free Hand Butterfly 1 from a Day for Daisies. for my creation. I used one of my Unity Stamps to stamp on it, then fussy cut it out. The papers are from my stash. Mostly DCWV. A very CAS card, but those are my favorites to create.

I turned 45 (gasp!) this month. This by far was the hardest birthday for me. I've come to realize that I have passed my middle age point. I seriously doubt I'm going to live to be 90... I've started to realize what is important and what isn't. The most important thing(s) to me are Family and Time. You can't pick your family. God decides that for you. Some family is good, some family is bad. Go with the flow and make the best of it. I however, have been blessed with an incredible family. Yes, we have our dysfunction, but that is what makes us US. I love them with all of my heart and soul. Now in some cases, your family doesn't necessarily mean they are blood family. They are your chosen ones. The ones that know everything about you and love you anyway. Chosen family still has their own form of dysfunction, but they are the ones that you just couldn't get through life if they weren't there. I am also blessed when it comes to chosen family. I have my circle of 3 very special women, all entering my life at different stages and have remained there unconditionally. Lisa, Kathy and Elisabeth. I love these 3 with all of my heart.

Now comes the part about TIME. Time is the most important gift you can give of yourself.

My sister and I were discussing what we might like for our birthdays, they are 11 days apart. Not really coming up with something we decided the gift of time would be enough. That is what is most important. Spending time together.

Our brother gave us (including our mom) a gift card for a local establishment. He told us he wants us to go out and spend the day together. Have lunch or brunch and enjoy each other's company...perfect.

Summer has just began and our schedule is packed. We have so much to do around the house, but at the end of last week I decided that the landscaping, cleaning and laundry could wait. We (me, my husband and our son) HAD to head to the beach. One day, sun and fun. Toes in sand, butt in water. We put everything aside and went to Lake Erie for the day. All day long Danny kept telling us what a great time he was having and kept thanking us for taking him to the beach. The work can wait, kids and memories can not.

Time can never be regained once it is lost. In any relationship you give the time of yourself. A little hand written note, a phone call, a short visit. It doesn't have to be lengthy. Just chatting among family and/or friends. No party, no entertaining, just a chat that hopefully includes much laughter.

So many things have happened in my life. January weighs heavy on my heart when my friend Elisabeth lost her 2 babies in a car accident. Life changes in a blink of an eye. Live your life with no regrets, love the ones in your life as if there is no tomorrow.

Sometimes  you just have to stop, throw everything up in the air and tell yourself it can wait.

Remember you can never get it back...once it is gone, it's gone.

Sharon