What I Learned in 2011

I have spent the last few days reflecting on 2011 and the things I have learned (or was reminded about) over the last year.  Some lessons were easy and some well, not so easy. 


Here are some of the things I have been thinking about:


~  I love my husband even more today than I did the day we got married.  We have been through some difficult times and he is always by my side with his arm around me protecting me.


~  It doesn't matter that it has been almost two years since my Mom passed away, I still miss her as much today as I did the day she left us.


~  It doesn't matter that it has been four years, one week and four days since we lost our baby boy, my arms still ache to hold him.


~  I still wonder what our little boy would be doing, what he would look like, what kind of relationship he and Mr. Giggles would have and so many other things.


~  Those who love you the most can also be the ones to hurt those you love the most.


~ Even the most solid of friendships can be shaken and sometimes all you can do is pray that you eventually find your way back to each other.


~  I won't ever have the relationship with my sisters that they have with each other.  They have a very close relationship and yes, I do envy them because of it but I am going to work on not letting it bother me (too much anyway).

~  When you are our age and you don't have kids. . . . . . .you don't really fit in with those who have kids.

~  My Dad does a really good job at trying to do things the way my Mom did but things will never be the same and sometimes that is really hard to deal with.

~  I love my Dad more than I ever thought possible.

~  Second graders have a crazy ability to talk and talk and talk!

~  Even though this has been a tough school year, I love teaching and never once thought that teaching is not what I am supposed to do.  No matter how bad the day before was, I never dreaded getting up and going to school.

~  I am making a difference for my students. . . . and that makes me smile.

~  I have the greatest nephew and niece. . . .they are loving, caring and so much fun to be with.  I love them both more than they will ever know.

~  And that the love of my Dad's puppy is unconditional. . . .he loves us all but he really loves my Dad! 


And now I would like to introduce you to Cooper (my Dad's puppy).  This was in November when he was around 9 weeks old.  He is much bigger now!  We all love Cooper very much!!  My Mom would love Cooper too.  And Cooper loves to tear up anything he can get to in the backyard!  Oh, and he loves my Dad (and the rest of us too)!