Year in Review: Good or Bad? You decide.

Good afternoon everyone.

Hope everyone is set in for a wonderful 2023 final evening of the year and looking forward to your 2024. This 3 day long weekend has been a blessing as I recover from the flu, recover from Christmas, and from the list below, from the year we have had. It’s been a busy one. I went through my blog posts today and tried to list all the highlights each month. Forgive me family, if I have forgotten something really important. I do more and more of THAT every day.

JANUARY Brought us our little Northern Latitude Party with friends.

And a quick reveal indicates I also had the flu.

FEBRUARY led me into WORLD BIBLE SCHOOL, grading tests and having conversations with young ladies around the world wanting to get to know God. This has been a blessing for me as well. 

I cannot let it pass that Mom bought 3 toaster ovens during this time period. Finally she kept the 3rd one. We liked to never got the first two back in the box and returned. This I will always remember. lol

MARCH was the month Mom spilled her water into her surger protector and somehow tripped the breaker and a good bit of her villa lights would not work. I fixed the fuse somehow. I remember me thinking that we are starting a new era with Mom and that things were going to continue to problemize themselves from there with her living alone. She also hit her pennant lights with her cane and broke them and we’ve not been able to find a replacement for it at Lowe’s or Home Depot. Honestly I try to search but we’ve not had the time. Actually I never got it on the to do list as I forgot about it. I need to try to get it.

But happy times ensued as we enjoyed a Spring Break trip to San Antonio. 

It was over this very glass of wine, that we talked as a family and considered that we should move to Texas to be with our Texas family. A very real possibility.

APRIL brought another flu it looked like. And we had the life group over for a meal. 

In MAY George had his first colonoscopy. And I began doing Mom’s finances. And our Florida crew came in to visit.

And we obtained another dog. Who has been my little helper and buddy. Ms. Maddie Sue. The Lord knew I needed her, and apparently so did our neighbor David, who gave a tip to George about it, and George took the lead from there. Leading to both a very happy Maddie and a very happy ME to finally have my lap dog, one that will snuggle and sleep with me.

In JUNE, we found ourselves in Panama City with Texas Family. It was a pleasure to see the beach and we had a really nice condo, ate wonderful seafood meals. 

In JUNE I also began using Notion to try and keep up with my life and have all my thoughts, plans, and lists in one organized place. It was one of the best things I did all year. 

We also went to an 80’s party and had great fun at our neighbor’s house.

I also joined Melaleuca, that “wellness company” and I get my “wellness box” about every 3 weeks. This also was a great move for us. I am loving the products. They are mostly all natural, no harsh chemicals and importantly, American Made. 

It was also around this time that my sister was diagnosed with cancer and soon after would begin her treatments.

In July, we had a “From the Sea” party with our friends, the Irelands. 

And sadly, Mom’s precious poodle, and best friend Fancy, passed. 

In AUGUST I began feeling really bad overall. I had a lot of odd things going on and I kept track. Feeling that an autoimmune issue is playing me a heavy card this year, I went to my doc with the symptoms and had an MRI scheduled. No MS thank goodness, but the trail ended cold there. Other than tiredness and random colon pain, for the most part, I began to feel better. So as usual, I just retreat back and try to forget about it until the next “flare” of “whatever” rears its ugly head. 

In SEPTEMBER the car broke down and made for a very stressful few days of driving. We had Maddie spayed and chipped and made her officially ours.

But the most important thing is that we found out we are getting a 2nd grandchild. Or as River so cleverly put it “we get cake” as the gender cake revealed “blue”. 

We also went to a beautiful weekend wedding, cliffside, of our dear friend Juliana.

We celebrated our 32nd Anniversary with a night out on the town at a French restaurant and before hand had a beer at CeZann’s Oktoberfest celebration.

We went to the Nashville Symphony and saw Bela Fleck (thanks Katy) which was for George’s birthday I believe. 

We also went to a Crisis Pregnancy Center annual fundraiser dinner.

And one of many excursions out to Christmas shop, dinner with friends at Hermitage Steak House, and hosted another life group around this time period. No wonder I didn’t feel well. I think I was exhausted.

Also, there was a ranch fire that got way too close for my comfort for my Texas crew.

In OCTOBER, we kinda realized that the long black cat that had been visiting, was here to stay. So we named him Elmo.

Our Christmas excursions continued in October. Mom’s gout situation started getting worse.

In NOVEMBER George and I went to Christmas Village. Afterward we got hot chicken. And this began the most painful of diverticulitis (or something) kind of issue that I have ever had. I had problems after our anniversary excursion but this one just set me in a downward cycle of being able to eat. I have been so confused as to what I can and cannot eat.

We met our friends again for an afternoon day out. I held back on the Saki but tasted it and then was able to eat a pasta dinner with no problem. We called this day a “Friendsgiving” and we were just so happy to all be there, be alive, and be able to cheer one another on in life despite our bumps in the road. 

We had plumbing issues in November leading to 3 weekends of not being able to use our washer. We went to Mom’s and finally was fixed.

I also embraced my Spirit Animal as the Sloth in November which was really kindof fun. I realized how perfect it was. I do things in my own time, steady and sure. It’s not lazy, it’s just slower than most and VERY methodical in approach. I just like to do things in my own time. It’s actually been a relief to embrace the sloth as my spirit animal. lol

Also Mom “called out” on Thanksgiving and George and I had a quiet weekend own our own along with decorating, and all! Mom’s gout situation was worsening leading me into a panic.

And finally, but very importantly, GEORGE RETIRED!

DECEMBER brought our Texas crew to us TWICE. And our Florida crew came in. Once for a funeral in Cody’s family and for Christmas. I managed to do Blogmas and I think I only missed ONE day.

Mom finally agreed to go to the doc, take her gout meds, and is becoming more mobile instead of almost paralyzed by it. She obtained her handicap license and placard and that will help us out in trying to get her into places. 

Sadly, I had the flu for Christmas and it still has its mark on me. I’m no longer with fever but still have the sound of a sinus infection although nothing is dripping or draining. And I’m very tired. 

I probably missed something major, but I think this summarized the year pretty good. We had lots of good days, a few bad days, and I think it was my puniest year yet of being healthy. Meaning not a good year. In looking over this, I can see that stress may have induced some of this. When we think we cannot go anymore, we were still going.

None of this included the fact that we worked most of the year. And some things eased for me in DEC when I had a few PTO days, George was home to help wrap and get things ready. Our FL crew kinda corralled with Mom for a couple of weeks also giving me a break there with her.

So it’s New Year’s Eve and I’m going to close this out. We are just having a quiet night here with just the two of us. It’s been a nice weekend so far.  Christmas decor goes up tomorrow. Then a 4 day week and setting off of 2024 and the new goals. I’ll be springing those on you tomorrow! ;-)

Do you think we had a good year? Or was it trying? Let me know your thoughts on it.  I wish you a Happy 2024 New Year and I thank you for being here in our little community.