Sad News Week

It's been quite the week, as it seems that our family has gotten a fair amount of sad news lately. One of the good things to come out of it, though, is that it has brought out the true value of family for me. I've always been blessed with a great family, full of love, compassion, and support. In fact, I couldn't ask for a better family, you just can't top them in my book.

Today, we attended the funeral mass and celebration of life for a family member who died suddenly a week ago. It was an amazing experience, grieving for a loved one while remembering all of the great things that came from his life and what a blessing it was to know him. We didn't get to spend a lot of time with him, but the one thing that will always be burned into my memory is his wonderful smile. I was impressed by his family (and our extended family), so gracious at such a tender time, and so full of love for the people around them. What a blessing to know such people.

While we did receive a fair amount of sad news this week, one of the things that I will always remember is the power of community and the power of family. If you haven't done so recently, I highly recommend telling the people around you how much you love them and take a moment to reflect on the wonderful people that are surrounding you. I know that I love my family, and am certainly grateful to have them in my life!