The end of Summer - The end of the longest year...

Summer is winding down - school is about to begin and I am reflecting that this August marks the one year anniversary of my parents moving here to Texas. This was a year that forever changed all of us.

The obvious is that my mom died this past year. But it is so much more than that. The countless hours spent caring for mom - the tears cried, the sleep lost, the job drama I had to go through, the redefining our family with my dad. The kids adjusting to having my parents here - and then to not having my mom. Redefining friendships.

On top of all of that - I went through a couple surgeries - and recoveries - and some major weight gain - eck! I battled my own demons of loneliness and depression - of self-doubt and insecurity. I questioned my place in Church, in my job, in the world. Even now, I am about to have another surgery - and am changing jobs! So it seems that the change and uncertainty and "drama" just never end around here.

So here I am one year later...on the cusp of my kids starting 2nd, 6th and 8th grade - my dad is feeling better - and doing okay. I quit my job!! I am getting ready to start a new career/job. This is all unfamiliar territory - but an adventure in the making for sure! I have not worked full time M-F 8a-5p EVER in my career as a nurse - and certainly not since having children.

We just returned home from an impromptu vacation - spurred by me changing jobs - and having a little "extra" money from refinancing our house. Sometimes the good things fall into our laps when we aren't looking, aren't expecting...

In all that this last year has brought to us - stress, heartache, love, laughter, trying times, sadness, loss, gain, weakness, strength...it has brought us here - to a new start - a new school year, a new job - a new beginning - very different than where we were one year ago today. It is with some sadness that we move forward - that is ever-present - but more so we move forward with a sense of expectation of the good that is to come.