Hello everyone! Today I wanted to talk about something my mom has taught me and learned for herself. I have a younger sister named Holly. My sister is my best friend. She has always been there for me and always will. We are super close but even though most of the time we get along there are those moments were we fight and bicker. I remember one time me and my sister were arguing and couldn't seem to get along. That's when my mom told me a story about herself and her brother Geoff. Geoff was my uncle and my mom's step brother. They had a normal relationship that just about every sibling had. They would fight, pull pranks, and protect each other. Whenever my mom and the rest of her siblings got together they would hang out and talk. They would also do all kinds of crazy things which would land them in trouble. My mom told me many of these stories of all the crazy things they dared to do. My mom even told me about one of Jeff's teacher.  Who had a super funny name.

You see before my Uncle Geoff died he was a older brother to three other siblings. My mom, his step sister. My Uncle Jon and Aunt Miranda who were his half siblings. But they all loved each other. Even though they don't all show it. Geoff was two years older than my mom. When my grandparents got married, she looked up to Geoff. She wanted to be just like him. When my mom was fourteen she had spend about the whole summer with all the family. Including Geoff. But as the time came around for Geoff to go back to his home, my mom felt upset. She didn't want him to leave. And top of that he would do his pranks as usual. Like putting a fake snake on my mom's bed when she was trying to get a toy. And telling her the snake was totally real.

When it was finally time for Geoff to go back to his home with his mother, my mom didn't want to even see him. That's how upset she was. Over something so silly? Yea... I can't say much there. That's me and my sister. Anyways she didn't get to say anything before he left. If only she knew what would happen soon. Maybe she would have said something to him. Maybe she would have stopped being mad and make things right with her brother. But sadly that wasn't what happened.

As my Uncle Geoff was driving home, halfway there he noticed a old woman in need of help. Since he was a son of a pastor and raised to be kind, young gentleman, he got out of the car to see what he could do for the lady. He helped the lady out but during this whole when he was out in the road he got ran over by a eighteen wheeler. That day family lost a son, a brother, and someone who would have been an amazing uncle.

A little bit later my mom and grandma had just gotten back home from shopping. They were carrying in groceries and putting them up. That's when their phone started to ring. My mom went to pick up the phone and see what the call was about. She was the first one to get the news of her brother's death. She was broken, she was so upset so started crying. My grandma had to take the phone away from her. When my grandma heard about what happened to Geoff she dropped everything she was holding.

Soon enough everyone had heard about the news about Geoff's death. They were all so sad. Broken. Geoff was an amazing kid. A great student. Someone my mom and her siblings looked up to. Soon enough his funeral came up and everyone their mourned the loss of him.

Years later my family still struggle with his death. My Papaw kept the van that Geoff and the rest of the kids rode around in when they were kids. That blue van had been sitting in the yard. Just old and rotten. Up until my Papaw finally sold it to someone. Now in its place a tree is growing. New life. As for my mom she was still terribly upset over her brother's death. She blamed herself for not even saying a word to him before he left. Make things right. And one time at church she had to leave the service because the song that came one was one of the songs played at his funeral.

And ever since then my mom would remind us to stop fighting and get along. Say I'm sorry and forgive. Because you honestly don't know when it will be the last time you see someone or hear their voice. Or even spend time with them. One day someone you love is by your side and the next day they're not there anymore. So be careful of what you say and do. Remember to enjoy every moment you spend with your loved ones. And say sorry and forgive.

My sister and I still fight. But a little bit afterwards we find each other and say sorry. And we both forgive each other and move on. And now I try to remind my friends to enjoy the time they have with their love ones. Including sibling. You don't know what will happen tomorrow. So be careful and make memories with the people you love.

Tell the people around you how much you really love them. Let them know. Say sorry after a fight with someone you love. And learn how to forgive. Say the things you need to say a to person. Because honestly don't know what's going to happen next. All we know is what's going on in the present. The present is a gift. So enjoy and live in the present with your loved ones. Make the present count. And keep in mind to say I'm sorry and forgive. Tell someone how much you love and what you always mean to tell them.