At the beginning of 2012 I had very high hopes that it would be a good year. And it all went downhill just a few days after the year began. But then 2013 came and again, I had very high hopes. I can’t explain it, but these hopes were different than what I felt before. And this year, these hopes came true.
2013 was good me, to us. It involved very few cancer experiences. It involved travel and memories and the beach. It involved meeting someone special. It involved growth and learning. It involved friend’s weddings. It involved projects. It involved everything good in life and it was exactly just what I (we) needed.
In January, I started three new document projects. I decided to participate in Ali Edwards’ One Little Word and chose the word grace. I also kept a gratitude journal to help keep my word in focus. I think to live gracefully, you must be thankful for what you have and not dwell on the negative things that happen in life. I also embarked on weekly scrapbooking with Becky Higgins’ Project Life. I have to admit; I loved every single one of these projects and hope to continue them in the next year.
The New Year started off a little rough and my dad stayed in the hospital for an entire week. (The last 4 days of 2012 and the first 3 days of 2013.) But, to make things a little better, my best friend of 15 years came to visit for a long weekend and we had a blast! We also went to Sea Life in Kansas City. So fun! A few days after she left I came down with a nice little cold. At least it waited until after she left! This month, we also had a funny experience at the car wash and found out Abby does NOT like car washes and tried to hide under my steering wheel. It was also at the end of this month that I met Dakota and we had our first date.
February always starts off with my birthday celebration! We didn’t do anything too special, but it turned out to be a pretty great day. Mom’s class sang Happy Birthday to me while I was at work (through the phone). I also asked my parents to write a little something for my birthday, which turned out to leave me speechless and in tears…but good tears at that! Mom and I took a knitting class that met once a week this month. I’m far from becoming a pro, but it was fun learning a new skill and we met some really neat ladies! We finally got some snow this year! The weather forecast called for much more than what we got, but it was still pretty and we got a few snow days out of it. The month ended with one of my favorite celebrations, the Oscars! I’m pretty happy about the outcome. I continued to work on my projects and got a lot done, but wasn’t able to mark anything off of my 101 list this month.
March was full of Junior League and Cinderella’s Closet events. I took photos at our second annual fashion show held at our local mall. And I participated in my first dress give away. I helped seven girls pick out dresses and they all found ‘the one’. I even had the sweetest girl give me the biggest hug for helping her! That hug made me realize what an amazing organization Junior League is and I’m so proud to be a part of it.
I marked off a lot off of my 101 list at the end of the month. I had my first massage that was a nightmare. Spring Break was during this time and I went to the Omaha Zoo with Ginger and the kids. We had a blast even though it was a little chilly for spring! I also marked off visiting a state I’ve never been to, going to a butterfly sanctuary, and growing tulips, which sadly didn’t make it.
March ended with Easter. We were lucky enough to celebrate with the Montgomery’s, Sue, Stancy and her family, and Jackson’s therapist. I love having this ‘other family’; people I can count on and who I love even though we don’t share the same blood.
April started off lousy. I had the flu for 3 days and felt miserable. It has been a long time since I’ve been THAT sick. Thankfully I rebounded and got to have lunch with some of my DSP friends from college and spend the weekend with the lovely Mallory. I also got to hang out with my favorite kids and jump with them on their trampoline until the sun went down. So fun! This month we celebrated mom’s birthday and had dinner at Hoof and Horn. My friend, Kristin had her bridal shower and got some awesome things for her new home in Texas. Mom and I started walking again. Unfortunately it isn’t a routine thing yet, but we are getting out on all the nice days (not on the day that it randomly snowed at the end of April). Dakota’s sister welcomed baby Lane into the world at the end of this month. Mom and I had a fun girls day with Jenny and her mom while we tried on her wedding dress and my maid of honor dress! I also got the bubbles out for Abby for the first time this year. She had a blast!
May started with an extremely unusual snow storm. Thankfully it didn’t even last a full day (reason why I have no photos to prove it, I was at work all day long.) Mom and I went on a lot of evening walks and enjoyed the surprisingly cool spring (most days). We spent a day in Atchison, shopping at Nell Hills and touring a train yard. This month I finished my provisional year with Junior League and became an active member. I also found out that I will be serving on the Membership Relations committee for the upcoming League year and I’m so excited! We already have some great things planned! This month was also a month for my friend Kristin. We went to Worlds of Fun for her Bachelorette party and I rode a roller coaster. I was honored to be a member of her bridal party and to be a part of her big, special day. I’m so happy for her and her new hubby! I also had my first maternity photo session with a special family, Joe and Katie. (Joe works with my mom and he has become like family over the last few years.) And of course, May ended with celebrating 3 years since dad’s diagnosis. So thankful for the last 3 years and the other ones that are yet to come!
