A Word from the Wise

As 2015 comes to a close, many of us are reflecting on the last 364 days of this year.  We’ll think about what we’ve accomplished, where we failed, changes we should have made, things we could have done better.  We’ll think about things and people we’ve lost, our successes and major changes.  Then some of us make resolutions or set goals for the new year.  I read an article a few days ago where this women starts a gratitude jar each January 1st.  She spends the year writing down things she is thankful and grateful for on small notes and puts them in the jar.  On New Year’s Eve, instead of going out she opens the jar and reads all of the things she’d written down over the year…reflecting on what she is grateful for.  I really like that idea!  May have to try it.

I am grateful for a lot of things.  As I sit and reflect on this past year I can honestly say that there were a few rough spots but there were a lot of happy spots too.

I am grateful to have a job that I absolutely love.  I get to work with some of the best people in this school district and some of the best kids.  I am looking forward to some positive career changes in 2016.

My family has grown.  I became a grandmother this year.  Of course, I was not too happy when my son broke the news to me and life will be a bit more challenging for him than I would have wanted at this point in his life.  However, I am grateful to be healthy and strong enough to provide guidance to him and his new family.  Besides, this little bundle of joy is the new man in my life.  I had no idea that I could ever fall in love so fast and so hard.

Earlier this year, my sister and I made a pact to have family outings once a month with our kids.  This has been quite fun and very adventurous.  We have tried new things and new places.  I  learn so much from my niece and my nephew during our family time.  They are two of the best people I know.   In January we will be rock climbing and I am trying to talk my sister into glamping (glamorous camping) in February.

I am grateful to have had the same best friend for the past thirty-three years.  She and I share a lot.  It is nice to have friends that will tell you the truth no matter what and love you through all of your hair-brained ideas.

My significant other and I have had a few hurdles to climb in 2015 simply due to life changes but I couldn’t ask for a better partner and friend to share my life with.  Truth be told, I absolutely love the person he is.  He is very kind, loving, giving and honest.  He is just an all-around good guy.  I am grateful to have someone in my life that I can connect with on so many different levels.  He always jokes that he can’t tell where his life ends and ours begins because we are blended in such a natural way that our lives just flow so easily together.

The best part of my year had to be on December 18th.  I got a call from my grandmother saying she wanted to come spend Christmas with us.  My grandmother is eighty-four years old and lives in a very small town in Alabama.  To get to her is no easy feat.  Nonetheless, I made the nine and a half hour drive to get her. With one overnight stay we made the nine and a half our trip back.  Talk about a good time.  My grandma is a real trooper.  I am so grateful to have been able to spend these past two weeks with her.  She has prayed over us, hugged us, made us laugh and most of all taught us how to simply enjoy life.  I asked her, “what’s the secret to getting to eighty-four?”  She said, “There really is no secret.  In this life you just have to do a few things: treat people right and put all your trust in the Lord.  Oh, and don’t forget to drink your eight glasses of water each day!”  When asked, ” what do you do when trouble comes?”  Her reply was simple, “You got to pray, give it to the Lord and keep moving forward.”  Doesn’t get any better than that.

Happy New Year!  May God continue to bless and keep you safe…

#SimpleLife #Joy #Family #Faith #God