Bringing Home Charlie Brown

I've seen a lot of comparisons on Facebook lately about "what a difference a year makes." Looking at pictures from last Christmas to this Christmas  I agree are very very different. One less family member present, more wrinkles and gray hair, more sadness in the eyes.  A huge change for our 8 year old. Last year at this time we were still adjusting to the new addition to our family. She was still adjusting to us. This year in Christmas pictures she is bright eyed, full of life, and ready to take on the world. Last year she was a hot mess! Crazy hair, scared eyes, tired smile, ready to run away and hide from this new life. There was a certain timidness that has all but disappeared.  We've made a lot of progress, in a lot of areas, but have a lot of progress yet to make. In many ways a year makes all the difference, and yet there is no change at all.We are still in the same boat we were in last year. No forward, no back, no major changes of any kind for her life plan....

I hate running. I have always hated running. I am NOT a runner. I will walk for miles, walk very quickly even, but running has never been my "thing." We bought a treadmill in the early part of 2015 and while it was cold we used it religiously. Then life got crazy. It sat in my living room taking up space. I wanted more space there and a less cluttered space, so it moved to the dining room. It has now been used for two weeks straight. The nice thing about the dining room is that no one is interrupted when using the treadmill there. People can still watch TV and play in the living room with out the annoying buzz of the treadmill. I've always loved the idea of being a runner. The ability to pop in headphones and just go for miles on your own, pounding the pavement, alone with your thoughts. This takes WORK. For someone who has NEVER been good at running I looked for the most basic running program available. Walk five minutes, run 1 minute, walk three, repeat five times. Th...

I haven't written lately because my blog has been set to private. There are many reasons for that, but ultimately it was to protect ourselves while we battled through court. What a long and sorrowful battle it was. I'm not ready to write "that post." You know, the one that details the last 6 months of our lives. I can't do it yet. However, I do know that writing is therapeutic for me, and it's something I enjoy doing.  We are a week from Christmas break here at school, and boy am I ready for a time of rest! For my mind, my body, but most importantly, my spirit. Christmas break is a good time for that. Shorter days, longer nights, colder weather that keeps us inside, all conducive for a good rest. I am looking forward to catching up on Sleepy Hollow, Once Upon a Time, and Quantico.   Our lives have been a whirlwind of pain, grief, and emotions. I can't even begin to describe the process this has been. We are still in the middle of it, and do not see the e...