Focus. This is my necessity. Focus on my little family. Focus on the future. Focus on Jesus. When I find myself immersed in the Bible, I can finally let go of all the background distractions.

I have had a hard time dealing with the state of the world we live in. How we as a whole have come to be so violent and hateful. This is why we need Jesus in our lives. God has given us the rules to live by. We just need to follow them.

So, I take a deep breath and think of the homestead we will one day have in the mountains. Where we can plant a garden, feed the chickens and chop firewood. Where keeping dry and having food in our bellies are the basics. Food, water and shelter. And the love we have for each other.

I’m so sorry, sorry that I waited. I waited to come visit and now it’s too late. It’s too late to tell you that I love and treasure you. Too late to thank you for being an important part of my childhood. I wanted to tell you that I learned a lot from the times I spent playing at the house.

I have very fond memories of asking you for a spoon and a bowl so that I could make mud pies in the yard. The yard that seemed to be in a perpetual mud season, with dogs bounding around and a car always being worked on. I remember Christmas Eve at your house and the brand new bike that my Dad brought out of the back room. I rode that bike all over those dirt roads.

From you and Grandpa, I got my love of cookies and cream ice cream. I learned how to core an apple and flip an omelet. I learned that it doesn’t matter how tidy your house is as long as it’s filled with love and laughter.

I used to get a kick out of you calling Grandpa, “Dad” and him calling you “Ma”. I can see that smile of yours with your eyes squinting and your shoulders going up.

We need to make time for visiting, even though there never seems to be enough time or money for travel. What’s important in life is the people who make it worthwhile.

Make sure the people you love and cherish, know that you love and cherish them. Tomorrow is promised to no one.

Thomas and I celebrated our anniversary a little different that year. We were in a hospital room, admiring the miracle that had happened the night before. It was our four year anniversary. We were joyously holding our baby boy and realizing how our lives had just become so much more fulfilling. There was a new meaning to life. We were forever changed.

This year our anniversary falls on election day and this year Ethan will be nine years old. It’s so cliche but really, where did nine years go?

A Garfield cake is gracing our table this year and seven of his closest friends are bouncing their way to happiness.

We should all be so lucky. A healthy, bouncing baby boy and a dependable and loyal best friend (who just so happens to be my husband).

November is a month of reminders. A reminder that life is precious and God is good. He has given me all I need to be the person I was meant to be. A faithful and loving wife. A nurturing and virtuous mother. I am so very thankful.