A Joyful Grump

So my word for the year in 2016 was Joy. I don't think I have to even say anything before most people will laugh out loud. This year has pretty much been a disaster for everyone it seems! A crazy year at the very least. But the question is, as the year comes to a close, was I able, despite the craziness that was 2016 - to focus on Joy?

I think a lot of people who read my blog posts, or even who keep up with me via facebook probably doubt it. In fact I know there are those of you who worry about my mental well-being, and I appreciate the care for sure. The truth is, though, I tend to talk so much more (or type so much more) when I am down than when I am happy and the result is that I seem very depressed and/or very upset more often than I really am. I hope the reality is a little more balanced.

2016 has been...quite a year!

 The year began with me back in my home - and happy to be there! Also Michael began attending his home school campus twice a week rather than doing a total at-home home school curriculum. For me this was awesome news, it meant he was staying with me a few days each week! It was awesome having that consistent time with him again. He started out in my guest (aka empty) room on an air mattress but over the semester we were able to get it together and purchase a bed as well as decorate it for him with Doctor Who, Marvel and various other 'characters' he loves. It was a lot of fun.

When he went home for the summer I had another guest come and use my now functional guest space - my grad school roomie Katrina got a job at Trevecca (yay!) and needed to come to Nashville before the rest of her family was ready to make the move so we got to be roommates again for a short time. That was a lot of fun. (and apparently we took NO pictures during that month...)

Shortly after that, and much less fun, my Mom's cancer returned and she had a second brain surgery. The plan had been for her to only stay at my house for a few days but she had some complications this time and surgery was much harder on her. We ended up back in the hospital for an extra weeks stay and then she and my Dad lived with me for quite some time after that. Of course I am always okay with having them around but would have preferred much different reasons.

When Mom's strength returned they went back to Manchester, and then late this Fall my Best Friend Sylvia and her kids came to stay with me and are currently living with me in what is becoming known as a my "hotel". Haha. 

I love it actually. When I was growing up my parents ALWAYS had people staying with us. We kept foster children, we had an exchange student, my parents constantly opened our home to people from church and/or from their work...it is a natural thing for me to offer the space I have to anyone who has need of space.

So those are the biggest things that have gone on this year. Obviously some  of them were good things, some bad. But there has been joy found in each visit with each person. And there have been many other smaller things as well. Some highlights (not in any order at all):

Hosting book clubs at work (and Game Night...not pictured)

Having the Carters nearby again/getting to know Isaiah/Mira better

I finished the first draft of my book!! (No picture)

YALLFEST 

15 years at Trevecca

Michael learned to drive

Memphis trip with Karissa

Selling Premier Again

Visits from Grandma & Grandpa, and Jami & Kendall

Meeting Austin 

Karissa did an author talk at my library

Meeting authors Scott Westerfield (!!!) and Rachelle Dekker

             Meeting Baby Oliver

       

Elizabeth visits/Serious Selfies

Braylee's Birthday

Thanksgiving with Family

Hosting Baby Shower for Haven

My 2 Besties

Michael School Dance

Catching up with Jacinda and Kim

My Birthday

Okay....so I am going to stop now because I doubt very many people are even still looking. Obviously I love pictures...and I love the people in my life! I have a lot of JOY!! And it has been very good for me this year to focus on that joy and look for it in the midst of some very dark and hard times. Did I always succeed? Oh no. I was a downright grump sometimes, some of you might be thinking that was true more often than not...I don't know. What I do know is that even when I was grumpy I was aware of the joys in my life. I could find them, I could point to them and as often as possible I tried to document them. MANY are not even mentioned here simply b/c I know I don't have the space to do so. It was a hard year. I know not what next year will bring. I am still contemplating what, if anything, I will choose as my focus for next year. There MIGHT be another forthcoming blog about it. There might not too. We shall see. But in the meantime...be joyful!
Despite 2016, even because of 2016...be joyful!