Monday, January 6, 2014

2013 comes to a close....Goodbye, hello???




Goodbye year 2013, you've been an interesting twelve months but we have to move on to a brand new year now, filled with possibilities and challenges.

The year has come to a close and I realized that I haven't been here in over a month, almost two now and sadly I haven't visited you much in that time.  I guess I should make a resolution now to be better about visiting.......I resolve to try, how's that?  But I do not resolve to use prepositions right......I just can't fight that fight this year.  

Several posts were started about me and the Superhero taking our annual Christmas card photo, but time just seemed to get away.  Then I was going to post about our grandson's first birthday, but time just kept on trooping along, things getting in the way and suddenly it was Thanksgiving and I was going to post about our family get together.   

And then....... well then we got the news that changed our whole way of thinking........our whole family's way of life.......my precious sister had a suspicious mammogram, then a biopsy then the news with that word no one wants to hear.....cancer.  Quite frankly, we were all shocked and terrified.  There were uncertainties that had to be determined and we started praying and asking others to pray.  We started seeing answers to prayer all around and in each situation.  God moved and the Christmas miracle for 2013 was that the cancer was not in any other part of her body!  

Several of us went over for the results of the PET scan and praised God as the doctor gave us the good/bad news.....she did indeed have breast cancer but it hadn't spread to any other site in her body.  Afterwards, drained but a bit relieved, we went to Cathy's favorite place to eat and this is what the waitress wrote on her receipt.  



If I have learned one thing from blogging, it is that prayer spreads around the world at a rapid pace and that God hears the prayers of His people.  So let me just assure you now that every prayer is appreciated!  Please add my sister to your personal prayer list and your church prayer chain.


And the treatment began.....


This week will be the fourth treatment with twenty to go, then surgery.  We firmly grasp hold to the belief that she will be completely healed and well at the end of this journey.  But a journey it is and as journeys often are, it isn't an easy one......there are days of tears and uncertainties and fears......  but we have a sovereign God and know that He is in control and that comforts!

Funny how time passes no matter what is going on in our lives and 2013 has gone and 2014 is here holding it's secrets and seasons for us to discover along the way.

Just a few things that happened in 2013 in pictures....and in no particular order.....

Grandson #1 came to visit

Granddaughter #1 came too, but this year they came at different times so we got to have one on one time with both


Grandson Charley came to visit while "Dashley" was here and had a good time with her

Son, David and his wife Arwen became grandparents on the first day of 2013


Another grandson came to live in Florida this year

An old friend, almost son, got married


The Superhero's mom had knee replacement surgery and we spent a few days in the hospital


Got together with some old, young friends


Said goodbye to some friends who moved 


Great grandson came to visit


Grandson # 2Charley got a new baby brother....grandson #3 and spent part of 2013 deciding to let him stay..... 


and then becoming best friends for life


I got a new car


Got to see these almost daughters and their children for a few short hours


Not nearly enough of this

Mama turned 90 and all her children were with her on her birthday

We added to our family.....welcome to Andrew and all his family......Andrew and niece Christina got married at midnight on the last day of 2013


The Superhero and I did self portraits again this year and some of them weren't suitable for printing, but some were ok


Trying to keep God's Word hidden in our hearts and living in our lives


Granddaughter #2 and her husband and baby came to visit


Sweet friends visited


We gained a new Ugandan son


A good friend got married.....what a celebration


Another couple of friends got married

Of course, that's not nearly all that happened in 2013, but if I wrote it all down you might want to have me committed!  

It was a good year, it was a sad year, it was a year of ups and downs.  It's over and now ready or not, here we are 2014!

I hope it's a good year for all of us here in the blog world.  

13 comments:

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

My goodness, you had a busy year! No wonder you weren't able to blog often.

I'm praying for your sister.

debi said...

Sweet friend I have missed you! I was worried that something was up...I think that way. I can assure you, I will be praying for your sister and for those that love her, and will get her name on our list at church.
Goodness what a busy year, but what wonderful blessings in all that family!
Keep us posted...prayers going up.

Hugs to you! xo

Deb said...

prayers for your sister..you have a great looking family...you can see the love in the photos...Happy 2014

Needled Mom said...

What a year it was, Nancy! I will definitely be keeping your dear sister in my prayers. I am thrilled with the positive news of no other sites involved. I hope 2014 will be a wonderful year in your life.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

What a busy year! You have a beautiful family, Nancy. Praying for your sister.

Diane said...

What a very scary experience for your sister, I pray her treatment goes by quickly for her and a full recovery.

You have been a busy girl in this past year. Hope 2014 is just as busy and good for you. Happy New Year my friend. Hugs, Diane

Rebecca Jo said...

Good catching up!!!
Will totally pray for your sister!!!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Thank you for getting us all caught up. I miss you blogging but I see you on Facebook when I go on, which isn't often but once or twice a day I check things out. Keeping your sister in my prayers and I'm so glad it hasn't spread anywhere else.
((HUGS)) Love all the family photos and all the company you had.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Also love the new car and Happy 90th Birthday to your mom!

Nonnie said...

My goodness!!!
Did you keep notes on all these happenings as they were happening? I have missed you and wondered what was going on. Now it's plain to see. You were a busy bee.
I'm sorry to hear about your sister and glad she has such great support.
Congratulations on the new changes in your family and the new car and happy birthday to your Mom. Hope to see you more often this year. (But I'm with you - haven't been posting for a while.)

Cathy said...

Thank you so much for that sweet post! I appreciate all the prayers more than I can say! I feel them and have already had many prayers answered! I am a very lucky girl to have so many supportive family and friends to help me navigate this journey!

Dee said...

Dear Nancy, I've been away from blogging myself for several weeks, but I'm glad that I returned yesterday and today as I've now read your posting and learned of your sister's breast cancer. I will, of course, see her surrounded by healing white light that will ooze through her body and blood stream and bring with it, I trust, the courage she needs to face this and the healing she needs also. Peace.

Justabeachkat said...

What a post! Reading it all reminds me that life is full of so many blessings and sometimes bad/scary things, but through it all family and friends and our God help us make it through.

I'm so glad to be blogging again. I hope you will too.

Praying for Cathy every night!

Big hugs,
Kat