Today marks the last day of the year of 2016-a somewhat sad yet occasionally beautiful year of 366 days. It's been said that "If you change nothing, Nothing will change".
The year began with a fun entrance celebrated with close friends. We had a wonderful celebratory meal followed by a movie. Three days into the new year, one of those dear friends suffered a stroke. The month of January continued on an unsteady course of my sibling and I making a hard decision to put our parents in a care facility. We both knew that we had kept them in their home to the point they were no longer safe and able to care for one another.
The Ides of March blew in an opportunity to visit my daughter in Virginia to pick out her dream of a wedding dress. We went to a bridal shop near her as an introduction to the whole "Say Yes to THE Dress" process. No matter how we tried to trick her choices, Cares kept going back to her favorite. When the bridal assistant put the veil on her head, tears rolled down her cheeks. Eureka!!
That awesome visit turned sour two days later when I received a call that my mother was not doing well and was being transported to a hospital in Kansas City. When my girlfriend picked me up from the airport we headed to the hospital. While mother was on oxygen, she seemed to be holding her own. Yet two days later she was struggling and incoherent. Intervention of a respirator and feeding tube did not bring positive results. Mother was very fragile and frail. On March 28, 2016 Ruth Barbara Howerton passed into eternal rest and peace. I look forward to meeting her at Jesus' feet,
May flowers brought news that my daughter's finance was going to be deployed in October, the month of their planned wedding in Virginia. While my daughter was devastated on multiple levels, she faced this challenge in her life head on, realizing that God had greater plans for her and Aaron,
"For I know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jerimiah 28:11. We saw God's hand on the planning and the event - a ceremony of love and fellowship with family and friends.
June brought sunshine in many forms - friends gathering at the Wine Song Fest, winery tours, live music concert provided by Keith Urban, pool party and meeting a special man that turned my life in a new direction. In between the happy events were the continued responsibilities of handling my parents estate and finances. God continued to provide the necessary wisdom and strength and a bevy of emotional support by family and friends.
The fall brought more changes into my life - the loss of my beloved Uncle Ed - he filled in the gaps and gullies that can surface in a father/daughter relationship. He never failed to provide a guiding light in my life in the interactions and decisions concerning my parents. He always told me he loved me and prayed for me for wisdom. I know that he is at peace with his own battle with cancer and other multiple health issues. I am so thankful for his influence on my life. And the fall also brought the promise of a committed relationship into my life.
The year ended with me relocating my home and my job. Lots of challenges and changes, but lots of cherished personal beautiful moments - my daughter marrying the love of her life, hearing my dad sing his favorite Christmas songs and welcoming the new year with hope and much love.
