Liela

Okay, so I've had one really crappy day. My best girlfriend Liela, whom I've spoken about previously, received some pretty harsh news yesterday. The cancer has now spread to her brain. With two little girls of my own I cannot imagine the anguish she is going through nor the unimaginable task of having to look her own little girls in the eyes and know, that although the fight is not over...the cancer is winning. My heart is aching and the pain a bit raw at the moment, but I have to believe that our kids give us strength in ways we do not realize. It's the gentle 'I love you' whisper in our ear when they feel we are hurting and the extra moments of silence they give us to quietly cry.

This is the real deal people. When you choose to move, relocate and travel miles and miles away from everything you know the reality is you leave so much behind. I have no regrets and am still incredibly proud I took the risk, but the overwhelming sense of guilt can way heavy on my heart. My friends, Liela's family and her girls are together right now, and I am not. Although I have an AMAZING family and truly wonderful expat friends whom I'm eternally grateful for (on so many levels) the fact of the matter is I am not there. Patiently I will wait until next week to fly home, but in the meantime I will stand with the army behind her and pray for a miracle. Tomorrow is another day and as is life...the sun will soon shine!