June, so much excitement for teenagers, NBA basketball playoffs, major league baseball and the beginning of summer camp all ignite young hearts. Although my 13-year-old son loves all these things, he is ecstatic because we live in Florida and hurricane season has just begun. Michael has a passion for meteorology and for getting things in order.

Each day, as the media offers ominous warnings and strongly encourages us to prepare for impending doom, his adrenaline kicks into overdrive. With unbridled dedication he maps the storms, checks the probabilities, and figures out what we need to prepare for this season. So much time in our lives is spent preparing for potential disasters. We spend thousands on insurance, buy devices that will protect us, and stock items that we need to survive.

Although preparation in these areas is essential, there is one area that few of us put much energy in. This is preparing to live our lives to the fullest. As the news reports asks us to prepare for disaster by buying extra food, generators and first-aid supplies I ask you also to prepare in an additional way.

I ask you to live life like you never lived it before, to love without end and to carry others to the light through kindness, compassion and prayer. Say I love you as often as possible and forgive those who you hold in grievance. Each moment we are given with our children, is truly a gift. Fill these precious moments with reverence, awe, and love.

The catastrophic storms we witnessed last year remind us deeply of the fragility of life. How many of these people who lost their lives worried about what they were wearing, if their children's rooms were spotless, or if they were getting wrinkles. I sense they thought about the people they love and if they were safe.

None of us know when our last day on earth will be, but on the days we have been blessed with I ask you to live them as joyfully as possible. Make time for the most important moments like holding your children, laying in the arms of your significant other, being kind, praying, telling the people in your life how important they are and savoring the beauty of the earth.

If tomorrow brought a storm that took away everything you had, could you still be happy? Have you lived your life in such a way that you will not regret missing the awe-inspiring moments? Have you loved fully? Think about these questions as you prepare for storm season and remember to prepare to live life like you never have lived it before.

May the storms of this year take the path of least destruction. May each of us and our families be safe in the arm's of God and may you know the extraordinary joy of living life to the fullest.

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Debbie Milam is the co-creator of "Empowering Our Children: Creating Connected Families, Classrooms, and Communities " . She is an occupational therapist and life coach whose work has been featured in over 300 media outlets including The Miami Herald, Elle, Ladies Home Journal, PBS and The Hallmark Channel. Visit her website for more books and resources to help you be a highly effective parent. Visit her online at www.bestyoucanbe.org and sign up for her newsletter to receive your special report, "Creating Peace Within Yourself and Your Family." © Copyright 2008 Debbie Milam.— — —

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