but I am feeling different today. I can look myself in the mirror and look past the gray hair, look past the signs of aging. What I see now is a person determined to make this life as good as I can, a mother who will do the best she possibly can for her children, and a wife who is willing to work to make her marriage better. But I am also starting to see someone different, someone who will start speaking her mind, someone who is not afraid of the future, and someone who will try to get through the struggles that are sure to come. So what is this that I am feeling? Am I finally starting to be happy with who I am? I hope so, because that is one of my biggest goals.

I got my hugs this weekend, from my dad. It was really good to see both of them. But also sad. Sad to see him coughing so much, sad to hear him apologize for it, sad to hear him say he may never ride the motorcycle again. I fought back tears a few times this weekend, I am sure they will find their way out soon. The kids were fabulous, my parents even said so. I am very glad we went down there as a family. My parents needed that, I needed it.