I don't want to miss even one song...

Being away from most of my friends and my family this summer has made me realize the little things in my life that are so important to me. I want to cherish even the short moments that I am able to share with my family, to take advantage of each of them because they are the ones that mean the very most to me. I love and am so thankful for my parents. Being away from them at school made me start to realize how great they are in spite of the challenges that being a parent comes with, those of which I won’t fully understand until that day comes for me. And in the frequent instances when my dad tells me how proud he is of me, I also see the rewards in it. My parents are both strong people who for as long as I have been alive have lived their lives for other people. Material things have never been important to them, but rather, our family and the purpose they have in the Lord. This is obvious in the sacrifices they have made and how much they love us. I appreciate this because perhaps as everyone always says, its what has made me who I am. Their examples of this love, first of all for the Lord, secondly for each other, thirdly for our family, and lastly for the people in their lives that need hope and love is what makes me appreciate and love them so much.

The little bit of time I had to spend at home this summer has also made me realize how much I really love my brother and sisters. My littlest sister, Laura and I have become quite close. We have this word that we use and every time I am talking to another member of my family she asks them if I said it, as if this word signifies that I love her and only her. Being away has made me miss out on so many things in her life but this summer has made me realize how much I love being her older sister. I love being the one to love my siblings when we are having fun together and also love them even when they are on my last nerve. Time goes by way too fast and I am realizing how important it is to cherish every moment.