Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  Even though today is actually Christmas Day, it feels like Christmas was here and gone... Troy's family celebrated last weekend, and my family yesterday.  So, today is what would normally be the travel and recuperation day. However, for the first time in my married life, Troy and I both have jobs which don't require us to work around the holidays, and I'm enjoying every moment of it!  

Earlier we were reminiscing about last Christmas, and how so much has changed.  Last Christmas was insane... we drove 3 hours to Troy's family Christmas and stayed for about 24 hours, then drove 4 hours to my family Christmas for what was supposed to be only about 24 hours, before driving another 3 hours and then flying 4 hours to spend a week with my dad.  However, after Christmas with my mom, i went to bed not feeling so well.  Several hours later, I woke up with the stomach flu.  Not only did I miss my extended family Christmas, but I barely made the flight that had to be pushed back a day due to a snowstorm.  I remember telling Troy, what a perfect way to end such a horrible year.  At the time I really meant it... it had been a rough year full of emotional ups and downs, and having the flu seemed to put a physical symbol to my emotional state -- exhausted and scared of what was coming up next.  

I was determined to make 2011 a better year.  Not that I have the ability to change the things that happen in and around my life, but I do have complete control of my attitude.  And I was determined to see the good and the hope in my life.  

Here we are a year later... I have definitely had my moments (and even sometimes weeks), but I'm thankful that God has given me the ability to start looking at things in a more positive light, and see the increasingly frequent glimpses of hope in what could be a depressing and hopeless situation. 

Thankfully this Christmas has not been the same... we have been able to make it to all of our family Christmases with no illness (well, okay, I had laryngitis for Troy's family Christmas, but that was tolerable).  Despite my insane schedule during December, I feel relatively relaxed and extremely grateful for this time of the year.  And more than anything, I can't wait to start 2012!