It has been over a year since I blogged.  This past year has been interesting.  Shortly after my last post, my beloved sister Kate took her life with a lot of RX drugs. We wanted to protect her and said her cause of death was Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.  It was.  But is was a direct result of her taking a ton of meds she was prescribed.  She suffered from chronic depression. She never knew how much love and happiness she brought to us and everyone that knew her.

This is important.  She struggled with depression and nothing anyone did would convince her she was loved and valued.  We have a loving, crazy, fun family and we do a great job of making sure our loved ones know they are loved.  She was included, valued, loved. She didn't see any of that.  The reason this is important is because there might be someone in your family that is like Kate. 

Someone who makes every experience fun and comfortable.  Someone you can confide in and talk to or listen to and laugh with and learn from.  Someone who rolls her eyes at you at every suggestion for shenanigans but goes along it with anyway.  Someone who loves your child with her whole heart and wants to do the best by him. Someone who, after they leave you and a family gathering feels empty.  Not a day goes by that we don't miss you, Kate. You live on in our hearts.

This is important.  I don't know how to change someone's mind.  I don't know how to convince someone that feels worthless and unlovable that they are, indeed, LOVED AND VALUED.  I wish the Mental Health System was better equipped to help people like Kate. Worksheets don't work. Telling someone to name things they love about themselves when they don't, doesn't work.  I know Kate was loved. I so wish she could have seen herself in our eyes.  From Drew's eyes.  He loved her and loved every minute he spent with her. 

We went to an Easter Egg hunt today.  It was wonderful.  My favorite part was when a woman we have never met asked 'what is wrong with him?' then immediately followed it up with 'I don't know the right way to ask that question' .  I told her the better phrase was 'what is his diagnosis'?  I was not offended; I was glad to educate her.  We had fun at the adapted Easter Egg hunt. Drew and Logan battled it out to see who got more eggs.  I am pretty sure Drew Roxx won.  ;}

Next we stopped at Kroger.  Drew is not a fan of grocery shopping.  But he did a great job.  Probably cuz I bribed him with Achatz Pie.  We were expeditiously shopping and there were a few Kroger employees in one of the aisles.  Drew and I were greeted with a 'hello' from the staff members.  Immediately after I heard one gentleman say under his breath 'Just when you think you have problems'...  I am sure he meant well, but I would like to clarify.

My son is not a 'problem'.  He is the biggest source of joy and love I have in my life.  I heard you.  He might have.  If he did, I hope he didn't understand.  He loves unconditionally; he would never see another person as a problem. He understands everything.  Except ignorance.  It is not in his make-up.

Everyone is fighting some sort of battle...be kinder than necessary.  Life is ridiculous...just go with it.  Spring is just around the corner. Embrace life, blog friends.  It passes too quickly.