The most magical day!

On Saturday, March 20th I had the most magical day which was spent with my family!

Throughout mom's cancer journey, our family was supported by an army of women. As mom would refer to them, "Vicki's people." As a family we had the pleasure of getting to know many of these beautiful souls. We struggled (at least I did) to figure a way to express our deepest and most sincere gratefulness for all of their efforts from calling to check on her, visiting her at the hospital, visiting her at home, bringing us food, taking her to treatments at MD Anderson, finishing Chad and Angee's quilt, putting together Angee's wedding shower in absence of mom, and perhaps more than anything loving accepting mom for her and simply sitting with her to give the family a break from the physical and emotional roller coaster.

As the very smallest token of our appreciation we invited the ladies to our home to cook them a meal with a menu full of classic "Vicki" dishes. We also created a frame displaying a quilt block she made before passing, a photo and a poem she wrote. While the evening was magical, it was more than just the few hours we spent with the ladies sharing stories, providing them a token of appreciation and serving them delicious food (if I don't say so myself). It was spending the entire day with my family (8:00am - 11:00pm). I realized I have perhaps the greatest family on earth. I am totally in love with my family. I was proud they were willing to dedicate an entire Saturday to thank the people that loved mom so deeply. I was proud that by 8:00am we did not even have a menu picked out and over 9 hours we worked efficiently, fluidly and in unity to pull off a gorgeous meal and beautiful frame that these women cherish. There was just a moment that hit me and I thought to myself, "I am so lucky."

When there is great loss in someone's life there will no doubt be both negative and positive outcomes. While I fiercely miss my mother on a nearly daily basis, I find gratitude in the closeness among my family that has resulted from this entire experience. I want to give a huge shout out to Dad, Chad, Angee and Tyler and let you know how passionately I love each one of you and I know I could not have gotten through mom's cancer without the support and love from each one of you. It gives me strength to know that no matter what I do or don't do, I at least have four people that love me unconditionally and endlessly.

In a state of pure gratefulness - thanks family! I love you!