I am who I am because of 2010

"We Meet today
To thank Thee for the era done,
And Thee for the opening one."
~John Greenleaf Whittier

What has 2010 brought me? What can I be thankful for regarding this past year? Well, first off, I can be thankful it happened. I know that I, personally, often wonder why things happen to me....and what did I do wrong to have all of this stuff go on in my life? And when I look back on that train of thought...I often feel very selfish. I know that things have been tough....even very tough, but I know that I'm not the only one going through tough times. It's extremely obvious to me how many are out there...even out of our community....that deal with things on a daily basis that make them question whether or not to go on. Yet, they do.... Many do. They do because I think people honestly believe that there have to be better days ahead. I think there is a real power in the belief of hope. And hope can exist on very different levels. I can hope that the Wisconsin Badgers win the Rose Bowl, but I can also hope that someday I will hold my very own baby on Earth. The first one seems so simple compared to the second one. Yet, they are still "hopes." They are still wishes for the future. And they are wishes that would not exist had 2010 never happened. So, I am thankful for 2010, despite how difficult it has been. And I know that without it I wouldn't be where I am today. I know that 2010 has changed me. And as my favorite song says, "I have been changed for good."

Here is my top 10 list that has made 2010 memorable (some good, some not so good):
1. Starting my blog...meeting all of you.
2. Support groups and Miles of Hope for Moms that Mourn (thank you so much to my IRL friends)
3. Duke winning the national championship and the Badgers winning the Big 10
4. Moving to Madison
5. Being offered a job...then turning it down
6. Grams in ICU on Christmas....entire family shows up to be there for her and each other.
7. Kennedy's gravestone being put in...gave me a "place" to go to talk to her.
8. Celebrating Kennedy's life and sharing her story with my friends, family and the world.
9. Trip to Chicago
10. Love and support from people that I didn't expect it from.


Goodbye 2010....thank you for the memories both good and bad that made me who I am today. This is a person I am proud to be. Hello 2011, may you surprise me (hopefully with more good) with all that you can offer. I hope the same for all of you. Many happy wishes....and a hope for wonderful days ahead.

Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all.
Emily Dickinson