A new year, a new start or back to an old start (like me going back to the gym…). Happy New Year! I know a few people who are more than happy to say goodbye to 2018. I have to say aside from the devastation of losing my dad, 2018 was not a horrid year. My house was renovated, something we talked about and waited years for, I gained confidence at work and I also discovered I really enjoy being around a ton more people at work and they like me too. I know I’ve written about my job before, but I can’t say enough about how much I like my school and the nurses, teachers and paras that I work with. The ones I have constant communication with are truly top notch and such very caring individuals. There’s a part of me that is eager to get back to work because I miss my co workers, go figure. I also miss the routine of work, the 5:30 AM wake up…not so much but it comes with the territory.

More of 2018: I started classes for my bachelor’s degree, something I never saw myself doing before I was hired by the board of Ed. I never thought I’d be this in love with the nursing profession. My dad would have been proud of me for going back to school. We would have had a few laughs at all he learned when my mom went back to school. We joked that with all that he learned from my mom, he should have gotten his degree as well. He was so funny. I really miss his sense of humor. I haven’t met anyone else who laughed at things or joked about events in life like he did. Definitely one of a kind.

So here’s to a new year, new goals, new times of laughter and new times of togetherness. A new season of everything. Happy New Year to all my dear family and friends!  I wish everyone the best!

Last night was Christmas Eve. We celebrate the Eve with Tommy’s family and Christmas Day with my family. It’s been this way for as long as we’ve been together so it works out well. This is the first Christmas without my dad. I miss him terribly. There were times I would be out shopping and come across something I would’ve bought for my dad and it hit me right in the stomach that he’s not with us anymore. It stinks to be perfectly honest. It’s hard to believe that last year was our last Christmas with him. Everyone I talk to who’s lost a parent says that Christmas is so hard without that person.  That made me feel better in a weird way. That I’m not alone in missing him and feeling that horrible void.

I finished last minute shopping this morning and managed to wrap everything and put the gifts under the tree. Impressive IMO. I’m also knee deep in my second bachelors nursing class. “Current Trends in Nursing” or something like that. It’s interesting, a paper every week yayyy…said no one ever.

We opened our gifts here this morning and it looks like everyone is very happy! I’m so glad. I gave my mom one of her gifts to open at her house this morning. It’s a bracelet with a hanging tag that’s engraved with “Love, Walter” in my father’s handwriting. She loves it and we both cried this morning on the phone. In a way it felt good to cry and get it out after holding it in all season. My mom was also blessed with a visit from a red cardinal. They say when that kind of bird visits you it’s a visitor from heaven coming to see you when you need it most. I couldn’t think of a better time for her to receive a visitor.

Merry Christmas!

Getting ready for Christmas. It’s such a unique time of the year. You’re busy with life in general and now throw gift shopping on top of that and let’s add in a sprinkle of “I have no idea what to get so and so…”. Sometimes the gift shopping is fun especially when you find that oh so perfect whatever for whoever. And you practically skip out of the store triumphantly! Then there are the times you wander around the mall for literally hours trying to find a gift for that person who literally has everything. Not fun. And let’s face it you *have* to get them a gift no matter how difficult they are to shop for.

My son is so so difficult to shop for. He loves clothes but is particular about what he wears. He has his own style and don’t get me wrong he chooses really nice clothes and always looks nice, but I want to get him things to open other than gift cards. Although to be realistic the gift card is the best way to go for him.

My girls are easy. They just tell me what they want or text me a link, or…when we’re in the mall or wherever will find something they’ve been wanting and I’ll get it for them for Christmas. Samantha knows about most of her gifts between picking some out with me or trying things on because there was no other way to go about with that purchase. I have no idea what the girls are getting me I give them vague suggestions or remind them of what I usually wear (cough, cough…big earrings).

It’s so easy to get caught up in the shopping and preparing and push the real reason for Christmas to the back burner; the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His mercy is an absolute, no strings attached, perfect fit gift. It’s not a gift you can earn. it’s quite simple. You let Christ into your heart, accept Him as your Lord and Savior and submit to Him realizing its His will that will be done, not yours or anyone else’s. He is in charge. His everlasting love and mercy are year round gifts and are of endless abundance. Thank you God for your Son!