Thank you, 2013; Welcome 2014!

And just like that, 2013 is over. Good thing I survived the year that was and maintained my sanity, together with the help of my husband, family and friends. It was a tough year, the toughest for me I should say. It was the year that I became whole, just to be broken afterwards. I finally entered motherhood, enjoyed a few months with her, fought the battle with her, and ended the year without her. This year made me experience the best and the worst feelings of all. But I know that Laura would not want me and her Dad to be lonely for too long. For sure, she is up in heaven boasting how beautiful her wings are. I can imagine her talking to God and say, "Hey Daddy God, I'm you're favorite, no? I have the most beautiful and brightest wings up in here!" with her cheerful grin just like what her Dad taught her. I miss her big time! I am learning to live with the pain graciously and to greet people with a pure smile. If there is one important thing that I learned in the past year, it is learning to choose what's important. I believe that all of us want to choose what matters to us, but then a lot of things just seem to interrupt and make us decide otherwise. We end up going to an office gathering instead of attending a family get-together or staying on our desks instead of (window) shopping with our friends. What is a five-minute call to a loved one compared to a two-hour meeting with your boss and clients? In 2013, Laura taught me to choose what really matters. She also taught me to be with the people I love whenever I can. And with Laura, I learned that what Mitch Albom wrote in "Five People You Meet in Heaven" is true, that "Family is strangers you have yet to come to know." I welcome 2014 with a pure heart, still capable of loving despite the brokenness. My husband always says to "cross the bridge when you get there." With him holding my hand in every step of the way and with God guiding us, I know for sure that one day, I'll be able to say that "I already crossed the bridge and I am happy I did."