HAPPY new year.

well, it's that time again.  the time where we look back on the year and think about all the wonderful, fluffy, rainbowy things that have happened.  or not.  while we did have some wonderful, fuffy, rainbowy things, it was decidedly more heavy on the yucky, spiky, definitely-not-rainbowy stuff.  never have i been SO freakin' excited to end a year!  GOOD BYE 2012!  i have had more than enough of you, thankyouverymuch!


now that i get to thinkin', there were a lot of lessons learned over the past year...

unfortunately, we learned a bunch about loss...the hardest of which came with the passing of our sweet baby niece.  even though we're still sad, death is quite a bit more palatable when it comes after a nice, looooong life.  we didn't understand.  we DON'T understand.  i still don't, anyway.  we DO know that Jesus loves the little children and our precious girl is in Heaven with Him.  gotta say, He's probably a pretty great playmate! 

i learned a lot about myself.
-that i'm a lot stronger than i give myself credit for.  that i can do things.  HARD things.
-that chemo sucks.  a LOT.
-that tasting food is a really good thing.  and that i shouldn't take it for granted.
-that boobs don't make the girl, the girl makes the boobs!  or the doctor makes them and the girl rocks them!
-that hair is definitely NOT "just hair" when you don't have any.  and it is cold without it!  and that apparently my brain was in my hair.
-that i am PROUD of myself!  and that it's okay to be proud of myself. 
-that God is...awesome.  and that i love Him.  a LOT.  i already knew that but i know it in a whole different way now.

i learned about others.
-that my Love is probably THE most wonderful man in the whole wide world.  okay, i knew that already...it's why i married him!  also, it's a *really* close race between him and my Daddy. 
-that my Little Dude is a tough kid.  and so kind and giving.  and helpful.  and a real turd sometimes!  he is only 7!  :o)  
-that i have a wonderful family.
-that i have such supportive and very, very wonderful friends.
-that, despite all the horrible things we see and hear, people are generally GOOD and kind and caring. 
-that the "cancer club" is the best club you never wanted to be a part of.

some lessons were waaaaaaaay tougher than others.  and i'm a different person because of those lessons.  but i'm more than ready to leave this year behind.  so bring on 2013...because i've got some stuff up my sleeve that will blow. your. mind.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  and i freakin' mean it when i say HAPPY.