The end of the year..............

There are only 3 hours left in the year 2012.  This has been quite the year.  I try at the end of every year to reflect on the year and pick out some highlights and low lights. There have been many of each this year.  I also have come to the realization that I have so much work to do on my own.

Some highlights for us Curtis':

Madison--- turned 9, competed for the first time in dance, went away to New York this summer exclusively for intense dance training, got offered her first solo , starting the 4th grade, had her first sleep over in the new house.....

Myles---turned 3, started tap dancing, found his first "best"friend, experienced Christmas for what I would consider the 1st REAL time, started going to church more, became potty trained,

Mayci--- turned 1, started walking, saying first words, had her first New Years, Easter, Memorial Day, Valentine's day, and 4th of July,  becoming so much more of an individual and claiming her stubborness personality(Lord help us, lol)

Damian --- quite the homeowner(getting pretty good at yard work and home fixing, has been on several CD's that came out this year, more private teaching opportunities, celebrating 5 yr wedding anniversary

Michelle--- promotion at work, reconciling a long held grudge(no one said forgiveness is easy), celebrating 5 year wedding anniversary


Unfortunately---- among with these highlights, we have seen some loss this year as well.  This past summer a very good coworker/friend lost her 18 year old son to a freak accident.  I didn't think that my heart could hurt the way it did at that time.  I shed many a tear for this young child and his grieving family.  I watched a mom show so much strength as she buried her son only a month before she should have been sending him off to college.  This woman and her sister were the ones who comforted me as I walked towards their son's/nephew's body in a casket to say my goodbyes.  I can not even imagine how they found it in themselves to that.

And as if that wasn't enough, my husband's good friend lost a child during the horrific events that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown CT.  OH my...my heart hurt yet again as I stood next to my husband stricken with his grief.  I had never seen him that way and once again cannot imagine how the family of this young child or any of the grieving families must have felt and were able to cope.  I asked myself on more than one occasion, what if that were me and my family...........................

This made me think, as the year is coming to close.  How much I truly take for granted.  How many mornings I leave the house upset with one of my children, leaving them with a frown and not a smile.  How I am so quick to speak prior to thinking and how spoiled I am!!  I am aware so much more now of my blessings, and while I feel guilty for thinking at times, "Thank goodness it wasn't my child."  I now know that it is okay to grateful and that I should be grateful for all that I have and because of that, treat my family as so!!

As we end this year and enter a new year...I pray for all who have lost someone over the past 365 days and before, I pray for their healing, their strength, the ability to smile again.  I also pray for my family and my blessings!  I pray to the Lord that I will be more aware of all that I have and will learn to use this awareness to shine a light unto others and to show those around how truly grateful, honored, and blessed I am for each and every one of them.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!!