Weekend with the Family!

This weekend I am spending some much needed time with my family! My mom’s birthday is this weekend and she has decided to plan a birthday weekend celebration. Friday is when my sisters and I get in town and we cook dinner for her. Saturday, the family plus cousins, Aunts, and Uncles are going to dinner for her birthday.

This year is different from my mom's birthdays in years past because of all of the support and love she has shown for me during my time of battling my illness. It means so much more to me to be able to see another birthday of my mom, who is the woman I look up to and who teaches me many life lessons.

 I love the time I get to spend with my family. With my sisters and me away at college it is always a good feeling when we get to spend time together. I hope my mom has an amazing birthday filled with laughter and love! Love you mommy!

Helping others

During my stay at Children's Hospital I met so many kids that helped me be a better person. After getting to know these kids, my family and I wanted to help them in any way possible. We began talking to them and their families and helping them to understand that everything is going to get better. Many of the families we met didn’t have the funds to travel from their home to Children's Hospital every day. It was hard to see these kids and families struggle. Even though I was going through a hard time, helping these other families helped me to feel better. It was a good feeling to know that I was helping others while we all struggle to live another day.

I always encourage others to go out there and make a difference in someone’s life. Help them understand life and living while they go through a hard time.

Life!

Whenever you are faced with a challenge in life I think it gives you more hope and determination to stand up against whatever you are faced with and have a positive outcome. I love to hear other success stories of when they were faced with a negative situation but decided to stand up against it and tell others their testimony.

Whenever I think of “Blessing in Disguise,” I think about where I am now and how I have gotten to this place. I also think about the certain things my situation has taught me. It has taught me to NEVER take things for granted, to live everyday thankful for the things and people in my life. It has also taught me to not sweat the small stuff, because in the end those things don’t really matter.  I have a better appreciation for life and a better appreciation for living and waking up every day.

As it get closer to time for me to graduate, I can’t help but be thankful for where I am now! I never knew if I would be at this point in life where I am happy to have had the opportunity to come back to college and finish out my academics. I never knew if I would be able to actually get closer to the goal of doing what I love. Having gained an internship for the summer, I see my dream becoming reality.

Be thankful for where you are in life. Be thankful to be healthy and to be able to be in college. Be thankful for the little things in life. These things make you a happier person!