As this year comes to an end, I want to take a moment to reflect on how grateful I am for what I have gained this year. I want to start with the way I celebrated the very beginning of 2017. I went with Jenilee, Jamie, and Elisabeth to one of my favorite islands in the US. We visited South Padre Island and made some pretty amazing memories!
2017 started out pretty darn amazing. My family grew a bit as well! I got a new brother, some new nephews and a niece. I’ve never seen my sister so happy. It’s hard to believe that tomorrow is their one year anniversary!
February was fun. Keenan got a new car and learned that going down to the stop light for a left turn out of our neighborhood is really the best way to go. I spent some time at the coffee shop listening to some pretty kickass music.
March was jam-packed with memories. I had a blast at Sinatra Night. One thing that stands out about that night is this little old man who just couldn’t stop dancing. He had a lesson to teach me that day – Never stop doing what makes you happy. I still think of that old man and the pure joy on his face as he danced the night away. I got to love on 2 of my many favorite pups. Keenan and I celebrated 2 years of marriage. We hung out down at the river with the in-loves and went to San Antonio on a search for some charcoal soap. March was an exhausting and heartbreaking month of loss but there was also much love, passion, and fun.
April and May were just ordinary months. I had the pleasure of watching a dear friend turn another year older. I turned another year older as well. So far 30 hasn’t been my best year. Dinner at Ferraris was wonderful. I got to see my nephew Jax celebrate his birthday. Come to find out, they moved into a house that’s just a few blocks over from the house that built me. Naturally, I had to drive by the old place to see if it was exactly how I remembered it. (Spoiler Alert – It wasn’t.) I also enjoyed lots more live music.
Open Mic Night is easily one of my most favorite days of the week. Easter dinner with my dad’s side of the family was a refreshing break as well. One of the most memorable days of the entire year was the Miranda Lambert concert. I was REALLY looking forward to that day, but it ended up not going exactly as planned. My momma and I still got to spend lots of time together though, so I guess it wasn’t a total waste of a day! (To read about that day, click here!)
The Alice in Wonderland ballet brought many memories. That was the highlight of May, for sure.
June and July were full of ups and downs. Nonnie spilled a pot of boiling beans all over her and spent several weeks in the hospital. Hurricane Harvey didn’t want us to go on vacation so we went to the river instead.
Jenilee started chemo to put an end to this brain tumor that’s been giving her hell for a while. Keenan finally got his CPA certificate in the mail. Chompers and I bonded in a whole new way and now she’s basically my favorite puppy ever.
I got to spend time with my dad on Father’s Day and see my Grandmom too. I survived a vegan diet. My mom and Nonnie moved out to the country with my sister. Syra, my Nonnie’s puppy dog passed away. It was a chaotic few months, but then things started to look up.
August & September… Um, let’s just jump to seeing the Beauty & The Beast ballet with some pretty amazing friends. That and the fact that Jenilee’s tumor was shrinking was just about the only good parts of these 2 months. I was SUPER excited to see that my Nonnie had made it to her 77th birthday! The in-loves came to visit too. I love seeing them.
October was pretty boring. Nothing much happening around here that month.
November was a rough one. We lost my dear Nonnie on the 17th. Jenilee was up to 5 chemo treatments! I was well on my way to start the process to my gastric sleeve surgery.
My sister and mother helped me with a maternity shoot for Meg. (Yes, that’s my sister’s dog’s name. No, I’m not joking.) Meggers finally had those precious puppies! They came as a welcome distraction from all the other terrible things that were going on around me. I did my civic duty and voted as well and enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal with my dad and his side of the family.
December. We had my Nonnie’s “Celebration Of Life” to kick off this month. Keenan got sleeved on the 11th. I went to the Nutcracker ballet and it was easily the most magical night of the year. All 4 Christmas gatherings were completed before New Year’s Eve. (Guys, this never happens.) It was wonderful! Jen completed one type of chemotherapy and will be starting a new type next week.
All in all, 2017 provided me with lots of love, loss, passion, friends, & family. I’m grateful for the people who have stuck beside me through this roller coaster of a year. Here’s to hoping 2018 will be able to top this one off.
Happy New Years guys!
Project: Life 