Wow! I didn't realize it has been so long since I blogged. I plan to be more regular on blogging this year. I really like looking back and seeing all that has happened. It's so easy to get distracted in life, which I talked about in my last blog and yes I got distracted. It's a process!! I forgive myself :)
About a month after my last blog, Mark's dad passed away. It was a very difficult time, one that I had never personally experienced. Everything happened so quickly. It was very weird to go through all of the things that your loved ones value. It was a very sad time and we still have our moments. It was our first Christmas without dad and that was different. I will always miss getting lottery tickets from him on Christmas. It's still weird when we go to Mark's sisters...I miss him. His smile, his sense of humor and the way he teases me. I'm glad that he is home and has no pain...but here on earth, he is missed.
Though we missed dad, we had a great Christmas! All of our kids were able to be here at the same time, which was so wonderful. I think this was the first Christmas this has happened. It was so relaxing and full of laughter. Over the last couple of years finances have been tight, but the blessing has been that we have focused more on just spending time together. Just being together is the best gift to me :)
After Christmas my youngest, Matt, moved to Illinois with his girlfriend Jasmine. This is one of those changes that is hard but good. He was able to get a job the following week and loves the snow. He is looking at going back to school which is great! In two months he will be a dad and I will be a nana! I'm excited to meet my grandson! He has always been so good with kids...he will be a good dad!
Mitch served in Afghanistan for 7 months last year and of course he loved it. He would have stayed longer if he could. He was able to be home for the holidays which was a sweet surprise for me. The time went by so quickly. He is back in Hawaii now and will be training and taking some classes. One of them is a course to be a Water Survival Instructor. He is due to go back to Afghanistan in December.
Life keeps changing and always will. And that's not a bad thing, we just have to keep adjusting as things happen. I like change! Change brings challenges and I like "some" good challenges. I admit there are times I don't welcome it but without change...things would always stay the same and who wants that! Though the last year of change had its moments of difficulty, I am proud of the woman I am becoming through some of the personal experiences that have happened this year. I am more confident and I know myself better. The Lord is always working on my heart and molding/shaping me and I am so excited to see all that He has in store for me. I am so grateful beyond words for some of the most amazing people He has placed in my life.
I'm looking forward to 2011. I believe it is going to be an AMAZING year! And I am so excited by the things that are happening already. I'm taking things one step at a time as I'm leaning into the Father to see what He has planned for me. I've already made some decisions that were difficult but good. It was one of those times that I had to let go of things that are good to open the door to things that are great! I can't even tell you how excited I am!
Life keeps changing, so embrace it...it's a good thing! Look forward to hearing what changes are happening in your life. So leave a post or send me an email if you'd like to share
