This Is The Year

It's been almost a year since I first posted here about Ambria and her struggle with Post Concussion Syndrome .  At that time Ambria had already been suffering for a year, and I was at the end of my rope.  To quickly recap, Ambria came home from a church dance with a debilitating Migraine one day in late February of 2015.  And it didn't go away.  For months.  She couldn't go to school, or church, or out with friends. Life sort of came to a stand still for her.  She spent most of her days sleeping, and when she wasn't asleep she was like a zombie and in so much pain.  She was eventually diagnosed with Post Concussion Syndrome.  She'd suffered multiple sports concussions from playing soccer.  She was just supposed to try and treat the pain while waiting for her brain to start working properly again. We had many doctor's visits, tests, dietary changes, different perscriptions, so many things to try and help with the pain.  Nothing hel...

Detroit, Michigan.  That's where my boy will be serving for the next 2 years.  Perhaps he won't be right in the city the whole time. Perhaps he won't spend any time in the city at all.  But the Michigan, Detroit mission is where he has been called to serve. I don't think it has completely hit me yet.  It's not really possible to comprehend the reality of Kaden being 1,600 miles away for 2 solid years with only written contact except for the 2 times a year he will be able to call/skype home.  Like, I literally can't imagine what it will be like or how it will feel.  I'm sure it's going to be hard at times, that I'll miss him like crazy and just want to hear his voice.  We've always had a close relationship and we talk about anything and everything.  It's hard to imagine only speaking in person 4 times over the next two years. But there is absolutely no place I'd rather have him be, and nothing else I'd rather have him doing than ...

Well here we are.  2016 is a thing of the past.  And what a year it was for our family.  In 2016, we finally saw some light at the end of the tunnel for Ambria's suffering with Post Concussion Syndrome.  MaiLee became a teenager and Brielle entered double digits.  Hollyn changed from toddler to little kid and her spunk keeps growing as well!  And Kaden - Kaden leaves in 35 days to serve the people of Michigan for 2 years. He will be serving in the Michigan, Detroit mission and we are excited/proud/sad to see him go/excited to see what he accomplishes, and every other emotion in between! I feel so ready to let go of 2016.  I think it holds the record for most tears shed by this mom!  Yet when I look back on everything that has gone on this past year, I see that I have so very much to be grateful for.  And I am ready to find the JOY in 2017. I'm not sure why I've had such a hard time finding it. The joy in life, I mean.  Just tired and...