Unless you live under a rock and do not have a calendar (in which case, how are you reading this post?) you know that 2012 is over and 2013 is here for the next 365 days. Today is a day when many people are making resolutions and wanting to change, to make these next 365 days better than the last were. That is a lofty, ambitious and good goal. We should all strive to always be improving, wanting things to get better.
2012 was a busy year in our house. On January 5, 2012 our precious daughter (first born child) came into our arms. Labor wasn't as awful as I expected (thanks to the epidural, great thing the epidural), but I know why it is called labor! The months of pregnancy were worth it, and the complications after. Punky Jr. has been a daily joy and an immense blessing.
We live near most of Darby's family, so we spent a lot of time with family. In early April Punky Jr. and I flew out to Wyoming to spend some time with my family, and Great Granny and Punky Jr. got to meet and spend a few days together.
In October I published my book Joyfully After All (buy it on amazon. My author name is Jessie Lee) and I've been busy marketing my book and working on book #2.
December was just 31 days, but it was full of all the ups and downs of life. December started with Darby and I celebrating our 2nd anniversary, and then Punky Jr. and I flew to Wisconsin to see my sis, and my Mom drove out from Wyoming. The first few days were a blast. Punky Jr. was finally able to visit Lambeau Field, we watched (on tv) the Packers win, and spent lots of time together as a family. Then the phone call came. God had called Great Granny home to Heaven.
So, off we went to Wyoming, Darby flew out and joined us. We said good-bye to a special, loved woman. We came home, and Punky Jr. and I were there as Great Granny was buried here in her beloved Blue Ridge Mountains.
Just a few days later it was Christmas! It is hard to deal with all the ups and downs when they happen so close together. You just have to let yourself feel what you are going to feel. Cry when you need to cry, and when you are happy, let yourself laugh. A family member died and that needs to be grieved, but our lives go on, and we have to live them to the fullest.
And that brings me back to 2013 and the beginning of a new calendar year. A year that like all others will be full of valleys and mountaintops. A year that I hope brings our family closer together (and maybe, just maybe God will give us child #2 growing inside me) and brings each of us more in tune with our Lord and better at serving Him, following Him and reflecting Him.
May this year be a year that you learn to leave Joyfully after all life throws your way. May it be a year that you claim victory over the harsh side of life and continue running this marathon called Christian life.
Prayers for you.
-JLP-
