2021

 2021, a full year of covid, people working from home, masks, vaccines, political medical debates (this should definitely not be a thing), loss of jobs, friendships, marriages, lives.  People either stood tall and strong or collapsed through the stress and pressure of walking this pandemic with caution or callousness.   

I have watched my children navigate through this unknown with grace and strength.   One finished her masters program and walked with pride as she was handed her diploma which allowed her to step into her dream of being a SLP.  She started her new job and has become to many, their hope to lead a better life.  Another tackled the unscripted journey of teaching virtually, then in person to children who needed stability and order in their lives.   She has become a teacher who understands the hardship of teaching while still having the heart and pull to lead children into the world of education and knowledge.   One day, a student will call out her name when asked "who influenced you to become who you are today".  My daughters have grace, love, empathy and mindfulness that many their age don't recognize,  that many my age are just learning.  They both have grown into women that I am so incredibly proud of.  Finding love in their own selves first and in their partnerships with the amazing men they have chosen to spend their lives with. 

I watched as my son finished year 3 of college and began his last, finding a path to which a career will be born.  I admired he and his beautiful girlfriend who took a journey of a lifetime, climbing the tallest mountain in Africa, drawing closer to each other and to their love for nature and adventure.  He is growing into an amazing adult who I know 2022 will have the perfect job waiting.   He is a young man that has shown such wisdom and power of his own, I could not be more proud of him than I am right now and yet I know with each step in life, he will make this Mom fill with more and more pride.  

Our youngest finished his freshman year in person, happy to be back to school, seeing friends and enjoying his first year of HS.  2021 came with its own unique challenges for him, a rare eye disease in which surgeries and injections, he was told, would follow him throughout his lifetime.   He accepted what was handed to him with such maturity and positivity.  There was no pity party, no why me, just a sense of self that this would not define him nor defeat him.  He finished his first track and field season by becoming one of the top throwers in his school's history,  finding his confidence as an athlete.  His 2nd football season welcomed him at 6'2", putting on muscles and strength throughout the summer, becoming one of the top players in JV and playing on the varsity's special team.  Watching him play has been a highlight in my year as well, I never thought I'd say this yet I love being a football mom.  (He has thrived in his classes, but I've been asked to never brag about his grades, so I'll just say this... he is his Father's son).   

My children are my pride,  as I've said before, I never wanted to change the world, I only wanted to raise children who would change the world....and this they are.

I myself have continued to grow deeper in love with my own life.  Finding my own God given abilities,  working for and with people that I so highly respect,  doing what I love and becoming who I am meant to be.  Eric and I have, together, navigated through this year, drawing closer and deeper in love.  He stood beside me through my Dad's health issues, encouraging me to make decisions that are best for me and always being my biggest cheerleader.  With him, I have found my soulmate, my life partner.  My kids love him and Larry and he get along and respect each other's place in my life. Larry will always and forever be my family too.  I am very blessed to have a strong, God loving man who loves me, loves my kids and doesn't fear being his own person.  We have helped each other grow in our own lives and in our life together.   

2021 wasn't easy for anyone, we all have had to sail our ships through this turbulent storm, trying to guide ourselves into calmer waters.   We might have a few boards out of place, gotten water logged a time or two yet here we are, standing taller,  stronger and more capable than ever before.  No, 2021 didn't go as we planned, yet we rode the waves with the best of 'em and we made it to the shore of 2022 holding each other high as family is meant to do.  I love my family, they are my everything.