Hello My Dear Friend,
How are you this beautiful Monday. The weather here in Atlanta is simply put, "GORGEOUS". The sun is shining and the birds and butterflies are blessing my eyes with all their beauty and wonderment. There is a slight breeze in the air and the sweet aroma of the spring flowers and dogwoods drift softly past my nose. This is the most beautiful Monday so far of the year. The Lord has smiled down on me today and has blessed me with another day to appreciate all of his graces and love.

As I hurried on my way this morning two small squirrels scurried past me and ran up a tree. They seemed to be laughing as they played, by the little noises they made to each other. I stood and watched them for a short while. Yes spring is in the air and all is fresh and new.

It seems like everything is going my way today. I was able to leave work early so I took my lunch and drove to nearby Sweetwater Park. I sat alone and ate my lunch with only the ducks as company. I smiled as I watched them and remembered the last time I was here for a picnic. It was several years ago. We all came as a family. Daddy, mommy, Aaron, Jason, Aimee, myself and many of the neighborhood children. It took us 3 or 4 cars to get everyone there.

The day was much like today. The only difference was it was in the fall. The weather was beautiful and the leaves were changing to their bright shades of starlets and orange. The leaves crunched under our feet and the little ones made piles of the leaves and ran and played in them. We all played touch football and took a hike around the lake. We made an entire day of it and had the traditional picnic. This is something usually done in the spring and summer but the weather was so wonderful daddy suggested we go and enjoy nature. Daddy grilled hotdogs and hamburgers and mommy made all the other goodies to go along with the feast.

In the afternoon mommy watched as we all played football and then she held hands with daddy as everyone walked along the lake and fed the ducks left over rolls and buns. Everything seemed so very right that wonderful autumn day. We all agreed it was the best day we had shared together in a long time and promised to do it again real soon. But winter set in and the cold rains came and the picnic plans were pushed back into our thoughts. By the time spring came along the picnic in the park was just another fond memory.

We never did have our picnic again. We all got busy with other things. Things we thought were too important at the time. We all though we had the rest of our lives to go on another picnic as a family. We all thought we had the rest of our lives to hold hands and walk along the lake. No one thought that the rest of daddy's life was so close. That in a few short years we would not have him with us any longer. I thought I would have many picnics in the park with my father. I thought I would be able to sit with my mom and enjoy my father playing with his grandchildren. I thought my father would be around for the rest of MY life.

As I sat alone today and watch the ducks as they swam on the water I was a little sad. Sad because we never seized the opportunity to take the time out of our so-called busy lives to enjoy another picnic in the park. If I had only known it may have been our very last I would have made the time to once again enjoy this with my father and family.

Tonight when I see my mother I am going to give her an extra long hug and tell her, "I love you mommy". I am going to thank her for all she has done for me. For all she has sacrificed and done without so I could have a better life. I know how very much she misses daddy and his wonderful smile and big bear hugs. I am going to include her more in my activities and just have a ladies night out more often. I will not let this be the last time I will enjoy her company or let myself sit and say if only I had known time was going to be so short. No, I will not let this happen to me again. I will no longer let the opportunity slip away. I am going to tell her everyday I love her and appreciate her.

Also, my very dear friend I am going to take the opportunity right now to tell you. "I love you". I am going to take the opportunity to tell you how much I appreciate your friendship.

Yes, God has truly blessed me this day and everyday. Blessed me with wonderful fond memories of that picnic in the park and precious times spent with my dad. A loving and kind mother who loves me with all her heart, and wonderful friends such as you.

So please take this day to tell someone you care about how much they mean to you. Don't let their friendship and love be only fond memories of the "Picnic in the park".

From my heart with love....
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