Don't let my blog title trick you… 2012 has been a pretty good year! My family has managed to live it up, fall short and accomplish big things all at the same time. I won't bore you with the "look at all my blessings" family letter. That wouldn't be worth a hoot to you and it wouldn't be exactly true. We're a real family and normal stuff happend to us, all year long.
People overslept, ran late, yelled at each other, forgot important deadlines, had breakdowns, missed appointments, lost "things", ran out of gas, worked too late, made huge messes and acted crazy!
I try to tell myself that other families experience all that real stuff too. Some days, it feels like I'm the only one. God has been a real source of grace for me time and time again when I beat myself up for not having the picture perfect family. Which honestly, I do have (for me) and so do you. Family is family and nothing can change that.
Why not celebrate it, right? Quirks and all.
2012 brought with it growth. It seems that everyone in my family stepped off into a new world of grown-up moments. The one I call Sweetboy stopped attending a college he hated (not IU), got a job/lost a job, got a better paying job and has since won several employee incentives because he's so good at his job. All that it takes to grow (sometimes) is a push out of your comfort zone. He's still searching for whatever it is God has for him but he's growing. Ups & downs, disappointments & challenges are just part of the path that each of us must walk. It's a whole different ballgame when it's one of your kids, am I right?
My middle babe switched jobs this year too. While she loved working in the retail world of TJ Maxx, she couldn't take much more of the long hours and skimpy pay. On the one day she was out working the register (they assigned her the dressing rooms every shift) a nice lady came through her line that happened to work for Mainsource Bank. The customer was so impressed with Ally that she offered her a job at the bank right then. Ally was so excited and jumped at her chance. Within weeks she was working at her new job, loving it and making tons more money to shop at TJ Maxx & more. All while steady rocking a full-time college class schedule. The girl is killer!
My baby turned 18 & finished high school a semester early. Make it stop, please!? This kind of growth seems too much to handle for a mom like me. I hadn't planned on letting this one grow up. I know, sounds crazy…even to me. She sailed through a semester of school without a care in the world except for getting her own car and that happened just in time. Her next step is a job of her own (aside from babysitting) and applying to colleges. I can't wait to see all that God has in store for her.
It's been a great year for my family and I couldn't be more thankful for ALL that God has done for us each and every day. He's provided great jobs, healthy bodies and a happy life that I promise I never take for granted. My prayer is that this coming year will be one full of GRACE and love. Both received and given. May God bless you with grace & love as well.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013
I don't care! WE'RE ALL STAYING HOME!!
