2013...
...was the year I had to learn to walk through life without my dad. For 34 years he was my greatest fan. For many of those years he was my sole companion and best friend. 2013 rang in just as I came home from his hospice center where the funeral home had just picked up his body. Fireworks were going off all around me. It was a brutal reminder that life was moving on without him. Time did not stop. The world was not in shock or weeping with me. I didn't expect of all that to happen. Oh, but I really wanted that to happen.
...was the year that I learned to plan a funeral. And that you can fire the people you are working with.
...was the year that I saw my husband live out an aspect of our vows (for better or for worse) in a very tangible way. I never doubted that he would but this is where I saw love pour forth from a man who already shows me an abundance of love that I do not deserve. I had no idea what I was doing nor did I really want to do anything. He waded through bureaucratic red tape and whatnot. You know, all the stuff that comes from a parent who had three government pensions and an outdated will. Sigh. He is my knight in shining armor. He tackled it all without flinching or even being asked. He just did it knowing I was struggling to even get up and feed our family.
...was the year that we sold not one but two houses. My dad's house which took five days to sell and our rental house which took...much, much longer.
...was the year that we started our homeschooling journey. Miss L started kindergarten. It has been an amazing journey and just like I loved being there for her baby milestones I love that I get to be a part of these milestones as well. Sure there are days that I want to pull my hair out. But more often than not we have a good time.
...was the year that I started running. I wanted to lose the baby weight that has accumulated. Instead I broke my leg and was diagnosed with osteopenia.
...was the year that we lived in a hotel in San Diego from mid-September until the end of January 2014. It has been an adventure for sure.
...was the year that we took our girls to Disneyland for the first time. It was amazing! One of my favorite memories for sure. It was in part thanks to bad weather and our cousins Lindsay and Emily, too.
...was the year that I had actual physical health issues once we entered the one year time period since my dad got sick. Breathing issues that warranted a trip to the ER among other things. They started just after Thanksgiving which was when my dad was first admitted into the hospital Oddly enough, all subsided after the new year passed.
...was the year that I learned that I still love to read. It's a beautiful thing and I am sad that I lost so much time with so many good books. I am also thankful that I am surrounded by such well read people. From the end of August until the end of the year I read 23 books of varying genres, topics, and of course length.
The year had highs and lows... as do all years. Some things this past year were more significant than others. We had our normal vacations and fun. My family always makes me laugh and we love being together. At the end of the year, whether it was particularly hard or we seem to breeze through in our ordinary lives, I know that I am extraordinarily blessed.
