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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