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Those who have been reading Magical Childhood for a long time may remember back when I used to send out newsletters back before the blog, full of ramblings and fun ideas and silly ways to make the day magical.\u00a0 Those who have been around a really long time may remember when we lost our incredible family friend Hannah at age 9 to leukemia.<\/span><\/p>\n Today would be Hannah’s 18th birthday.\u00a0<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n Hannah is still a part of our lives, still part of our family conversations, and an incredibly big part of who our oldest daughters are.\u00a0 Hannah’s life and death shaped them and she continues to shape them.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n She is in Victoria’s strength and acceptance.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n She is in Anna’s songs and poetry.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n She is in our memories.\u00a0 She is in our stories.<\/span><\/p>\n She is in every fearless jump into every body of water that every one of my children take, since Hannah and her brother Hayden taught my girls to abandon their fear of water and jump wildly into water, and then my girls taught it to all of their younger siblings.<\/span><\/p>\n She is in our homeschooling, my parenting, all of it.<\/span><\/p>\n I wrote this in the Magical Childhood newsletter after her death:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hannah’s life was far too short and we will all miss her very much.\u00a0 One of the things that gives me comfort is the life she had, though.\u00a0 She had so much love, laughter and life in those 9 and a half years.\u00a0 She was treasured by her mother and all who knew her.\u00a0 She was loved well.\u00a0 She was happy.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sometimes life gets hectic, stressful, chaotic and messy.\u00a0 Sometimes we get caught up in the day to day mayhem and lose sight of the big stuff.\u00a0 Today is a good day to remember the big stuff again.\u00a0 Make every minute count.\u00a0 Fill your life and your children’s lives with happiness and meaning.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Don’t forget to live.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Please hug your kiddos, count your blessings and do something magical today in memory of Hannah.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hannah, thank you for being part of our lives.\u00a0 We love you.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Love, Alicia<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n In honor of Hannah and her family, please go love the heck out of your kiddos.\u00a0<\/strong> Not just today, but every day…\u00a0 Childhood is short.\u00a0 Life is short.\u00a0 Make it all magical and meaningful and real.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\nHappy Birthday, Hannah.<\/span><\/h2>\n