I love reasons to celebrate, although some days are easier than others for us to find reasons for celebration. Today, being our youngest daughter's birthday as well as the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana, we are surrounded by reminders to stop and celebrate life's beauty. In honor of our daughter's birthday, we celebrate the day four years ago when our family became complete, and we celebrate another year of her life that we have all spent together. In honor of Rosh Hashana, we celebrate the sweetness of life and the hope that next year will be a healthy year for Derek.
Today is certainly a day to celebrate.
Lately, while Derek embraces his newfound independence post-surgery, he will often encounter many people who know of his story. It is not uncommon for Derek to find himself greeted with hugs, smiles, good wishes, and prayers, often by people he does not even know. Many times, Derek becomes overwhelmed and bashful by this extra attention, but I feel pure gratitude. These moments remind me of the goodness of the people that surround us during difficult and uncertain times, and I feel honored by the outpouring of love and support that has fueled our family since last January.
This morning in synagogue, while Derek accepted the good wishes from several of our fellow congregants, I remembered a message sent to me by one of my colleagues just days after Derek's diagnosis: "God WILL be with you on this journey. In the quiet of the night and in the faces of the people you meet--or even a song you hear on the radio! As scary as it is, the journey can also be an amazing experience."
She was right. What an amazing experience; one that I would not even change. The relationships that we have with family and friends have become richer and more meaningful than they ever could have been without the impetus of a cancer diagnosis. How incredibly lucky to feel the love we have felt and to see the best in those around us.
Today is certainly a day for us all to celebrate. Thank you, truly, to those of you who have enriched our lives in immeasurable ways. We are so grateful.
xoxo
