The value of time. . .

How long is 6 months?
• 180 Days
• 4,320 Hours
• 259,200 Minutes
If measured by a clock

What is the value of 6 months? You’ll get varying answers depending on whom you ask:
• A Soldier waiting to come home
• A bride-to-be waiting to wear that white dress
• An expectant mother waiting to hold that precious gift in her arms
To each of these. . .6 months seems a lifetime. It is so far into the future, they feel that it will never arrive. But, ask the same question of:
• A long-term employee, losing their job
• A Soldier waiting for deployment
• A parent planning their child’s college move
• A patient receiving the bad news of an expiration date
To them, six months is but a moment in time. It goes by so quickly, you hardly have time to savor it.

As I battled cancer I dreamt of all the things we’d do when I was feeling better. Like many others facing chronic illness and debilitating treatment, I formed a “bucket” list. However, DH and I began to realize that nobody really knows their future. So, we decided we’d start knocking off the bucket list items now. If there was something we wanted to see or experience, we should just make it happen.

Well, now we’re faced with another deadline. Mom’s condition has continued to decline and we’ve finally received the bad news that she probably only has 4-6 months before she goes Home. She’s starting to make a list of things she’d like to do and we’re trying to make sure she spends as much time with family as we can. We want our kids to have great memories with Gma J. Six months is going to fly past us so quickly and then she’ll receive her ultimate healing.

It’s yet another chance to remind those of you, in our lives. . . don’t wait until you receive bad news to make memories. Tell your loved ones how much you love them. Hug your Mom extra tight. Read to a child. Go fly a kite. Sit on the floor with a youngster and color a picture. Eat a popsicle. Ride a bike. Laugh with great abandon. Blow bubbles in your milk glass. Find the swings at the park and pump your legs until you fly. Splash in a puddle. Get some mud between your toes. Lie down on the cool grass at night and look up at the stars.

Live.