Life has a way of unexpectedly hitting you with a blow so hard you feel as though you were knocked into some alternate universe.  Quite dramatic perhaps, yet descriptive of the way my year started.  As I continue my thoughts, I hope that my story will enlighten you and possibly help you in some way.  

The writer inside of me has a goal and a vision.  I knew without a doubt how much I wanted and planned to create at the beginning of the year.  I had it all mapped out with my minimum starting point.  Than plan was to start with a blog post each week and if there is more, great, if there is a little less, still great, however, I was determined to meet my goal and remain committed. 

I often side chuckle, you know the side smirk kinda laugh that hasn't quite made it to the other side of your mouth?  Yeah, that one.  I side chuckle when I think of how funny it is when you think you are going to tell God just how things are going to go and He has something far greater in mind.

I'm absolutely certain without the help of GPS I would never make it to the majority of my destinations.  I remember the days of printing out directions and glancing down at each turn.  That level of driving and reading combination took a lot of skill, and even more courage.  Imagine relying on a piece of paper to get you somewhere safely without managing to go off the side of the road and get into an accident.  While that was truly a time that should be logged in history, I am thankful that I no longer have to do that and equally thankful for the evolution of time along with the updates to technology.

When you see commercials of people preparing to travel by car everyone is smiling from ear to ear, singing a catchy tune while bobbing their heads left and right.  I'm not saying this does not happen, but I am pretty sure it doesn't last the duration for cross-country road trips.  Someone will surely have to stop to use the bathroom when no one else has to while another person is hungry and asking 'Are we there yet?'  Whatever the destination, the car has a tank full of gas, you have mentally prepped yourself for this grueling drive and it's time for an adventure you will surely never forget!
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The very first love you know is the love of your mother and father.  The secure feeling you have in their arms while under their watch and care, the endless advice they try to give even though you feel you know what's best, and the way they are able to soothe your aches and pains like no other gives you a sense of safety that can only be described as absolutely and completely amazing.  All of these things are typically hard for anyone to top which makes parents become heroes in the eyes of their children.

Not often enough do you hear about that same type of love for grandparents, but trust me it exists in the most magical way.  As a child you never truly understand the process of aging, that part of life doesn't begin to happen until around mid 40's for most, when you come to the realization that you are getting older and things are starting to change.  You don't see as well as you used to, your leg hurts a little more than it did yesterday, you need glasses for something you were able to read fine a few months ago.  The list goes on and on.  All of these things are called life, or as my grandmother used to say, just keep on living.
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