Well readers, it is technically Christmas, so Merry Christmas.
I have to be honest...my Christmas is not super merry. I cried all the way home today. I miss my dad so much and for some reason Christmas is hitting me so much harder than Thanksgiving did. His headstone is finally done, so I'm going to go and see his final resting place for the first time since he was buried in June. Not the most uplifting activity for Christmas. Our home feels so bare without his presence and without the Christmas decorations he'd always put up.
So instead of getting lost in the sadness, I'm trying to focus on good things that happened this past year. 2013 was a shit year, but there were shining moments. As I listed to my all-time favorite Christmas song, O Holy Night, I want to share five of the things I can look back on in 2013 and genuinely be happy.
1.) Marriages. This year, two of my favorite couples got married. The love these twosomes share is the kind of love I hope to have some day. Their weddings were celebrations of their love and their personalities. I can't remember going to two more fun weddings. They are wonderful people and to be able to share in the joy of one of the happiest days of their lives were nights I'll never forget.
2.) Babies. Y'all, this was a good year for babies. My friends had the most beautiful identical twin boys imaginable. They were born a day before my father died and I remember showing him the photos of the boys...he said they were perfect, and they are. Their picture made my dad smile one of his last smiles and I'll never forget that look on his face. They are perfect. But with a hot dad and an even hotter mom, why would I expect anything less? My other friends had an adorable little boy. I love seeing the pictures his mom posts about him. It is so obvious how loved he is. He is very lucky to have the mom and dad that he has. He will be raised as a proper UK fan! And lots of my friends are pregnant. A new life is something to always celebrate and I am so excited for my friends who are expecting a new addition to the family in 2014.
3.) Healing. The day my father passed away a friend of mine's dad was admitted to the very floor in St. Thomas where my dad was. I am so thankful his father was rehabilitated and healed. While I am sad the same can't be said for my father... and a little jealous, if I'm honest, I am so grateful this man has the chance to meet his grandson, who was born a few days ago. While I mourn my loss, I am glad a friend did not have to experience what I'm going through. I am also thankful for the healing of people I'm not close to. A friend on Facebook's daughter has been healed of cancer. Another friend beat breast cancer. 2013 was full of miracles for some people and I need to remember that although my miracle didn't happen, countless others did. And I should be happy for them.
4.) Opportunities. I have been blessed with great opportunities at work. What could be better than having the chance to move upward in an organization that you believe in and care about? Not much. My friends have always had great opportunities. Although I am extremely sad, my best friend in Nashville has an amazing job opportunity in California. She'll be leaving in two weeks, and I will miss her, but I could not be more excited for her new path.
5.) Friends. In 2013 I said goodbye to some friends, hello to others, and nice to see you again to a few. As you grow, friendships evolve, and I am so blessed to have the people in my life that I do.
Although I am sad, I am also thankful for the things I have been blessed with. Merry Christmas to you and yours, and may you all have at least five things to celebrate and be thankful for.
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