...a lifelong friend of mine, someone I viewed as an older brother became another statistic. He was at a party, had a few beers and decided to drive home. The thing is... he never made it.

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This world gives us very little hope - at least it appears that way. Simple nature has proven to us time and time again that there is hope for tomorrow. The sun rises everyday without fail, is this a miracle of God's creation? Or is this simply man's evolution? The choice is up to you for that question, but regardless, the sun will rise when you wake up tomorrow, and it will set as you fall to sleep. Whenever you get down, look to the east and then the west, thinking that even though the sun has yet to rise, it will in time. Then looking westward tell yourself that even though the sun has already set, it is rising on someone else's horizon. This is the hope I offer you - that you see it and let it influence your every waking moment. In the darkest days, it can only get brighter. You must understand though, that if the sun is shining brighter than ever, it can only get dimmer. You must not assume that life will always stay on the sunny side, because it will not. I have seen very dark days, but also, very joyous times. And when the sun sets on the happy days, I know and believe that the sun will rise again. The sun will always rise to a new day.

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When you're a teenager, you feel like you have your whole life ahead of you. You feel like you have nothing to loose, that you have your whole life ahead of you, and nothing could ever happen. You feel invincible. You expect tomorrow to come... when in reality, no one's garunteed that next breath. No one's garunteed to live to see tomorrow. You never know how short life can be. It is scary to think that you can talk to your friend one day and the next wake up to be told that he's been killed in a car accident. What is the cause? Why did this have to happen? It was all over a few beers. Is it really worth that one night of fun? To leave hundreds of people behind hurting. When you get behind the wheel of a car and you have been drinking, you aren't only risking your life and the lives of others... but you are hurting the people who love you as well. Life is too short. Alcohol isn't worth it. Brian was such a great guy and now because of his mistake all of his friends have to live the rest of our lives without him. I'm no longer taking this precious life on earth for granted. God's given me a gift, and I have to use it to the best of my ability, to make a difference in this world before it's too late. I've gotta live moment by moment, like it's my last because I never know when it's going to be my time to go.

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In dreams we often run from reality. Everyone is always searching for a deeper meaning to things in life. Just take the time to look at what is right there in front of you. Don't run from it any longer. Take a hold of it, and keep it as long as God will let you... and when He tells you to let go, then let go. You never realize just how precious something is, until it's gone. I think to some extent we all take life for granted. We all say "not me" and take risks, thinking it could never happen to us or someone we love. We all live today with a "there's always tomorrow" attitude. Well what if tomorrow never comes? What happens when the unexpected happens? To my friends, I love you and I hope you know that. To Brian Christopher Louhoff, you will never be forgotten. We miss you and love you deeply.