Overall, it was a good year.
I am very happy teaching middle school. It is a pleasure to work at a well-run school, for administrators that have it together, with colleagues who are supportive and professional, and with students who enter my room eager to give it a go each and every day.
After a short foray into the world of MLM selling leggings, I decided that was definitely NOT for me. I have returned to my first love - selling thrifted high-end clothing on eBay. One of my favorite sounds is the cha-ching my phone makes when I make a sale, and I absolutely love thrifting.
Michaela made the transition from kinder to first grade, and from one private Christian school to another, easily. She is a super student and reads several grade levels above her own grade level. I am so blessed to have a bright and happy child!
We took our first big trip just the two of us successfully. We loved Idaho, and we hope to spend more time there in the near future.
We got a new dog! Friends from church have the sweetest Golden Retriever, and he was the inspiration for a new buddy of our own. Maui joined the family in June. He is handsome, smart, and has a nice bark when he senses somebody near our home - I really like that. We hope to make him a therapy dog one day. He would be a blessing to those convalescing or stressed out.
We took an amazing cruise from Montreal, Canada to Boston with my parents in July. I love cruising, and I loved all of the ports we spent time in. It was a great way to celebrate my mother's seventieth birthday, and my fiftieth - yes, I just turned fifty. How did that even happen?
We took another trip to visit friends in Michigan - friends we had never actually met in person! The Matts Fam were just as lovely in person as they have been online for many years, and we loved our time with them. Michigan is a beautiful state, and we enjoyed every minute there. They were such generous hosts.
Did I mention that I turned fifty? I think I did. Well, some might cringe at that, but I realize that it's a privilege to grow older. My Michael did not have that privilege. So, I do not worry about growing older. I have a little one to raise, and I hope I will always be here for her!
Lest you think my life is all rainbows and unicorns, I must say it is not. There are uncertainties. There are strained and estranged relationships. There are personal failures (mine!). There are challenges, disappointments, and loneliness. Nevertheless, God is good all the time.
As we move forward into 2018 I look forward to what it has to offer. And I trust that the Lord will guide our steps, meet our needs, and bless us.
Happy New Year!
