2011 has taken my family on a journey which I never thought possible. The year started just as any other year then as you know, my wife of 9 years was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer in March at the young age of 34. Time stood still and our family was put on hold for almost 9 months exactly. She just finished up her last radiation treatment last week. She has taught me how to be a hero for my children when faced with adversity and obstacles. Over the course of her treatment, I never really heard her complain. First the chemo, then the surgery, then the radiation which blistered her... all without a single major complaint. Amazing I say!
This Christmas, as you can guess, is quite an emotional one for our family - at least for this fellow. It's all about perspective for me. I know that God didn't cause my wife to get cancer. I am a firm believer He will use this experience and turn it into a good purpose as stated in the scripture. Perhaps, He has already done it. Christmas never has been about the toys and gadgets with the blinky blippy lights; however, this time around, the message of Christmas has never been more out in the open. I am a blessed man. What a ride it has been over the last two years. If you follow the blog, it seems that these boulders have been pushed into our little pond causing tsunamis to keep us just rolling and drifting. God has seen us through every challenge life has put into our paths. Faith remains unshaken.
This year we're just kind of scaling back in everything from decorations, to parties, to even presents. We are enjoying looking at all of the lights on the houses with our children. They are getting old enough to really have fun looking at them and we never know where our journey will take us as we drive around. They even get the jokes that Daddy makes about some of the horrible lighting we find where it looks like the home owners just opened their front doors and pitched a clump of lights out onto a solitary bush. $500,000 home, $4.99 worth of lights. I'm not saying to Grizwald your house, but as my father says, "go all in" in whatever you do. In the end, the only light that matters is what we let shine through this dark and decaying world. I pray that my family's little light shines as bright as it can to all around us. We love you and thank you all for your support over the past two years, especially 2011.
I am lucky enough to live in the town where I was born in 1971. I lived in Georgia and Louisiana (GEAUX TIGERS/SAINTS) for about 13 years then moved back here after high school. After college, I traveled around the country for a few years for work then quit and moved back home. This little town hasn't changed that much over the years. The mall is still humble and we all wonder how it stays open. There are very few traffic lights compared to other cities. My children play at the parks that I remember playing at as a young boy. Dubbs restaurant is still open and busy as usual and the bowling alley on the highway is still open and thriving even after the newer more high-tech place folded and went out of business.
The postman still smiles and says "your girls are growing up so fast - they are all cute." The garbage man leaves a Christmas card on his last pickup before Christmas. Subdivisions backup to farm land and I can show my youngest daughter the simple things in life. Did you know that when it's frosty cold, you can see a cow pass gas? This morning I got to call a donkey over to the fence and he brayed really loud at us. The look on my daughter's face really summed things up - amazement and shock as she said "Daddy - that was so cool!"
We do have two Wal Marts in the twin cities here. They are building a new digital theater. The mall is growing. We have Starbucks (of course) and more restaurants per capita than any other place on Earth it seems. Two lane roads are becoming four lane roads and I hardly recognize the hospital where my wife and I and our kids were born. People are texting at dinner or just bringing tablet computers into the restaurants with them to watch the news or whatever. Progress happens but I'm proud of this little town. Football on Friday nights is still a big thing and our neighbors wave as we go out to get the mail or say "hi" at the local grocery.
Driving around on a cold fall night looking at Christmas lights may seem like a simple thing to some of you - but in this crazy world in which we live, it is nice to have simple anchors which keep young families together and to cling to traditions when society says "that is so 10 minutes ago." Life can throw things at you for which you do not and can not plan. These simple things given to us to enjoy by God keep us upright during a storm.
May you find peace and happiness this holiday season. If you are going through your own trials, I can say that if God lets you go through a trial, He will surely see you through. Cling tightly to your loved ones and just watch them over the next few weeks. Take everything in. Slow down. Build memories without rushing time. Let your kids have pillow fights and jump on the couch. Let that last load of laundry slide a day or two. Leave work at work. Have a lazy Saturday. Breathe. Celebrate. Love.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
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