I have a painting my mother made me the 1st year Matt and I got married. In our family, we have held a tradition over the last 30 or more years with a painting just like the one she gave me. Every year, my mother hangs the painting over the fireplace mantle---at the end of the Christmas season, she takes it down, and writes on a small square on the back labeled for that particular year. Good times and bad times can be seen on her squares throughout those 30 years.
Well, ever since she gave it to us, we have carried the tradition in our household. I took my painting down on New Year's Eve and wrote up my little summary of the year. Here's what I came up with:
1)We continue to love our church home, Pinelake. I am lifted up every Sunday from the message. I want to grow closer to God every year that goes by, not just go through the motions. (like the popular Christian song.) I want to grow stronger to walk with Him and have Him lead me where I need to be led. I continue to be overwhelmed on the blessings in my life that He has given me.........good times and bad times.........He has gotten me through.
2)We are thankful to have all of our parent's cancer-free and healthy. This past year, however, has been very hard on my father. He is now officially retired. They are still living in Houston, TX, but looking for homes in Meridian now. Barbara (my stepmother) was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and does not seem to be improving. My dad needed to retire to stay by her side full-time. I worry that he is not taking care of himself, but I trust that God will take care of the whole situation in 2010 and things will be ok........through good times and bad.
I am blessed that my grandmother is still with us.She is 98 years old and although every year I write that she is getting weaker, somehow she manages to hold on for another year. For that, we are truly blessed. It is very hard for my mother, who takes care of her all day,(she still lives in her own home, right next to my mom), but I don't think my mother would have it any other way..........she has and will continue to be there for Gram..........good times and bad.
My other grandmother, Edie, sadly passed away this year. We are saddened by this, but know she is in God's hands and much better off now than in the nursing home.
My nieces are all 3 growing like weeds and maturing more every time I see them!! It's crazy to think that Brittany is now 13 and taller than me (and I'm not a short gal ;) She is going to be AWESOME in sports as she gets older (she already is awesome in sports...but I see it really taking her far in life.) Carrie-Grace is a very sweet, truly sincere and very smart girl. Ann-Elise is one-of-a-kind........nothing like her!! BIG personality for sure~~ Love her :) She will start school next year........what will my mother do to occupy her time now?!!!
3) My job at Lincare is still going great.....I am thankful to have a job with all of the jobless people in our society. I am even more thankful to have a job where I can really make a difference as a hands-on dietitian. I think it helps in a way like no other to let my cancer patients know that my own mother went through something similar. They seem to open up with me more because I can empathize with them............through good times and bad.
4)Matt passed his Internal Medicine boards and started his Hematology/Oncology fellowship. He seems to be enjoying the field he chose.......I know he will be a WONDERFUL oncologist!! He will help his patients get through.........good times and bad.
5) We met lots of goals this year with our biggest hobby--triathlon and running. We are continuing to see our times improve, and this is very rewarding! I qualified for NY marathon-----We both ran Memphis marathon together.......I reached a big goal for me with marathon #10 this year :) We signed up for Ironman Canada next year. The commitment of all these months of long, training hours and exhaustion for another full Ironman bring on feelings of excitement and fear! We will get through........or maybe not.......but it will be good times and bad times for sure!
As I wrote on the back of my Christmas painting, I told Matt that the 2010 square that we pencil in next year should be a very eventful year. We should have a pretty firm decision on where we will continue our future together as far as his Hematology/Oncology career is concerned. We will be very close (if not at the time) to begining the phase of a larger family ;) We will have completed Ironman Canada, Matt will be another year closer to finishing and we will have accomplished who know's what by this time next year. Good times and bad, I'm sure...........but that's life.
I am thankful that I learn more about myself every year that goes by. I smile at the thought of filling up a little square of that painting every year. Although we only have 3 squares filled up on our painting, I want to look back on decades and decades of these squares and be content that I have used up that square each year to the best of my ability..................good times and bad times..........because only then can we truly grow. With God's eye on us, I wouldn't have it any other way ;)
