2009: The Blessings

It occured to me that my last post was somewhat depressing. Lest you think 2009 was a total waste for us, I submit the following:

I was happy being a gramma to Lilly! She is so special to us! We got to see her in her first Christmas program with Learning Dynamics. I was sitting with my class but Don, Jesse and Karina got to be in the audience and watch. It was kind of a special moment for me, having my loved ones there and watching my beloved Lilly perform - even if all I could see was the back of her head! She was supposed to be a Present in the program but at the last minute somebody was absent and her teacher put her in as a Drummer Boy. I'm sure that took Lilly totally by surprise but she did a great job drumming the drum while we sang "Little Toy Drum". I was a PROUD gramma!

I was happy that, in January, I was inspired (at least I think so) to have us look for a vehicle to buy that would be better in the snow. Jesse and Karina had to borrow the Firebird for awhile and I was the one taking Don to the bus stop, and the route goes up and over an awful railroad embankment that doesn't even have lights to let you know a train is coming...it was a terrible experience in the snow and after that I insisted we get another vehicle. We ended up with an old Dodge Durango that is great in the snow, and now that I have to drive Don to and fro each day I am sooooo grateful for that car/truck!

I was happy to have found six blogs that I followed all year. Unfortunately most of them were about people with cancer and they all died during the year. Little Lucas Nelson, little Sadie Huish, grownup Richard Loser and my friend Brittney Drakulich provided me with many moments of beauty and happiness and also profoundly sorrowful moments in 2009. Leslie Harkness is a Utah woman who lost her husband suddenly two years ago and is raising their son alone. Her blog brought me to tears many times. There's also another one, the Nieniediaglogues, that is written by a Utah woman who loves being a wife and mother, and who unfortunately was in a terrible plane crash last year with her husband, and it left her terribly scarred and in a coma for months afterwards. She is an amazing example of faith to me, and I admire her so much! If any of you who read this would like a link to any of these blogs, please leave a message and I'll send you the link.

I was happy to have a job that I love during 2009, and happy we are still able to pay our bills and especially all those medical bills for Don. I am grateful that he can work and earn a living.

I am grateful for our good friends that we spent time with, Susan and Steve, and Janna and Steve...for knowing them for 39 years. I'm so grateful our friendships have endured!

I was happy that my friend Kris Lawrence moved to Provo this year. She and I were best friends back in Lawrenceville and our sons were also good friends. It's so nice to have her close by again. I never in my life thought that would happen!

I'm most especially grateful for my kids and their spouses and little Lilly. What would my life be without them? I count being a mother among the most wonderful things I've ever been blessed with. It's been a blast.

I know there were many more great moments in 2009 and I'm thankful for each and every one of them!