Today is bitter sweet. While I celebrate 9 years of serving in the U.S. Army, it also would have been my parents 31st wedding anniversary. This is the only photo I have with my mother in uniform. I thought it would be the first of many, but sadly it won’t be. My mother passed in January and I can’t help but think about all of our lost moments.

Often times we take moments with people for granted. We assume that they will be with us forever; sharing in every major event of our lives. I just knew that my mother and I would share moments like this for years to come. Sadly we won’t. I have to come to grips with the fact that she won’t be here to see me get promoted, married, have children, return home from deployment, graduate with another degree, and share every other major life event I’m going to experience.

Cherish every moment you have with the special people in your life. We know that one day the special people in our lives will pass, but we don’t get to choose that date. We would like for the date to be when those people are old and have lived fulfilled lives, that may not always be the case. Don’t take any moment for granted. Don’t be so focused on taking a great picture that you forget to be present in the moment. Once those moments are gone you can’t get them back, and one day that will be all you have to remember those people. Appreciate every moment you have with the special people in your life.

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