June was a great month. So many fun things happened. Some of Dakota’s friends got married. Jenny’s wedding shenanigans started and we had her bridal shower. Dad had some major dental work done that didn’t go too well, but thankfully he healed fairly quickly. The teacher who mom works with had his first baby, a boy, and he and his wife asked me if I’d document his birth. It was such an honor to be there for such a big event in their lives and it was the first time I’d ever seen a live birth. So very cool. At the end of the month, we took a little family vacation to Minnesota. It was the first time we went back since we moved, 15 years ago. I got to catch up with a good friend and ride all of my favorite rides at the Mall of America. We also drove by our old house and visited my old stopping grounds at the park.
July started off fantastic! Were still on our trip to Minnesota when the month began and took a day trip to Duluth to visit Split Rock Lighthouse. It was stunning and now I want to go visit more lighthouses. We also visited Minnehaha Falls before we headed home. I celebrated the 4th with Dakota and we watched some amazing fireworks. Abby turned 12 this year. My baby girl is growing up. There were a lot of dinner gatherings with family and friends. I also went to my first Royals game of the season with Dakota, his sister, and her husband. We had awesome seats that his grandpa got for us. Such a fun night, and the Royals won! The month ended with a trip out Virginia and the Outer Banks in North Carolina with my friend, Brandi. The ocean was beautiful and I already miss the sound of the waves crashing.
My trip continued into August. We didn’t go to bed until 4-5 am every night due to traveling or going out (only 1 of those nights). The last night I was on the east coast, we celebrated Brandi’s birthday with a party bus and a concert/club. So fun. Of course, the trip ended with me getting a rash on my left cheek. It seems like something always has to happen during those trips. Rash, cold, flight issues, etc. When I arrived back home, my parents and Dakota were waiting for me so we could go to dinner at PF Changs to celebrate their 34th anniversary. When I got back, I rushed right into wedding festivities for my friend Jenny. She got married on the 10th and had a beautiful wedding. I am so honored that she asked me to be her Maid of Honor. The week after the wedding I ended up getting a cold that lasted a week and a half. So not fun, but thankfully I got somewhat caught up on sleep. The following weekend was out town fair, Trails West. Dakota and I went for a few hours one of the days. It was so good to just sit and enjoy a nice summer evening with live music.
September started with a week off from work. During this week, Dakota’s basement flooded and we went on their annual sibling float trip. It was a lot of fun (not the flooding part)! Football started this month and we started a Sunday tradition of watching the Chiefs’ games with friends. I also participated in Week in the Life this month. It is a lot of work, but this project is always so rewarding afterward. (I still love looking back at this project from 2012.) I had my first surgery. It was minor, but oh so painful too; much worse that what I ever imagined. I had 5 moles and my birthmark on my lip removed and got 25 stitches to prove it. I don’t know how dad does it, getting poked and picked at so often with his cancer treatment. What I went through was not a walk in the park and dad has been through so much worse. (And I thank him for putting up with it all!) Dakota and I saved a life and adopted Rory, the sweetest kitten. He has been a great addition to the family and just like Abby, he knows when I need some extra cuddling. Unfortunately, this month ended with a hiccup. It was confirmed that dad’s cancer is coming back. So on to plan C we go…..
I love October and everything fall. However, this year it really didn’t feel like fall. We did our annual pumpkin picking this year in t-shirts and tank tops. But, as always, it was a lot of fun. I love seeing these evolve through the years. I did some volunteer work for Junior League. Jenny, our moms, and I kept up with our tradition of taking a Christmas card class. It was fun and I’m glad I know a lot more of the skills they teach in the class. I spent a week battling pink eye…not fun. Dad turned 60 this month, but we didn’t get to celebrate because he traveled up to Mayo Clinic to discuss the next steps in his treatment.
November started off rocky with fighting another virus for a week and then breaking out into a rash because I was allergic to the antibiotics I was on. Of course, I didn’t find this out until I was almost done taking the medication. Mom and I went to see Matt Nathanson in concert and we got to meet the opening act, Joshua Radin! It was so cool! I celebrated Thanksgiving twice this year. I celebrated with Dakota’s family in the afternoon and then we celebrated with my parents in the evening. The day was full of good food and lots of laughter. Definitely something to be thankful for!
December started off with my new favorite holiday tradition, December Daily. So glad I embarked on this journey again. Again, I got sick with a cold that knocked me off my feet for a few days before Christmas. But I was still able to celebrate the holiday and enjoy every minute of it. There were lots of moments that happened this month. Moments that made my heart full of joy and thankfulness.
2013, thank you for not letting me down. Thank you for being an incredible year that I will never forget.
Previous Years: 2012
