2017 A Year In Review

2017, man I feel like I could dedicate several blog posts - more like a chapter of a book - to this past year. That's how I've had to start thinking of this past year...as a chapter of my life, one that I am looking forward to closing and starting a new one in 2018. But it wasn't always that way...

2017 started out like any other year previously had, ringing in the year with my loved ones. The year itself was going pretty well at least until

HARVEY

*I know plenty of people had worse experiences than we did, but this is from our/my perspective.*

Harvey devastated us in a way I didn't know was possible. Our home that I had seen my dad craft and create was flooded. It was gut wrenching to see our neighbors, some who had just gotten their houses back from last year's waters, tearing their home inside out to clean up. Seeing everyone's memories on the side of the road was a very humbling and difficult experience. I know we will fix and make new again and that this world is not our home and that this is just temporary. Does this make it easy? No, but I try to find comfort in believing that.  

When we just couldn't wait for the year to be over Mother Nature had something nice cooked up for us - SNOW!

*For anyone who lives up north this is a big deal for us down here.*

This was the second time I've seen snow *stick* in my life, the first time was in 2004 right before we officially moved into this house. There's something magical about snow, in that it's a blank canvas or a fresh start and that's how I am choosing to look at 2018! A fresh start! 

So here's to you 2018! May you bring joy, peace and love into our lives again! Wishing you all the best fresh start to 2018 and whatever your future holds!