I’ve been so blessed to have all three of my sisters and their families under one roof. Two of my sisters live far away – one in NY and the other in NC – so this happens maybe twice a year, if we are lucky. It was completely wonderful and completely chaotic all at the same time. There are 10 grandchildren in my family, the oldest being 14 years old and the youngest are 11 months old (two baby boys, just 9 days apart!). Everyone is unique and fun and sweet and just absolutely wonderful and I am so blessed to be a part of this family.
The time went by too quickly and now I feel sad because one of my sisters already left and the other is still here but she and her family all came down with the nasty stomach virus we had on Christmas Day … so we didn’t exactly get to spend quality time together today. It really is a major bummer and I’m sad about it. I hope tomorrow they feel better so we can spend a little more time together before they have to head home.
My running has been really nice this week. On Monday I went for a solo run on my favorite paths right in my back yard. 7 beautiful, hilly miles. I did the same run on Tuesday with my buddy Chris. A wonderful way to start the day.
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| a sunrise hill, right in my back yard |
I took yesterday as a rest day and this morning Jodi and I went to the track before sunrise for our weekly workout. It was cold and dark when we got there, but we got the work done and were invigorated by the time we got back in the car. Oh so worth it.
My husband is taking this whole week off from work, and I am so grateful for that. We are enjoying being together just hanging around the house, playing outside, visiting with family. Taking the time to be grateful for one another and for all of the blessings in our life. There are so many.
I’m finding myself reflecting a lot on all that we were blessed with in 2011, and I’m overwhelmed just thinking about it. The other night Robert put on a slideshow of all our 2011 pictures and I just stared at it and noticed tears were trickling down my cheeks. I wasn’t sad, really, just so grateful and amazed. Grateful for a beautiful family, for our health and for all the love and laughter that happens here. Amazed at how my children have changed soooo much in just 12 little months. I’m so proud of them for the people they are becoming – so very very very proud – and I also just want to slow time down because it is going too fast for me. I don’t want to miss a thing. I want to bottle it all up and hang on tight to it, to all of these precious moments to the giggles and the sounds, the hugs and the snuggles.
I want to use these next few days, the last of a really truly incredible year, to reflect and be thankful. And then I want to move forward and greet the new year ahead with open arms and a big happy heart.
