Farewell 2014

This post is going to be one of those "LIFE" posts, nothing really crafty today.  It's a little tribute and reminder to myself of what 2014 had in store for me and my family, and maybe some hope that 2015 will be full of family, fun and some miracles.

Some years I find that I'm glad to leave the old behind and look forward to the new.....this coming year, I'm a little bit unsure of what it will bring. In some ways, hopefully it will be the best year yet....in other ways, it might be one of my hardest yet.

Some highlights from 2014:

                                   My daughter and step-daughter both graduated high school. Yay!!

Ashlie and her friends graduated from Seminary.
                 

My son graduated from the LVMPD, so proud of him!

We welcomed a grand baby into the family.  My step-daughter and her husband had a little boy who just couldn't wait to get here and was two months premie....he stayed in the NICU for almost two months and is now home and weighing almost 8 lbs.  He's a little fighter and such a wonderful little guy! 

 

The first total family picture we've had taken in years and may be the last one where we have everyone together at the same time.

Thanksgiving 2014.  

One month earlier, we found out that my mom was diagnosed with ALS.  It was a pretty devastating diagnosis.  We had a family friend pass away from this disease about 25 years ago and it terrifies my mom to know that this is her journey right now.  We figure at this time she is at least a year into her symptoms.  We don't know how much time she has, how fast she will progress with this disease or how bad it will get.  As of right now, she is still functioning almost normally.  She does have issues with her speech, it almost sounds like she's had a stroke, and it's hard for her, she sometimes stumbles and slurs her words.  She also has uncontrollable sobbing fits, which frustrates and embarrasses her, she also is feeling weaker and fatigue, sometimes has problems with choking and breathing.  She is 65 years young, and the sweetest person I've had the pleasure of knowing.  I wish this wasn't her path, but am grateful for the time we have.  I think this has really rallied our family together, we've always been pretty close, but this just makes the time we have together a little more precious. 

This is only ONE of the many family pictures we took and the only one I have access too, the others are on my daughters computer and she is in TX right now.....but I think this captures us perfectly!!  

We have a pretty small family, just me and my sister as far as siblings go.  I have my two kids and my sister has her four.  We have a possible new member of the family....my son brought his darling girlfriend ( the cute redhead in the stripped sweater) to meet us for the first time and we all really love her and hope in time she becomes a permanent part of the family. We can all be pretty goofy and not take ourselves too seriously, often times we have laughing fits at ourselves.  We are all dorks and we totally embrace all of our dorkiness! 

Also, another somewhat devastating situation is with my sister.  The cute dark haired one on the left....she has what they thought was colon cancer and had surgery, they found out that it wasn't cancer, but a symptom of her stage 4 endometriosis, and she also has possible kidney cancer.  She still has tests that need done and second opinions. Lots of prayers being said for her and her family.  

Two of the most important women in my life and we are facing some hard battles ahead.  My sister is my rock and my mom is just there for me whenever I need anything.  Now, it's my turn to be there for them, for whatever they need and to be strong for them.  I'm SO grateful for our family, for the amazing parents, sister, brother-in-law, husband, kids, nieces and nephews.  

This is what life is all about.  FAMILY.  And I love mine with all my heart.

So, no matter what 2015 brings, with the help of family, God, our beliefs and each other, we will get through and we will be stronger.  

2015 BRING IT!!