I started posting a status update on Facebook and realized that 2012 was bigger than a status update. 2012 was a year of ups and downs. A year that brought happiness, sadness, challenges, adventure, and was full of surprises.
I view every year as a book added to my library of life. Each one contains a different story. 33 books now added to shelves that make up the library of me! Some filled with adventure, some mystery, and even some romance! My book for 2012 contains all of those and more! It was quite a year, one that I won't ever forget!
Our year started off a little rocky. Another cancer diagnosis was given to me. I fought and continue to fight every day. There were days that I wasn't sure that I had the strength or want to fight. Days that I wanted to just give up. I have never felt the way I felt while I was going through Chemo. Although the cancer is still in me, the outlook is really good! I may have to have more Chemo or surgery in the near future, but we are optimistic that the cancer will go away! We pray that it will stay away!
Having cancer again made for an interesting year. I learned to take advantage of my good days and rest on my bad days. Resting was challenging for me. I watched more Netflix in the 3 months I was down than I will watch my whole life! Scott and I also ran two Half Marathons. The first one was at the beginning of my treatment and the second one was a week after my last treatment! The second one was also my fastest half marathon ever!!!!
I wasn't alone in facing these challenges. I was not the only one challenged this year. I had 4 rockstars, (Scott, Jessie, Jameson, and Jillian) by my side that were challenged every day I was sick. They were scared, sad, and confused just like I was. I hate what I put them through, I hate that they had those emotions. I pray I never see that fear they had in their eyes again. They also had a rockstar quality in all of them that made my heart happy. They fought right along side me. They kept the house running like nothing was wrong. Their sense of humor never changed and they kept our house full of laughter when it could have been full of tears!
Although we were handed the cancer card again this year, we can still say 2012 was a good year! Life brought a lot of great things....
In June, we packed up our house in CA and started an adventure to our new home in NM! The kids and I made took a road trip to ND. I was able to catch up with some old friends and created some memories that I won't soon forget! Shutting down the Ranger being one of them!!!! The kids were able to spend some of their summer vacation doing the things I loved to do as a child before heading to another new home!
We reunited with Scott in New Mexico on July 4th! A couple of days later we watched him take command of the 4th Space Control Squadron. Watched him achieve a career goal. The smile he had on his face will be etched in my mind for the rest of my days!
Scott being a commander is a busy job for sure. Our whole family is part of this job. We get to be a part of every one of our squadron members lives. From births of their sweet babies to the unfortunate passing of loved ones. We are also in charge of planning almost every social event that takes place at our squadron. One event we hold is a family event the 4th Friday of every month, and I am pretty sure the shrimp boil will go down as one of the best! Our squadron deploys and welcomes home airman often. We get to be there to say good-bye and also welcome them home. Our family gets to be a support system for the families left behind. I love bringing treats over to our hero spouses and putting a smile on their face during this tough time. Command has kept our calenders full for the past 6 months. It has kept me busy and helped me take my mind away from the yuck that is still inside me! It is a roller coaster ride for sure and we are loving every minute of it!!!
Our boxes will remain unpacked for another full year! We will stay in New Mexico until July 2014. I am kind of excited that we don't have to pack up again this summer! Everyone is adjusting well to our new home. Jess was a cheerleader and was quite amazing! She has also decided to run track this spring, which of course makes me a happy mama!!! Jameson had a great soccer season and is looking forward to another season of baseball! Jillian continues to do gymnastics and is having one of her best seasons ever! Very proud of these 3!
Another piece of happy in 2012 was the decision to bring another dog into our lives. Our puppy was born December 7th and will come home to live with us sometime in February. All of us are very excited to bring her home and have all the excitement that a puppy brings!!!!
Although 2012 had some rough spots, it was a good year! It has a good story. One that will change the way I live my life in 2013. I look forward to what a new year will bring. I pray for lots of good things and less bad. I pray that we can continue to face our challenges with a positive attitude and remember that everything happens for a reason!
Happy New Year to all my friends and family! Thank you for your prayers and continued support over the last year. I hope you 2013 is full of happiness!
