Farewell 2023!

We don't go out for New Year's Eve anymore and haven't really in years.  We like to be safe and snug in our home to ring in the new year as a family.  

As this year comes to a close we say farewell to a year that was a roller coaster for our son but ended on a fantastic note with him starting his weightlifting journey with coach Jarrod at Athletic Lab and laying to rest a very bad ending to his sparring journey due to issues that were beyond his control.  

As I think about all that happened this year I shake my head at some things and smile at other things.  We find out who our true friends are during the tough moments.  Those that bail out because things got tough are not worth our time or efforts.  It's best to let them go and move on and that's just what we did halfway through 2023.  But I smile so big these days because Tim has found something he's truly passionate about and it's changed his whole world.  His schoolwork is better than ever and I don't have to constantly remind him to make sure that he's getting it done.  He's just doing it.  Because he's so happy it is touching every aspect of his life and relationships.  For those still in his/our lives they are seeing it and are so happy for him and us.  For those that bailed on us it's their loss in such a humungous way!!!  

Oftentimes God has people in our lives for just a season.  Other times He has them in our lives for a lifetime.  As you grow in this life you find out who your life long friends are and you hold on tight to them and never let them go.  The ones that are there for a season are those that miss out on so much because they make the decision to be that seasonal friend instead of that life long friend.  It's a choice and ours to make of which kind of friend we will be.  Being a true friend means being a life long friend.  That's the kind of friend that I always strive to be to those that I call my friend and it's very sad when we come across those that have all the right words and on the outside seem to be a true life long friend but are really just fake.  We said goodbye to several of those this year.  Some were a shock to us and others not so much.  But nevertheless we are so thankful for those that have remained our true friends through it all.  

I sit here so incredibly thankful for friends who are like family.  Friends who even though we don't talk or see one another a lot we are still close at heart and always pick up just where we left off.  For friends near and far.  No matter where our friends are we appreciate your friendship.  Our hearts swell with overwhelming gratitude because of you and how deeply you touch our lives.  

I also sit here so incredibly thankful for our family.  Our family has had it's ups and downs this year but through it all we are always there for one another and love one another.  Our hearts are filled to overflowing from the love we feel for and from our family.

Lastly, I'm so overwhelming thankful to God for always being there for us in every moment of our lives even the ones that we aren't as proud of.  We all have those moments in our lives when we feel that we've failed God on some level or another.  We take time, especially at this time of year, to start the new year fresh.  We pray asking God's forgiveness for when we missed the mark.  We pray thanking God for giving us the strength to hit the mark more than we miss it.  And we pray asking for His blessings over us, our family and friends in the New Year and for an even deeper faith to do better as we continue to walk this walk of faith with Our God!  Our Savior!  Our Reason for Living!  God Bless You All!