I recently said to a friend, "Hope your day is great!"

The reply I received was, "My day will be great because I choose for it to be!"

I have thought of that countless times this week when I found myself having an all but great day. And even though this season of my life has been hard, there are things that make my life great! Two being Jonathan and Joel. I so enjoy listening to them play together as they take Thomas and friends over the train tracks, or fight the fire in the bathroom, or race their cars through the kitchen race track. I want to be that carefree. I want to put the reality of life on hold and just play!

My friends also make my life great. I have good friends. Friends that make me laugh. Friends than encourage me. Friends that cry with me. Friends that love me. And with the help of Facebook, I've reconnected with old friends as far back as elementary school.

My family makes my life great. Mama told us girls recently how she was glad that we all loved her. We have had our share of junk, but in the end we are family. We love each other. We even like each other! :)

All that aside, I cannot expect anyone or anything to make my life great. That is up to me. That is the choice that I must make daily.

My life is GREAT because I choose for it to be GREAT!

My mother is awesome!

My mother, Becky Boyd, is pretty awesome~ She has always loved us unconditionally. I am the oldest of four children and that makes me pretty special. But being the first born of a first born has had its challenges. I remember as a teenager how I criticized her for making me do the dishes. I was a busy girl - in school, sports after school, piano lessons, babysitting, homework and I asked her why did I have to do the dishes? what did she do all day? I know that I hurt her deeply that day. Fortunately, in 1995 we had an opportunity to clear the air with each other, ask forgiveness and move on. She came to NY to stay with my after I had surgery. Then when I got sick with the flu I think, she stayed the whole week. That was one of the best weeks of my life. So when I found myself divorced at 25, I made the decision to move back to GA to be near my mom. I needed her. And she's always there when I need her.

Then in 2001, mama was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. As we sat in Dr. Phillips office waiting for the results of the biopsy, I knew in my spirit that it was not her time to leave this world. Not only did she still have 2 children at home, but I had just gotten married again and didn't have children yet. My children were going to know their grandma! I tried to be there when she needed me. December 2008 marked the 7th year since that diagnosis and I am pleased to say that she is cancer free!

I still have my mother with me. To help me navigate my own road of motherhood. To be my friend. To be my confidant. To be my mama.

I love you dearly mama! And this post is a small effort to show the world how much.