Two weeks from today I go to Tracey’s Place of Hope.

Built on love and giving, Tracey’s Place of Hope houses girls ages 13-17 that come from addiction, sex crimes, and violence. Founders, Fred and Angela Biletnikoff, decided to change lives when their world crashed. Snatched too early, their daughter Tracey was murdered while in recovery trying to help another addict. Though tragic, she’s touched lives through the foundation set in her name. I am honored to be able to travel to California, hanging my art in the girls rooms, hallways, to inspire.

Noah is well. Noah lives. Of this I am grateful. Sometimes I forget the huge miracles that have happened in my live. I move on, not realizing I’m acting ungrateful. I think of the next thing I want, forgetting what I have.

Then, it hits me. My son is alive. My son lives. My son is breathing and walking and talking. I get to see him at Christmas. He has a job. I get to text him. The emotions of gratefulness flood my heart, welling out tears. It takes but a second.

And I remember.