I’ve been *sitting* on this blog post for way too long. Sometimes it is just hard to find the right words. But perhaps there are no right words? I’ll explain.

I’ve had a lot of little and bigger reminders this year about how precious life really is. To not take ANYTHING for granted. Ever. To show love and appreciation for the life I have, my family, having kids that are healthy and thriving, having a safe home. All those things we sort of take for granted,  we need to be thankful for them. Every day. Because truly, all of this could change in a day’s time.

First my bestie got diagnosed with breast cancer in January at age 38. She’s finished with her treatments and is doing well. More on this later.

I met this beautiful family through a mutual friend of mine. She is a nurse (I know so many awesome nurses!). This friend of mine was telling me about this mom’s daughter who had been diagnosed with Leukemia recently. Not only is she my daughter’s age, she also has a twin sister (So do I!). So mom was looking for someone to take family pictures for them before her daughter, Bridget, was going through her chemo treatments and would loose her hair. She thought that having those pictures would help Bridget get through some of the rough spots a little easier. Remind her that it is still her, same beautiful person, that this would just be a temporary thing. I totally agree and I told her I would do it.  Then she also said that they had never had family pictures done before. I later found out that they were also amongst the families that lost their home a few years ago when those nasty wildfires were raging through Bastrop. Ugh, I know, this is heavy stuff! You ask yourself WHY and how one can deal with so many challenges. I just stand in awe over how strong this family is.

If you wouldn’t know all this and would look at these pictures, you would think this family is just like yours or mine. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I met them but was totally prepared to get emotional at some point. But what I saw was love and warmth and lots of giggles and laughter, and two twin girls that seem incredibly close. They would consistently break out in giggles whenever someone said “chicken dog” (I know it’s random, must be a twin-inside-joke-thing ;-)) I almost forgot that heavy load they were carrying on their shoulders, not knowing what would come next for Bridget. And Bridget, she has got to be one of the most charismatic, confident 11-year olds I’ve ever met. They both were so full of personality!

I am thankful to have had the opportunity to meet them. Bridget (she’s the one with the lighter hair) and her family is in my thoughts and in my heart forever. After only an hour with them I can tell that she’s one strong little cookie and this cancer thing will not bring her down. And with the love and support she has from her sister, her family and friends I just know that they will get through this and come out stronger, more connected and with lots of laughter.