Well . . . This is it. The last and final post of this blog. There were days that it seemed like day 25 was never going to come, and there were days that it seemed like it was coming a little too quick. This blog has been both a challenging and rewarding experience. It has forced my mother and I to put ourselves out there and make ourselves vulnerable. I am so proud of us . . . We were able to admit and recognize the fact that we were unhappy, and we did something about it. This is something that not many people are able to do.
In the last 25 days, I have written about many things that somehow made a difference in my life, and in another person's life too. I have written about my friends and family whom I adore. I have written about my wonderful boyfriend who has been my rock this year. I have written about my neighbor, children, and many strangers. I have written about loss and love. I have written about having hope and faith, courage to move on, and strength to succeed. I have written about tragedy, and I have written about joy. The funny thing is, I could still write about so much more, and reaching the end of this blog is bittersweet.
I can not say enough how difficult this year has been. When I look back on it, there were really only a few good things that happened in my life. Some of the main ones: My cousin and I got to live together for 6 months, and we become even closer friends. My brother got engaged, as well as one of my best friends. I got my first hamster, Roma. I photographed my first wedding, and I made the decision to go back to school. Now those are all pretty significant events and I am so blessed for each and every one of them . . . They have impacted my life in a huge way. However, compared to the amount of loss and heartache that my family has went through, both individually and as a family . . . There is no doubt that this year kind of sucked. 2012 can not get in my rear-view mirror soon enough!
I must say that this blog has done nothing but good things for me. I have learned to live each second thinking about how I can help others out, and when I can do for someone else. I have learned to always say thank you, and show my appreciation towards people when I have appreciated them. I have done things for people that I do not know, in hopes that I may brighten their day. I have learned so much in doing this, that I don't feel like I can even explain it. It has brought my mom and I closer together which is exactly what we wanted. We wanted to reconnect. And even though this Christmas was still hard . . . I know it was a little brighter because of this.
There are so many things and so many people that I am thankful for, and doing this blog just made me recognize that. I am thankful for my family. Whether we are all together or not, we are still a family and we will always be just that. I am just as thankful for Jesse, who is basically family already. I could not have picked a better boyfriend . . . I am a lucky girl! I am more thankful for friends than I have ever been before. I don't know how I ever thought that I did not need them. They have really made the last few months of this year a better one. I have thankful for my pets, and all the other animals. They are the ones who made my decision of going back to school for Zoology official. I absolutely can not see myself doing anything else other than working with animals. I am thankful for a good job to keep my mind off of life when it gets a little too hard. I am thankful for a warm bed to sleep in at night, and beautiful weather outside to wake up to in the morning.
More than anything, I am thankful that I will soon be celebrating a new year. I am looking SO forward to what 2013 has to bring. Lots of love, and weddings! New traditions . . . Out with the old and in with the new. Hopefully there will be many new "firsts" to look forward to, and maybe some lasts too. I could not be looking more forward to a new start and a fresh beginning. Time to close the book on 2012.
Thank you to all of you who decided to read this blog, and all of the wonderful things you have said about it. It has been an absolute joy for my mother and I, and I hope that we have brought a little more joy into your holiday season as well. I hope that your new year is filled with nothing but peace, love and happiness . . . Almost as much as I hope that is what mine is filled with. Ha. =)
Here's to Fresh Beginnings and Do-Overs!
Sarah
2012 cannot be in the rear view mirror quick enough in my opinion. There has been so much loss, pain, and suffering that it is almost impossible to articulate just how much aftermath has been left in my life and my babies. Personally, it feels as though I am cleaning up after a personal hurricane has blown through, and I find myself thinking, now what? However, the past 25 days have really been a light in a dismal time.
When Sarah and I began this blog, it was as a way to help us discover the Christmas Spirit while reconnecting as mother and daughter. We both were feeling the same things, and as a writer, I know that sometimes it can be therapeutic to put our thoughts and feelings down. I think the greatest gift of this blog has been that we have rekindled a light in our own mommoms and baby girl relationship. Sarah is my friend and that is an incredibly great gift !
Most of you have probably felt the emotion as we laughed, cried, struggled, and reflected on the "good deeds" that we opted to do throughout the course of each day. I want those of you who are reading to know that "this" was not done in an attempt to make ourselves out to be something amazingly great, but rather as a way to really push us to grow ourselves in spite of seemingly impossible growing conditions. And I speak for myself when I say GROW I DID and the light of Christ was the catalyst allowing that growth. Yes, I gave of my time, talents, and treasures; however, the life changing gifts that I received through giving this month were priceless!
This month has brought light into both Sarah's and my life. I hope that perhaps it may have brought a little light into some others as well. And tonight my "good deed" is to leave you all with a song in your heart and a light in your life. I heard that this beautiful song was sung last night at Nazareth in Holt, which is one of my churches I left this fall. I missed them terribly last night as I worshipped in RLF with my grandma and my mother. However, someone told me that I needed to listen to this song which is very beautiful. Please read the lyrics and take them to heart:)
Go Light Your World by Chris Rice
There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
And there is a spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes his home
Carry your candle, and run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, confused and torn
And hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame
So carry your candle, and run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
And hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
'Cause we are a family whose hearts are blazing
So let's raise our candles and light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest times
Carry your candle, and run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
May we all take our candles and light our worlds . . . not just at Christmas, but each and every day of our lives.
God's Blessings in 2013,
Sheila
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