28.

I have survived 28 trips around the sun. A huge blessing many don't get to see. But, damn, what a trip number 28 was.

It is no secret 2020 was a tough one for just about every human on the planet; some more-so for others, some much less. Pandemic aside, this year has been a very difficult year for our family of 5.

From our CHD baby being deemed failure to thrive and near heart failure, to time off work, to withstanding the worst storm we will probably ever see in our lives resulting in our roof caving in, and a lupus diagnosis, this is a hard year to faint from memory.

That all being said, one constant that never faltered was our willingness to cling to God and stay connected as a family. This year tested Dustin and my's marriage in ways many couples never see in an entire lifetime.

And I am grateful for that.

The lessons learned this year will last a lifetime and our family is stronger, more grounded, and simplified because of them.

I am hyperaware I‘m aging another year today. Maybe because the year went the way it did. Or maybe it’s just what happens with age.

Regardless, I very much recognize another year is gone. I’m a little older, a little grayer, and a little slower. But overall, I‘m happier.

Blessings to you and yours on this holiday,

Samantha