McDaniel Musings: A New Year

The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. Since the world didn't end on the Winter Solstice, we have been blessed to be able to celebrate Christmas, my daughter's 4th birthday, and a New Year!

2012 was a year of change for us. It started off pretty slow, but as the temperatures warmed and the sun came out, change was upon us. Here are a few highlights from the year: Matt earned a new job at work as co-principal of his school; I was finally able to quit my job and begin staying home with my kids; bought a new car; Audrey started preschool; Matt had has third knee surgery (with what looks like a couple more to come in 2013).

There were a few sad times during the year as well. I lost an uncle in Texas (my Dad's brother Danny), and I lost my beloved Grandpa Nick (Marlo G. Nichols) (click on his name for the obituary). I've never been one to handle death very well. Even though I feel very strongly that this earthly life is not the end, it's still always difficult to say goodbye. Danny was young and died before his time. Grandpa was old and tired and suffering from pancreatic cancer, but that didn't make saying goodbye any easier. I try to tell myself that death is a natural part of life, but still, that holds little consolation for me. But, like the old cliche, time "heals" everything. It never makes the hurt completely go away, but it does take the sting from it.

I feel like this post is all jumbled and out of order and context, but my thoughts are all over the place as I try to figure out what to write about and how to write it, so perhaps my time would be better spent adding pictures to this post and captioning them. That way you can see what has gone one the past couple of weeks without my rambling on. I'll try a more organized written post another day.