What A Year

2011 has been a big year. Things have changed, people have grown, both physically and emotionally. I feel like we're embarking on a new chapter in our lives.

My mission for myself this year was to make my health a priority for my child. People like to say, "I'd do anything for my child, I'd DIE for them!" But then in the next breath they'll admit they won't make healthy choices or do anything to make sure they LIVE for their child. Because that's everyday, that's self-discipline, that's HARD. I made a conscious decision that I am going to LIVE for my child. He's going to have a healthy mom, a mom that makes both physical health and mental health a priority so that I can be the best mom for Desmond that I can be. This year, I focused on my physical health. I changed my diet, took up exercising 5 days a week. I've lost 54 lbs. and I'm back to the weight I was in 2007. I am in better shape than I was then because I work-out now.

I have decided that my mission for next year is to make more Mom-friends and get a larger social circle. First step is to join Walla Walla MOPS. Wish me luck on that!

Aside from learning to handle an intelligent, curious, way-to-clever toddler this year, the biggest change for us was Norman's mother passing away suddenly. It hit the whole family hard and we're still spinning from it. It's pulled us all together, but it's also made evident how important the choices we make for ourselves are to everyone else we love. It made it clear what our priorities should be. This holiday season is going to be hard at times, but we'll make it through.

An experience like this makes you think about the kind of person you want to be and want to be remembered as. Trudy left a legacy of loving everyone first, learning about them later. She loved you before you earned it and regardless of if you did. What legacy would be left if you died right now? It's definitely something to think about to refocus your priorities.

It has made Norman and I work more as a team I think. We communicate better and he understands family as a priority better. He if more confident and sure of himself.

Along with a tragedy, we also worked on future plans this year. Norman is working on getting his CEC (certified Executive Chef) and a business plan for a restaurant down the road. I have taken a job as an office assistant at the family business. Hopefully they like me and keep me on as it would really help our budget. We are trying to get ride of our debt before tackling a restaurant so it would make that much more feasible.

I am very excited for Christmas because Desmond will be into opening presents. I put up the tree and have spent the last few days trying to keep Des from pulling off the decorations. But I'm happy to have the house decorated and most the presents wrapped and under the tree.

I feel like I'm in a good place with being a wife and a mom. Norman is doing better at being supportive when I am overwhelmed with something and just need him to listen to me talk a bit. I miss Trudy a lot, but I know she would want us to be happy and move forward in our lives, so that makes it a little easier.

Norman threw another wrench in the works by getting a puppy "for me". So I'm house-training a puppy in the middle of everything else. It's not going too bad, but it is one more thing to take care of. Ask me how I like him in a couple months, lol.