Out With The Old And In With The New

GoodBye 2016, You Will Not Be Missed!

I admit, 2016 was probably the worst year of my life. Losing my mom in August made it by far the hardest, most emotional and presented me with the greatest obstacles to overcome (some of which I haven't yet conquered).  I feel like while my last year was not quite the epic failure the  Ohio State or Mariah Carey performance was, it was close.  I won't miss you 2016!!!

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Welcome 2017, I've Been Waiting For You!

I think the best way to honor the new year is to focus on the people in my life I am forever thankful for!

• My son Chandler who has me convinced that together we could survive a zombie apocalypse. 
• My niece Kortney and how she always picks me to be on her team for movie charades!  I don't contribute much, I never know the answers but we always win because she always gets them right!
• My Addie (my ex-husbands wife and my son's step-mom)  for always treating Chandler as if he were her own but at the same time never  stepping on my toes.  She makes it easy for all of us to perform as one big happy family.  Not to mention I am so thankful that she  gave Chandler a little brother who has brightened all of our lives!
• My brother-in-law Gary and  his strength to keep living after losing my sister, for  putting himself out there and having the courage to fall in love again. Because of him,  we get to add his fiance Monica and her son Odin to our family. 
• My Aunt Janice for  calling  to check on me and  remind  me that she is  there,  whenever  I might need her.
• My  nephew Corbin because he is so quick witted and always has something random to say, like telling me he is  "Made of solid steal forged from Zeus' lightning bolt" 
• My cousin Sarah  for somehow always knowing when I need a text that just says "I love you and I'm thinking about you" and because the  positive impact she has on everyone she comes in contact with is powerful beyond belief and  as if that isn't a big enough contribution to the world, she some how managed to pass along those same qualities to her children who warm my heart everytime I think about them.
• My brother Larry who calls me just to say hello, reminds me that he once coached me  to victory in a drag race and never lets me forget how awesome I am.
• My niece Kennady who my sister always claimed was my mini-me but the older she gets the more I question it because she is so much smarter, tougher and independent than ever was at her age.  I admire her tenacious attitude, how comfortable she is in her own skin and how driven she is when she puts her mind  to something. 
• My boyfriend Andrew, who puts up with more of my ridiculousness than any one person should and does it with patience, understanding and a really great sense of humor. Who could possibly ask for more than a relationship based on open communication, honesty and love. 
• My dad. I have always secretly believed that he is a superhero and I just haven't seen his cape yet but after this last year it is a known fact that he is definitely a superhero because no ordinary man could sustain the  pain of losing their wife of 49 years with the strength and grace that he has.  Everyday he reminds me that we are going to be ok and that we will get through this, that my mom would want us to live our lives  to the fullest and that we owe it to her to try and do just that. He has taught me that courage isn't fighting back the tears, courage is letting the tears fall and accepting that a great loss has caused great pain and  in those  moments of vulnerability we are reminded of how lucky we are to have had someone we were able to care so deeply for.

I really think it is going to be a great year!