Why?

Do you ever find yourself saying "Why?"...

Why me?

Why them?

Why is there so much violence?

Why is there so much hate?

Here lately I find myself constantly asking "Why sickness?" and sadly enough...we'll never know the answer. I know we can't all live to be 200 years old and remain healthy as a horse but I feel like the older I get, the more sickness and death I hear about and I can't help but hate it. It hurts my heart.

Though I've dealt with death, dying and losing a loved one, it will never be something that I'm okay with.

My very best friend's mom is dying. She's not even 60. After going in to have her ear checked out for a minor earache, she was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma and a 50% chance of surviving. Her first 16 hour surgery removed part of the cancer but not all. What it did remove was part of her jawbone, leaving one side of her face completely paralyzed. But she was okay. She came out of the surgery, would begin receiving treatment via chemo and radiation and she was on her way to recovery.

Or so everyone thought...

Back in February, she was given 6 to 18 months and I thought that was a dagger to my heart.

As of last Tuesday, she has 3-6 weeks.

WEEKS.

I'm sorry. I know this is all so heavy and it is definitely something I never thought I'd be writing about but I just want everyone to realize how important each and every day is. Sometimes we get so caught up in everything we do on a daily basis, you know, work, working out, shopping, blogging, watching The Bachelorette, etc...and we forget how precious life really is. We're never promised tomorrow.

I saw this on Pinterest the other day and it really hit home:

Sometimes we lose sight of what really matters so I thought this was the perfect reminder.

It's incredibly difficult to see my very best friend go through something so traumatic at such a young age. Her mom, Mrs. Joni, has always been known as "Momma #2" to me because growing up, that's exactly what she was. From letting us sleep outside on the trampoline, to never missing a single softball game of ours, to covering for me when I got caught sneaking out of the house one night (Sorry, mom. Still haven't told you that story...), she was always there for us. I confided in her numerous times before even going to my own mother because she just always gave the best advice...the kind of advice you know you'll hear from your own mom but would rather hear it from someone else and actually listen to them.

Don't even get me started on her cooking...talk about home cookin'! She was, still IS and always WILL be the queen of homestyle meals.

Though Mrs. Joni is sick, very sick, I just pray that she, my very best friend, Julie, and her family find comfort in all of this. Coming from someone who's lost a parent before, I sure do hope they can one day find peace with themselves and with God for the situation they've been handed. I know how incredibly hard it is to see the pot of gold at the bottom of the rainbow but I know Julie, Lara and Billy are strong and they will keep Mrs. Joni and her memory alive for many, many years to  come.

To my very best friend in the whole wide world:
Julie Anne: I don't think you even read my blog but if there's ever a day you just so happen to come across this, I just want you to know that I love you with every inkling of my heart and it kills me to see you go through something so tough. Please know that God will never put you through something you can't handle and Lord knows you have always been one tough cookie. ;) Just as you were there for me when I lost my daddy, I will always be a shoulder to lean on when you need me, a phone call away just to chat or a few miles down the road when you need a friend to snuggle with. You will forever be my very best friend and we all know you will always be your momma's boo. <3
If you find it in your hearts, please say a quick prayer for Julie and her family. I know they would definitely appreciate it and so would I. xoxo