My mom spent most of her childhood living in Brazil with her brother and my grandparents. My uncle's family (him, my aunt, and my cousins - Alex, Kelly, Vivian, and William) are all from Brazil. When I was 2, I went down to Brazil to visit them. Since I was 2, I don't remember much. But there are a few things I remember.

I remember one night, Kelly (who is my age) and I were supposed to be in bed. I was sleeping on the top bunk of a small bunk bed and she was on the bottom. We ended up staying up really late talking. I remember having a pillow/blanket fight with her. And that's where our friendship started. We would be best friends for the next twelve years.

I also remember their dog. Since I was two, I remember the dog as being GIGANTIC. I don't think it was actually that big. I remember running around their house, and the bottoms of our feet getting all black.

Part of me wishes that we could all go back to a time when we were all so innocent. To a time when the winds and waves of life didn't leave us tired, battered. To a time when we hadn't experienced death, sickness, grief.

But, life is not meant to be lived looking backward. My continued prayer for my family: "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."