Sadly, it is already almost the middle of August and I am just writing my first blog post for the month. I have been so consumed with my own busy schedule and trying to manage the kids’ schedules these last few weeks of summer, that I just haven’t had the energy or even the motivation to sit down and write. Tonight, as exhausted as I am from a long week, I decided to sit down and write what was in my heart while I had the chance.

I feel like in life whenever we start to get to a point where we are selfishly complaining about our everyday frustrations or easily get overwhelmed with the business of our day to day family life, God sends us a sign to take a step back from it all and truly be grateful for what really matters.

This afternoon I had the opportunity to serve with my daughter at a home for recovering women. I have to admit, both my friend and I signed up our daughters thinking it would be a fun, easy way for them to get in some volunteer hours, but when we realized we had to attend as well, we were less than thrilled. As two full time working moms, the thought of going to babysit a large group of kids on a Friday night was less than appealing.

However, after hearing about how this home helps women regain their lives back after either an addiction or an abusive relationship while getting to keep their children with them, both of us felt so deeply moved to want to help and do as much as we could in the short two hours we were there. Spending time with these children who were so loving and sweet was so rewarding but seeing how these women live, support one another and work towards a better future, was truly the most amazing thing to see.

I have seen firsthand in my own family the outcome of addiction and I know that in some cases, a brighter future is possible and in others, it is too late. One thing that was so evident in the short time we saw these women with their kids is the immense love they have for them but also the bond they have with each other, constantly helping one another and showing support in any way they could.

I think about all the things I want for my kids when they become adults and go out into the world and I pray that they have the opportunities they want ahead of them but to be honest, sometimes life takes a different direction. I walked away from tonight’s experience feeling a sense of hope for each of those women and wanting to pray for them and their days to come. I also felt an overwhelming sense that everything in my life that had been weighing on me in the past week was truly so trivial in the grand scheme.

As we get ready to kick off another school year, I know that the days are long and the years are definitely short. I want to take this feeling and use it as a reminder that anything is possible if you want a better future. The life I have is so truly blessed and I want to find a way to give back and help others who may be looking for their hope. Counting my blessings heading into the weekend and praying that God will keep these women and their kids as a reminder in my heart that we are all unique individuals with our own experiences but in the end, we all just want a better future for ourselves and our kids.