2014 was a great year for our family. It didn’t start out well at all, but turned around rather quickly with a lot of self-awareness on Hottie’s and my parts, lots of hard work, and heaps of forgiveness. Basically, I feel like we grew into each other and our life as a family of four this year.

Having small children is a challenge. We started the year with a 2.5 year old and a 6 month old – meaning that our oldest was always being put on hold for naps, nursing, etc. and our focus on one another was, well, pretty non-existent. We started 2014 in survival mode, and there’s truly no other way to describe it. No one was sleeping (except Matthew) and fuses were short. Tempers flared and skins were thin. It was not good. But somehow, the fog lifted and we looked forward, and we found our way as a family of four.

I won’t lie – we made a lot of conscious changes to be better to each other, communicate more openly, and treat each other more as true friends than roommates. We talked about learning to forgive each other effectively, but also efficiently. I lived with the mantra that I will forgive for the things I’d like to be forgiven for if it was the other way around. I shared that viewpoint and Hottie agreed that was a good way to think about forgiveness. We grew, we reconnected, and we ended up in a very, VERY happy place. We ended the year with Hottie taking the two weeks off between Christmas and new years like he did last year, but I enjoyed having him home every minute this year as opposed to last year when I felt suffocated and invaded.

Yeah… Hottie and I had a great 2014! We’re best friends who are in love!

The kids had a great year! Matthews speech is great, Bryson is such a big kid, school is going great, and both kids are just so happy and good to each other. We are very happy parents!

And me… This was my year to get back to my normal self. The me before IF ruined me, mind and body. And I hit it hard. I took myself and my goals seriously and found great success all around. I am stronger than I’ve ever been, I’m healthier than I’ve ever been, and I’m happier than I’ve been since meeting my soul mate 7.5 years ago. I know I’m riding on a high here, but I’m cool with that. Being this happy feels damn good!

There’s no “good riddance to 2014” from this gal. There’s nothing but gratitude and appreciation for a fantastic year of countless highs, a few lows (I still miss my Lily cat beyond even my own comprehension) that taught us a lot, and health and happiness for us all.

Thank you, 2014 – you did right by us!

(2015, please don’t kick us in the teeth to balance us out!)