Guilty for loving 2016

These days I'm feeling guilty.  Everyone is posting how they can't wait for 2016 to be over and it's been the year from hell, etc...  and I can understand.  My very best and closest friend had a year I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.  Other friends have struggled with cancer and disease, horrific losses, and a seemingly uphill battle against financial despair and crisis after crisis.  And I feel guilty for sitting over here thinking that 2016 has been the best year of my life.  There have been downs, struggles and everything hasn't been roses- but the struggles have also taught me that I'm stronger than I think, luckier than I ever knew and loved more than I thought possible. So... if you can't stand to hear how awesome it is.. stop listening.  Because I'm going out of 2016 feeling joyous and thankful. 

The year started with me finding my inner strength and freeing myself from a cheating and emotionally crushing relationship with a, for lack of appropriate words for a family blog, not very nice guy.  I could choose to say "poor me", but I'm going with 'lucky me' because I FINALY realized my worth and that I deserved better. And I got free.  And I found out who my true friends are and those who are always there for me no matter what.  

I reconnected with friends and made time to do the things I loved and rebuilt the social life I had lost.

I had a great year of waitressing at the Village- only forgot people's ranch and ice free water a few times and made a few extra bucks.  All with a side of a ton of laughs and some pretty amazing pie, fries and pizza. 

I rode some amazing horses and checked off some bucket list items like; winning a class, qualifying for Champ Show and placing at SEMSCA year end and winning a chair! 

I got China started all by myself AND she far surpassed anything I expected out of her.

Tim bought me my very own Barbie dream horse complete with glowing white mane and tail.  Bonus- he's going to be an amazing western pleasure horse.  

My girls continue to amaze me and are getting so grown up and so mature.  My heart overflows with how proud I am of them.

I sent an amazing group of sixth grade students on to the high school and am so very proud of the tenacity and hard work with my new group! My job makes me smile every single day.  I may never be rich at the bank, but I will always be rich with memories, laughter and proud of my kiddos.

I moved to a beautiful new house in a beautiful city with amazing people.  

I have two fantastic new bonus kids whom I couldn't be more proud of and astounded by every day.

And last, but most important and the driving force behind most of this happiness, I met Tim.  Who I know I have most of my friends convinced he is either a unicorn or some other mythical creature or an alien as no man can be this perfect.  I finally have a man who not only supports me in my faith but actually pushes me to be a better Christian and stronger as a person.  He has taught me that I can face anything but I don't have to face things alone.  He helps me to be more patient, more understanding and kind.  He helps me to feel more proud of myself and like I deserve all the amazing things he has done for the girls and I.  And he gives me enough shit and teases me enough to keep it all fun.   

So no matter the crap that 2016 has tried to throw at me, no matter the struggles, I'm still pretty excited about how my year went and pretty pumped for 2017.