Random encouragement...

It's odd how things that are present in your everyday life are overlooked and make their presence randomly. I feel these random moments are treasures to survival and hope.
I crawled into bed tonight and admired the wedding photo of Mike and me- the frame is signed by our loved ones who shared our special wedding day with us. One name caught my attention and filled me with tremendous emotions of love and pain. Why these moments come up here is beyond me- a greater being or force at hand I am sure. Hope and home?
I have had two instrumental women in my career life. Vicki and Liz. Both have taken me under their wing as a sister, daughter and friend. Both of them have guided me during times of pain and times of happy triumph.
One of the names on our frame is Vicki's. I hate to admit that I have been so caught up in life that I haven't really taken the time to read or look at our wedding frame. I worked next to Vicki for many years. She patiently listened to me gripe about life related issues that now seem so ridiculous and petty. She was so good at centering me and grounding me it was unreal. She knew me so well.
Vicki and I ended up at a job together after about a year apart. At that time we both suffered severe losses. Me, we lost our first child and she her youngest daughter. The pain is still very heavy. Before our loss Vicki lost her sweet daughter, Mackinzie. Her strength during that time penetrated through me.
Mike and I soon became pregnant again and we went back and forth on naming our soon-to-be daughter Mackinzie. I felt that Mackinzie's name was hers and was meant to remain that way. So Hannah it was.
I haven't had contact with Vicki for a couple years now. I think she'd be so proud of me and happy that my family and I are on this adventure. She was so go-with-the-flow and full of light and love. I saw her signature on our frame and knew that it was a message of encouragement.