This summer has been the worst for my family. Truly the worst. This summer I got a call from my mom at work saying that my grandpa was in the hospital. Weeks later I got a call from my dad at work saying that my grandpa had passed. About a week ago I got a call from my dad (yet again I was at work) and my mom had a stroke. Everything that had happened, happened while I was living away from home for the first summer ever.

This summer has taken me through hell and back, but I have learned so much from everything that has happened.

Friends can be the best family. When my grandpa passed three of my friends who live out of town drove to come see me. When my mom had her stroke my best friend from high school went and visited her without me and so many family friends sent my dad dinners so that he didn't have to worry about making dinner. It made me realize that the people we surround ourselves with may not share blood with us, but they are truly saints.

You can't focus on the negative. Out of the things my family went through, it was easy to focus on the the bad things that were happening and why they were happening to us. It was easy to cry and feel weak and want to just pull my family out of the situations we were in, but I couldn't do that.

Everything in this life happens for a reason and yes the reasons may not be clear, but someone said that God gives his strongest soldiers the hardest battles. I'm focusing on that my grandpa was a good man and fought until the end and I am so thankful for the time I had. I'm focusing on the fact that my mom is the strongest person I know and she is so determined, she is who I want to become.

These situations make my family stronger. With everything that has happened, I am so protective over them. I love them so insanely much and I will make sure that they are loved and protected at all costs. My family is my life. I can't even begin to explain to you how much I love them. We will come out of this situation stronger than we were before it happened.

I've learned that life isn't always going to be the same. Things change and when they do you can't miss how things were before. You have to adapt and appreciate the life you have for what it is. Make sure you tell the ones you love that you love them and don't stress over the little things.

Enjoy life the live, love the ones around you, and don't focus on the negative.

You'll make it through.