As the year draws to a close, it’s imperative to take a moment to reflect on your life in the past year - challenges that you have overcome, prayers that have been answered, and asking God to search your heart to see where you need to change and become a better person.

This time around last year, I was preparing to go live at the hospital, not knowing for how long. Just a few weeks prior, I was sitting in a room at the Katz Womens Center, with four doctors, telling me my babies were not going to make it.

My twins are 10 months old now - holding them in my arms, I’m reminded daily of what a miracle they truly are. I live for their big smiles early in the morning and their contagious laughs. I love how they look at each other and burst into fits of laughter. I love how expressive and angry they get when they don’t like something. I love their intelligence and curiosity with the world. I love how Zoe can stare at her fingers all day because she just finds them fascinating, and how she turns every sound into a tune. I love how Zaria does not care about anything in the world except her pacifier and the TV.

As I reflect on my life for the past year, it has been crazy in so many ways. I remember starting off the new year in the hospital, with no idea how my year would turn out. Looking back now, we’ve been to over 60 doctor appointments, several hospital stays, and a few surgeries along the way. Through it all, there have been an unspeakable joy, a newly found meaning for unconditional love and sacrifice.

I’m beyond grateful to God for allowing me this experience, developing my character and making me a better person. There are a lot of things that don’t bother me anymore that would have otherwise bothered me.

I see a lot of unnecessary drama and hate going on in our community and to be honest, while it’s easier to sit and criticize people whose behavior seems out of control, we should approach every situation with empathy and compassion. Hurt people hurt people and sometimes when someone is acting out, it’s just a cry for help. I truly feel sorry for people that go out of their way to try and hurt others because in the end, all they are doing is hurting themselves. My prayer is that God would mend the hearts of many broken people and heal the wounds that run deep so we can be whole together.

Thank you for stopping by; until next time, stay blessed!