Reality Check

Hi Family- This will be a more serious post today than I have posted for a while. Yesterday I had a reality check of sorts. I had the privlage to attend a funeral of my spa manager's husband who passed away last week after a long illness. They were Baptist, and very good people. Joe and his wife, Fonda Kimbrell owned Kimbrell's salon and were both cosmetologists. Joe had Bipolar disease among other health issues that led to his death. Joe was a good husband, father, church member, and youth advocate. Me, having never attended anything other than a mormon funeral service found the service very interesting but very much a spiritual experience as well. The service really was very good! I had never met Joe. He was sick long before I ever came to work at the spa, but hearing about his life made me want to know him. After the many reflections and spiritual music sung, and the final talk by the pastor, I realized that I want my life to be celebrated like this, one day too... It's a long way off and I don't mean to reflect on this as much except to say, that I hope we'll all strive harder to live our lives such so that one day our brothers and sisters, family, and friends of those who love us will gladly laugh and celebrate, and give thanks for knowing us too. Life is too short to be stuck in a rut or stay apart because of hurt feelings, belief differences, pride or whatever it is that keeps you apart... We have to work at our relationships and it's all worth it because we are just a small part of a larger eternal family.

Just to share- here's a few of my favorite family quotes:
At the end of the day, a loving family should find everything forgivable.
-- Mark V. Olsen and Will Sheffer

I think people that have a brother or sister don't realize how lucky they are. Sure, they fight a lot, but to know that there's always somebody there, somebody that's family.
-- Trey Parker

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.
-- Anthony Brandt

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.
-- Thomas Jefferson

Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden. Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and growing.
-- Jim Rohn

If you needed this reality check then I'm glad I could remind you as I was reminded. We have to keep everything in perspective and act each day as if it were our LAST.

Much love,
Senga