I have kept a personal journal for a long time now and one began for Hailey when I was pregnant with her. Likewise Hunter has his own. I have this handy little computer journal that Brady created for me. Whenever I remember something the children have done or a milestone, I can just quickly go enter it in the computer. Of course I wanted the children to have their own websites. It started out because I thought it would be a good way for my family to see my babies and have a place to keep track of the thousands of photos we take to just simply becaue it was fun. Then about January of this year I became a BLOG STALKER. Everybody seemed to have a blog (which I really had of sorts with the kids websites). I would go check out people's blogs. Some of which I know. Click on a link here- there and before you know it you are on some tangent reading about the lives of other people. Something about this is fascinating. Yes it is a wee bit nosey but I am amazed by how often I have read comments on blogs that have uplifted and encouraged other people- usually it is from people that do not even have the slightlest connection with the writer or family of the blog.

With all the above being said, I have been reading my friends blogs and other's I don't know over the past few days. Most of them have said something about this family who has just recently lost their young daughter. She fell into a hot tub and drowned. As I read the journal entries of the mother she expresses many beautiful things and I feel their pain. This mother to me seems to have it. She is a stable, healthy woman and is grieving. People that have come across her blog have commented on how this tradegy has changed their life in some way. Why is it that tradegy can bring out something good or bad in someone? I have found that they are often a great wake up call and a reminder to listen up to the more important things.

So what is HARD? Is it dealing with your children over summer break, being sick or in pain for a few days, not having something, etc.? That word HARD has been stuck in my head all morning as I have gone about my chores. I am completely aware that what is hard for someone may be easy for another. The things that I normally consider "hard" are in fact merely un-enjoyable for me. Hard would be those little ones I think about in this world that have no food or a home and are abused, dealing with a disability every day, coping with a life-threatning illness or that lady I saw on Oprah the other day that had 3 blind and deaf children. The list could go on of things that I think would be hard.

I have a good life. I have shelter over my head and food to eat. Two children that I love and a husband who loves us and provides for us. It can be challenging at times but over time you learn how to make things better. The things I have complained about pass. I have learned that if I am patient and take a step back I am more effective. The normal everyday things that can bug one don't even compare to the HARDER things we may all experince in this life. My goal is to fine tune those challenges in my life and learn as I go.