It is now February 2015 and I find myself reflecting on 2014. Everybody does this in December/January, so I waited until February for effect. (I like living life on the edge that sort of way!)
Because 2014 was such an event-filled year, I am breaking it down into multiple posts to save your eyes and maybe to entice you to keep coming back for more.
The year started out the way the past couple of January's have. The 5th marked two years since the sudden passing of my younger brother, Jeff. I can honestly say that I found myself missing him more than I thought I would be two years later. So many times I thought of something that would be funny between the two of us, picked up the phone to text him, only to remember that he's no longer here. It doesn't happen as often as it did at first, but the times that it does makes me miss him all the more!
Three days later, on the 8th of January, I celebrated my 45th birthday. My mood has been different than before Jeff died, as we buried him on my birthday in 2012. Birthdays were always a huge deal to me, a day of guaranteed happy, but because of the reminder, I'd grown to dread mine. Thankfully, I've been blessed with wonderful friends that continue to love me through, and sometimes in spite of, the grief.
One friendship was totally put to the test as I was 8 days into a 21 day juice only time of prayer and fasting. Instead of going out for a big birthday dinner, she treated me to an outing at a juice bar and movie instead. She was obviously not a fan of the juice, but the night could not have been more special. That beautiful example of love and sacrifice to honor me and to help me celebrate my special day went down in the remember forever files for sure!
Such a beautiful reminder of the &'s in my life!!!
I can grieve & have fun & be loved on by beautiful friends!
Midway through January, I met with a real estate agent to begin the search for a house to buy. I had been on my own for almost a year and decided it was time to put down some roots. What a humbling experience! The wanter inside of me so hoped to buy a house in the southwest Austin area. This is where so many of my wonderful friends lived, it was close to my church home, etc., but I soon realized that my budget wasn't even large enough for places that looked like former crack houses! The wanter inside was so sad and may have even stomped her feet in frustration. Thankfully, another precious friend and her family, by default, took on the "find Darla a decent / cute / affordable home" project. Between their finds and my agent's, I looked at a plethora of houses in a very short amount of time. At one point, I had to start taking pictures to keep them all from becoming one continual house! We discussed updates, possible remodels, location, listened to the voice of reason (aka my friend's husband) and went out again and again and all while I continued to put in 40+ hours at work.
I put in offers on a few, but with the housing market being at an all time high, there were multiple offers or mine was at an all time low with no room for change. Finally, after a family drive to Hays county for project "find Darla a home", I got a call that they had found a house that I needed to follow up on. Even though it was about as far from southwest Austin as I could have imagined, Kyle, it was a great and cute house and within my budget. I put an offer in and it was accepted. Soon, I was given a closing date of February 21st. Woohoo! I shared the exciting news with my parents and my mom was totally thrilled. (She was not a huge fan of me living in an apartment because she said it wasn't safe as all rapes and killings happen in apartments! - only my sweet constantly worry-filled momma!!! ha-ha!) I was going to have a home of my own.
I put in offers on a few, but with the housing market being at an all time high, there were multiple offers or mine was at an all time low with no room for change. Finally, after a family drive to Hays county for project "find Darla a home", I got a call that they had found a house that I needed to follow up on. Even though it was about as far from southwest Austin as I could have imagined, Kyle, it was a great and cute house and within my budget. I put an offer in and it was accepted. Soon, I was given a closing date of February 21st. Woohoo! I shared the exciting news with my parents and my mom was totally thrilled. (She was not a huge fan of me living in an apartment because she said it wasn't safe as all rapes and killings happen in apartments! - only my sweet constantly worry-filled momma!!! ha-ha!) I was going to have a home of my own.
Momma, I'm a big girl now!
Another reminder of the &'s in my life!!!
I can be disappointed - even stomp my feet & continue to move forward & be loved on by beautiful friends!
So, here's my question for today:
What are some of the "&"'s in your life?
To be continued...
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