Merry and Bright... Teary and Tattered....

My last Christmas break is almost over..... only a few more days, and I will begin my final semester at Bellarmine. It is SO hard to believe. This break has been full of so many emotions: from the wonderful feelings associated with Christmas to the pain and sorrow of losing Mary Kate.

Christmas has always been one of my favorite times of the year, but this year... it was overshadowed by sadness and tears. Mary Kate, my 18 year old cousin was killed in a tragic accident on the December 23rd. She was driving home from her boyfriend's family Christmas party and it was really windy and rainy. In a moment, her young life was over. I spent the day after Christmas and the day following that at the funeral home and in tears. This year and forever, Christmas will never be the same. I will always think of waking up and hearing she had died, the first time I talked to her parents and let them sob in my arms.... It was truly a nightmare. So needless to say, I have had better breaks.

This year has been full of a lot of hard times... the accident this summer, the incident at school, and now this.... so many young people being taken too soon or making choices that will change their lives forever. All of the things I have been through have made me realize we are truly only passing through this life. We never know when our time is up, when our last day will be. Time is so precious and I am lucky each day I wake up with another day to live. I have always known it, but these events have really reaffirmed it.

It is hard to believe it is 2008.... I hope it is the best year yet.... maybe a lofty goal... but I have the power to make it amazing. Who knows what this year will hold, but whatever it is... I hope it is full of happiness, health, and many good memories. I hope that it will be a year to remember and the beginning of many wonderful new things in my life. It is going to be a big year for me..... I am very excited.

Thing have changed in my life... but I think it is for the better. Things still hurt, I still make mistakes... but I am given a daily gift of life and a chance to make things right. I will never be perfect... but I am a lot closer than I used to be.