Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The Annual Christmas Letter

The annual Christmas letter.  Ugh.  Hardest year ever to write a Christmas letter.  Usually I love coming up with some type of creative way to share the tale of our year.  We've had letters written by the dogs, the horses and barnyard animals, poems and one year the 100 moments that made our year.  That one took me a while. But this year was awful.  So awful I put it off until the last minute and have actually decided not to put it in most of the cards.  Just those distant relatives are getting one.  How do you write an upbeat, happy go lucky letter when your year has sure had its ups and downs?  And crazy as it sounds, I almost feel guilty for how happy I am with the changes in my life.  For those of you that just can't wait to hear what our year entailed, feel free to read below for the latest and greatest.  Next year....

Happy Holidays Friends and Family ~
            I hope this time of year finds you all happy, healthy and wise and ready to face 2014 with a smile on your face and a kick in your step.   I know that I have to catch myself from saying that I can’t wait for 2013 to be over and that I don’t ever want to remember it, because that isn’t true.  Looking back and reflecting on our year, just reminds me all the more that there is a plan for all of us and that we aren’t given more than we can handle.
            As many of you know, our Alex (my nephew) was diagnosed with Lymphoma on January 16th.  It has been a year of trials and struggles, watching him fight the disease and the side effects of the chemo.  While his struggle has been painful to watch, it is also inspiring as he and his parents meet each new challenge with determination and courage.  Happily the cancer is in remission, but he will still need a regimen of chemo for the next few years.  Thank you all for your prayers and blessings.  Without all of you, we wouldn’t have made it through. We continue to ask for your thoughts as he continues his fight.
            Of course, 2013 wasn’t through with its trials with Alex.  It will also always be the year that I petitioned for a marriage dissolution and forever changed my family.  Divorce is not an easy decision to make, but when a person makes a commitment to better their lives for the sake of their children and themselves, the choice was obvious.  Again I can’t thank my friends and family enough for standing by me and helping lift me up with a kind thought, word or hug.  It always seems like someone was there just when the days were at their hardest.  As this divorce drags on, the girls and I appreciate each and every one of you more and more.
            With every darkness there is always dawn if you look for it and there were plenty of bright moments throughout our summer.  Libby and Sophie both competed on their ponies throughout the summer, showing in POA, SEMSCA and fair.  Both girls had an amazing year.  Libby was high point over her entire county and placed in every class at the state fair.  Even winning English equitation.  She kept up the English equitation sweep at Champ Show the next weekend and also placed in nearly all  her classes at Champ Show.  We are very proud of her hard work with Rye paying off.  She also worked diligently with Rye’s younger sister, Cutie, and accomplished many personal goals with her young pony.
            Sophie was Novice Grand Champion at the fair and also took Champ Show by storm.  At her first ever Champ Show she was first in western pleasure, second in western horsemanship and placed 6th in a tough group for showmanship.  Sophie has shifted gears from horses and ponies a bit though and is joining new activities such as dance and athletics offered at school.  We are eager to cheer her on now and in the future in whatever activities excite her.
            I accomplished some important running goals this year.  A good friend talked me into running my first half marathon in honor of my nephew, Alex.  It went so well that I ran a second half marathon in August just for me.  Love to run!
            The girls and I are also blessed to have a very special man in our lives in the form of my boyfriend, Ryan.  Boyfriend sounds like such a funny word when you’re pushing the big 4-0, but I guess it is what you call it.  We can’t thank Ryan enough for being a part of our lives and sharing his sweet girls with us.  When we have all 4 girls under one roof it gets to be a lot of “girl power”, but if any man is able to withstand it, I know that Ryan is up to the challenge. 
With the family changes, the girls and I also had a big change in that we moved back to town in Harmony.  We have a great home that my dad is slowly making brand new right across from the high school.  Libby is loving the short walk to school and being able to run home if she forgets something important.  I’m loving the amazing job my dad has done with brand new roof, siding, windows, you name it!  It’s like a brand new house!  Every day I come home to something else being redone and you just never know what the “singing carpenter” has up his sleeve.
Libby wanted to make sure I tell you all about our newest addition.  With moving to town, we had to find homes for our Aussie pups.  We tried turning them into town dogs, and that made their high energy selves miserable.  Peony went home to her former owner and Peanut needed company.  Well, we thought she did, she's not so sure about Miss Pixie Dust, Pixie for short, who is a long haired chihuahua.  She's a little 2 lb ball of sass right now and sure puts a smile on our faces with her antics.  
As I wind down the annual letter, I promise to keep you all in my thoughts, not just this holiday season, but all year through.  May God bless you and keep you.  Happy Holidays from our home to yours~

                                                                        Melissa, Libby and Sophie

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