About 1 ½ years ago, my husband and I decided to move our family from Florida to South Carolina, largely due to wanting to be closer to my oldest brother’s family who lives in North Carolina.  He and his wife have twin daughters close to our daughters’ ages, and my husband and I wanted our girls to grow up close to family, similar to how we both did as kids.  Since our move, we have spent pretty much every major holiday (and even many of the not-so-major ones) together with them, and seeing all four of the girls beam with joy every time they are together reminds us of just how perfect our decision to move was for us.  Close family relationships, for us, are an utmost priority in our life, so we followed our hearts, took the plunge, and made our move – and we haven’t regretted it for one moment since we did!  Watching our daughters Trick-or-Treating this past weekend with their cousins, and my husband and I getting to enjoy time with my brother and his wife, are priceless memories for us all! 

When my Dad suddenly became ill six years ago and soon only had days to live, Life reminded me in one of the most blatant and obvious, although also toughest, ways that every moment is precious and not to waste even one.  So I try to build my life around what I value most, and try to focus each day on enjoying the moment at hand.  That moment is gone in a flash, and I want to be able to look back on it with a smile and gratitude, and to say that I lived it to the fullest, just like my Dad.  For me, this is one of the most wonderful legacies and lessons I can share with my daughters, and it is my personal road map to a life filled with love, joy, contentment, and laughter.  That, for me, is a life well-lived!

What do you value most, and how are you honoring those things that are most important to you each day?