Guest Blog: Remembering...

Today marks three years since I received the horrible news of my dads passing. My dad had his share of health issues in the past, so when I got the call from my aunt saying "it's about your dad", I responded "oh is he in the hospital again"? Her response was one I never expected, especially since my dad was only 50. "No Heidi, he died". My whole body went numb, I couldn't even get the words out to tell my other half. I was in such disbelief, I cried a little but it just didn't feel real. It wasn't until 3 days later at his funeral that I realized this is actually happening. I am never going to see or talk to him again, and then all of my emotions came flowing out.

My dad and I were not talking at the time of his passing so it made is so much harder for me. I had so many regrets and still do. There was nothing I could do, it was too late! My daughter who was almost 2at the time had never even met my dad, this really ate me up. We both made mistakes and said things we shouldn't have. But why we were so stubborn to not talk for so long? The thought of this now just drives me insane.

If I could change the past I would, unfortunately all I can do is move forward with the memories I have of him. If this experience has taught me anything it is that life is too short to bicker about nonsense. Hold your loved ones tight and accept them for who they are. None of us knows what tomorrow may bring, I learned this the hard way.

Gone but never forgotten <3 Heidi

I love this short story below, it speaks volumes to me about priorities. Sometimes we all need a reminder. :)

The Big Rocks of Life!

One day a wise teacher was speaking to a group of his students. He pulled
out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed mason jar and set it on a table in front of
him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed
them, one at a time, into the jar.

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he
asked, "Is this jar full?"

Everyone in the class said, "Yes."

"Really?" he asked. "Let's see." He reached under the table and pulled
out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar,
causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between
the big rocks. Looking carefully from face to face, he smiled
benevolently and asked again, "Is the jar full?"

His class was catching on quickly. "Probably not," one of them answered.

"Very good!" he replied. He then reached under the table and brought out a
bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the
spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. When he was finished he once
again asked, "Is this jar full?"

"No!" the class shouted.

"Excellent!" he replied. Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and poured it
in until the jar was filled to the brim. Once again looking intently into
the eyes of each student, he asked, "What is the point of this illustration?"

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how
full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more
things into it!"

"Aha, that's very good!" the teacher replied, "But let us look a bit
deeper. This illustration also teaches us a higher truth: If you don't put
the big rocks in first, you will never get them in at all!"

What are the "Big Rocks" in your life? Financial freedom? A project that
YOU want to accomplish? Time with your loved ones? Your faith, your
education, your business? A cause? Teaching or mentoring others?

Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all.

Here's how to grow a little. Tonight just before you go to bed, or first
thing tomorrow morning take a moment to reflect on this short story, and
ask yourself this question: What are the "Big Rocks" in my life or
business? Put those in your jar first.

Author Unknown