My Year of Gratitude: A Follow Up

Dear friends,

Sometimes it's hard to find the words.

That's how I feel about this past year.  I know that each year brings its own set of blessings and trials.  And I know that its pretty much impossible to predict what will happen, how it will happen, and why.

This past year has been full of surprises.  Good and bad.  As I wander through my journal and look over my gratitude list from 2013, I am almost overwhelmed with feelings of love and thankfulness.  I am far from perfect and there are several entries where I know I'm searching for the good in a pretty much rotten day.  Sometimes rotten weeks.  But even though they were bad, there was always something to be thankful for even if it was that the day was over.

There were some days that I skipped.  There's an entire week missing in April right after my father passed away.  There was much to be thankful for that week but I just could not write it down.  It had been swallowed up in an impossible sorrow that still lingers just a bit.

Dad's passing was by far the biggest plot twist of the year and even it brought unexpected blessings.  And I'm not talking about the silver linings that happen all the time.  I'm talking about honest to goodness blessings that I'm fairly certain would not have come any other way.  Silver linings are like the chocolate coating that make the pill go down a little smoother. You can find them everywhere if you look.  But the pill is still rather bitter.

The blessing actually changes the pill.  Rather than something bitter and hard to swallow, it becomes sweet.  My father's passing has changed so much. There have been impossible and sacred blessings that have come with having Dad on the "other side".  Those who have passed on are still a part of our lives.  It is something that I did not expect.  It is something that I am eternally grateful for.

If I had to sum up this past year of gratitude it would be filled with words like: God, Friends, Laughter, Family, Ben, David, Eternity, Temples, Dad, Mom, Blessings, Service, Work, Time, Neighbors, and Love.

My life is not perfect, but sometimes... sometimes it feels like it is.

May God bless you this coming year.

~ Lora

Dear Friday...

Dear Friday,
I'm so glad that you are here, but why did you have to bring snow too?

Dear David,
You are the love of my life.  Sometimes I forget that and sometimes it comes rushing back with full force.  Thank you for being the man that you are.  The one who helps me, listens to me, and loves me despite me.

Dear Ben,
I love your stinkin' guts! Your twin drool lines down your face crack me up. I can't get over how big you are getting and I would like you to slow it down just a bit.  At least until I can relish these moments a little more.

Dear Flowers,
I know you are getting another layer of snow but please do not let this deter you from showing yourselves.  I have been looking forward to your arrival for months now and I am ridiculously excited for your color and life.

Dear Quilt,
I'm almost done with you.  Did you ever think it would happen?  Me neither.  Thanks for hanging in there through it all.

A lovely weekend to you all,

Lora

Dear...

Dear David,
You are my rock. You are the one I lean on in times of trouble. You whisper words of wisdom and tell me to let it be. Thank you.

Dear Primary Children,
I so loved your sweet voices today as you sung in church.  I love your smiles and your sparkly eyes. Thank you for sharing.

Dear Ben,
It's a good thing you are cute because if not I would get really irritated by the smell of spit up on my dress right now.  As is I will just throw it in the wash... like I did last week... for the same reason.

Dear Snow,
I'm glad you have made an appearance.  I like it when you cover all the brown and ugly this time of year.  Feel free to make yourself better known.

Dear Sunday,
Thank you for coming once again and bringing hope to a troubled world.  To my troubled world.

Dear Mothers and Fathers in Conneticut,
My heart goes out to you right now.  Every time I see a child or snuggle my own I think of you and I choke back a tear.  May God bless you in this time of need and sorrow and questioning.

My love to you all,

Lora

Dear Today

Dear Wednesday,

You are here and I'm not sure what to think about that.  You are the middle.  The middle of a big week.  Of friends and family.  Of politics mingled with religion.

Things I would like you to bring next time around.

1.  The ability of my baby to sit still long enough for me to get both the diaper and the pants back on before he squirms out of control.  Or faster reflexes on my part.

2.  A pair of pants that are not covered in drool and/or snot up to just past the knees.

3.  All the leaves on the ground so they can be raked up once and for all.

4.  World peace.

5.  An extra bag of pretzel M&Ms cause the one I have might not last through the week.

6.  Time with my husband.  Real time.

7.  A somewhat back to "normal" schedule for Ben that we can all live with.

8.  A return of brotherly kindness despite the politics of the day.

It's not much to ask really... when you think about it.  Well maybe the world peace thing, but wouldn't it be nice?

Don't get me wrong, you have been kind today as well.  I love friends and muffins and real talk.  I love the sunshine and the weather that still allows for walks.  A vacuumed floor that may last all the way till 5 pm.  A new print hanging on my wall.  Excitement about this coming Girl's Weekend.  And there are still enough M&Ms to last through the day and tomorrow.

Until next week...