live, laugh, LOVE!

a dear friend of mine suffered a tragic loss last weekend when his father was killed, his mother badly injured, and his childhood home destroyed. i've been feeling awful this week, imagining if it were me in his shoes. my heart goes out to him and his family. RIP Mr. B <3

after leaving the wake tonight, my mom asked me if i wanted to come up for dinner. i said no, instead opting for some much-needed alone time, and that matt and i would come up on sunday.

then i realized where i was and what i had just witnessed. i just watched my friend say goodbye to his dad and knew he'd do anything to have the chance to go have pizza with him again. so i called my mom right back and told her i'd be there shortly.

i adore my family, so much more so than i can put into words. i cherish them so deeply. more importantly, i make sure i tell them that all the time. i never leave the house or hang up the phone without saying i love you. i never leave a fight unsettled. i never let the last thing i say to someone before walking away be something negative or hurtful. because the cliche is true - you never know when a moment with someone might be your last.

CHERISH YOUR LOVED ONES. NOT JUST IN GOOD TIMES, BUT IN THE BAD ONES TOO. DON'T WAIT FOR A REASON TO SAY 'I LOVE YOU' OR 'THANK YOU'. DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE HOLIDAYS TO CALL. LIFE IS HARD AND DAYS ARE SHORT, BUT NEVER FORGET TO STOP AND TAKE A MOMENT TO REALIZE WHAT YOU HAVE. LIVE, LAUGH, AND LOVE EVERY CHANCE YOU GET!!!

**xoxo to those not included in this pic. maybe on my wedding day i'll finally be able to have a pic with ALL of my loved ones in it =)