The happy, heart-warming season of Christmas is over. The family has gone home, the decorations are put back in their boxes, the calendar pages are turned, vacations are ending, and routine (often boring & stressful) is back. I see what has been neglected through December: the house needs a good scrubbing top to bottom, drawers & closets need to be rehauled, the paper trail is screaming for attention, and the desire to do & be better is urgent. I want to do it all, but I recognize the truth that nothing happens overnight. It makes me sad.
I'm also in mourning today. One of my sweet blogger friends, Kathy Taylor, another Stage 4 melanoma warrior, passed away yesterday at home. Her husband briefly and bravely posted about her death within hours of her passing and said that New Year's Eve would forever be a celebration of her life. His first concern, as he finished the post, was to comfort their sweet little children. I cried to read this news. Kathy held onto life with much hope and faith, and it blessed all of us with the same hope. I am grateful that she has returned Home to our Heavenly Father and is now without the severe pain of cancer, but I mourn for her family and friends.
We also went to our traditional New Year's Day movie today and saw the third installment of "Night at the Museum". I liked the movie a lot, but I was surprised at how emotional I became seeing the late Robin Williams on the big screen. There were several very wonderful scenes between "Teddy Roosevelt" (Robin Williams) and "Larry" (Ben Stiller) that actually made me cry. I miss Robin and his wonderful humor and immense talent. He was a troubled soul, but he devoted his life to lifting others. It makes me cry now to think of him.
On we go. In the coming weeks, we'll be celebrating our baby girl's 18th birthday (what??), and working on applications for financial help with her college plans in the fall (again...WHAT??). I'll also be searching for a job that will fit my "new life" - at least for the next 6 months of no scans or treatments. That scares me, honestly. I just want to write books. I want to be my girl's taxi service because that's where our best conversations happen. I dread dealing with drama, (more) stress, time restraints, exhaustion, etc. But the bills keep coming & lottery tickets are too expensive - ha! I pray that the Lord will guide me in the best direction. He knows where I should be & what I should be doing. He knows the Big Plan. I'll be listening carefully to the whisperings of the Spirit.
Happy New Year. May it be one of kindness, joy, health, love, faith, and hope.
