[LuvMyLwAaMr]

Approaching Lucas's 4th birthday and his big birthday really makes me want to take a moment to tell everyone how thankful I am that we have the opportunity to give him a big birthday party and celebrate. In this past year my family knows a little girl who is just months younger than Lucas who was approaching her 1 yr mark of fighting cancer... days before her final scans to confirm she was in remission, a new spot showed up right on her forehead so now she is starting her journey to fight all over again... but she is one tough little girl, I follow her journal several times a week, and pray for her and her family all the time. Also just a few months ago a family in our city suffered a terrible tragedy... their 2 yr old son woke up before everyone, pushed a chair to the back door and unlocked it, slipped under their gate where the dogs dug it up, and drown in their swimming pool

My heart aches for the families that have to go through things like this... My cousins and I are active in the Relay for Life walk every year for the American Cancer Society and I always make sure I take time to really just sit and enjoy everything my boys do... I just can't help but think about all the families who have to celebrate their children's birthdays wondering if they'll make it to the next one.

I kind of feel like it's not only my duty to my children to love them and protect them and celebrate and cherish every little thing about them, but I also feel like it's my duty to do this for the parents who have that opportunity taken away from them, if that makes any sense...

Its nice to just take a moment and give your little ones an extra hug and kiss and just think about how very fortunate we are to have these little amazing people...

[Mjp121212]

How sad for those families, my heart aches for them and my prayers reach out to them. We should all be thankful and ever watchful, and never take a moment for granted

[Adriana's Mommy]

Those poor families.. My heart goes out to them..

I've learned as I got older that life is short.. No matter what your age, from birth to age 100.. You just never know when the good Lord calls you home.. Enjoy everyday to the fullest, each day is a gift..

I cherish every moment with my kids.. I think that's why I'm a little obsessed of taking pictures and videos of them..

[LisanAndy]

How sad for those families I've definitely learned to take nothing for granted!

[Mars]

I'm so sad for the families. I try to be super vigilant with Amara and not take anything for granted.

[artisticmind]

i agree...when i hear something on the news about a missing kiddo or one that passes away it makes me hold my son a little tighter and thank God that he's healthy and still here. In february one of my dads coworker's little girl who was a few months younger that Riley, her name was Ryleigh too, died of SIDS. They had a few friends over for drinks after she was in bed around 7 or 8, the guests left at 9 or so and the mom went to check on her before going to be at about the same time and she wasn't breathing It's scary that it just takes a few moments for them to be taken away and you wouldn't even know it until it was too late.