Let's be honest for a minute here.
If you had told me on New Years Eve last year that:
- Big Jay would spend 6 days in a hospital, and then
- Get on the honor roll his first quarter of kindergarten, six months later... or that
- I was going to up and leave my job at PNC for a full-time gig at that place I was just hired at part-time, or that
- I would be in graduate school or that
- Little Jae would be potty-trained so fast it would not even be worth mentioning, or that
- B would reunite with his paternal side, or that
- His father would pass away before he got the chance to meet him or that
- B would tear tendons in both knees,
- Have surgery,
- and be incapacitated for two months (!!!)....
I would surely have laughed in your face. Surely.
In January of last year, I wrote here that "We're both very much looking forward to the upcoming months.. 2011 has some unforeseen promise for both of us, I think, and I'm liking it." And you know what? I was so right. We have ended this year in a positive place, ultimately stronger in every arena of life. We've grown 20-fold in faith, and reaped the benefits of being faithful, despite the challenges that we have faced. Both B and I have new jobs and are on different paths. Big Jay is in a much better place now than where he began the year, and we are more confident parents. Little Jae is in preschool now, excelling and coming into her own, with so much bigger of a personality than we could have ever imagined. I started the year with really one (timid, in hindsight) goal - to gain some experience in the social service arena and continue in school. I did that, and then some. I went full-time in social services, and jumped in to pursue a graduate degree instead of a second bachelor's degree.
Through all of our tests this year, I think that B and I came out stronger, as we always seem to. Statistically, many of the issues that we have faced this year would tear a marriage apart. We've had to rely on each other - wholly - at many points this year. I could not have made it through Big Jay's hospitalization without his rationality. And he would have struggled to make it through his injury without me by his side. I mean, I think. haha. I'm so proud of our marriage how it has matured this year.
I think a few months back, I called 2011 the year of "We Shall Overcome." It was that. And I don't know what 2012 has in store, because after the year of challenges that we have had, I am sure my guesses won't even come close. I look forward to learning new things and accepting new challenges in the new year. I look forward to continuing to grow in faith. I look forward to watching my babies continue to grow, and making their faith, knowledge, and understanding of Christ a priority.
And, of course, I hope that you all are blessed in the new year. Love to you!
