Written by Melissa
I normally insert a page-long (if not longer) letter with my Christmas cards every season. I typically write about our family events of the year. However, with this year's card including our blog address so prominently, I decided to save a few trees and just include my "insert" here as a post. Hope you don't mind - just being environmentally-friendly.
At the top of 2013, my family embarked on a new year... and a new life. We had
transitioned into The A Team and we were all still pretty confused about what had just happened - and, more importantly, what was to come. Thankfully,
Jim, Heather, Andrew, and I worked hard and steady very early to make the vision of
our new family a reality. Here now at the end of the year, I can assure you, I have an amazing family of 6... and I LOVE it! But, let me not get ahead of myself too quickly.
January was a month of newness for us all. We had a bit of a struggle with Asa adjusting to his new normal. Well, each of us struggled, really. But we enlisted the help friends, family, and professionals, and they have ALL helped us through the tougher moments in the beginning
and throughout the year. We are ever so grateful for all of your warmth and love for our family. We keep each of you (you know who you are) very close to our hearts!
Ariana grew strong in her new loving home - also adjusting to the newness of, well, the world! Even
bananas were new to her! :-) In March, Nana and I took a weekend trip to see Ariana. It was a wonderful visit. It was such a joy to see her
smile! Then, Easter came at the end of the month and we all gathered at our home to enjoy an amazing
egg hunt with
tons of family and friends.
May brought on Mother's Day. Maybe one of the harder days of my year, but also a precious one. I had started by this time to accept my life as it was - and even relax in it. Still, while my head had learned to sit better with our new family life, my heart was still broken. I kept hoping I had done (and was doing) the best I could for both my kids. Well,
spending the day with both of them reassured me of that. I know they are bonded as only siblings can be. And I know they are individually growing in the best environments with all the love and support I could hope for each of them. And I am so thankful to have shared the day with Heather. She is an amazing Mom and deserves the joy of motherhood - not to mention, she makes it look good!!!
In June, another bitterSWEET day took place -
Ariana's official adoption day. It was a day of both tears and laughter. One that only a mother - both by birth and by choice - can fully appreciate as one of the most precious days in her lifetime. Certainly, a day I never thought I'd ever see, but a day I will never forget --- and never regret. It will forever be one of my most memorable days on this earth. Again, to have been there as a unit, as
The A Team, was both amazing and trailblazing... we even had the judge confused about our unique and extended family. But it didn't matter. What did matter and still does matter the most is the love that surrounds Asa and Ariana. It's irreplicable.
July brought on a new role in my life - as a
CASA volunteer. I've since taken on a case with a young lady that I am proud to report is doing very well despite her trials and tribulations in her short existence. It's been quite fascinating to hear her story and to see the steps she's taken in the aftermath of her own trauma. Makes me take a deep breath and realize that we all have a story. It's how we LIVE with those stories that makes us who we REALLY are.
August was a fantastically busy month.
Ariana turned 1, if you can believe that!! I can't! We all celebrated with a room full of family and friends and presents, lots of presents. It was so easy to see all the love for Ari. I am so grateful for the village that has been built to support her as she grows - and
she is growing! There's no stopping that.
Asa began PreK - yet another milestone I can't believe! He started in a new school this year and he's had tremendous progress in his learning there. The teachers are incredible with him - they are teaching him a great deal, but loving on him just as much. He's met some new friends, but kept the old. Asa truly has a wonderful spirit and amazes me daily with his big heart.
Asa's another one that keeps growing -
the boy turned 5 in October! Pretty sure he's tall enough for Space Mountain at Walt Disney World - and we'll be testing that out this month! Woohoo... but shhhhh - he doesn't know we're going. :-)
November brought on the amazing race! Heather finished in
record time!!! Hey - it was her first marathon... it's a record for her! But, we all really finished marathons of our own. Jim and Heather
celebrated one full year as parents - and Andrew and I
closed the first chapter (and
look forward to the next) in our role in
The A Team. And I can't fail to mention the
$10K that was raced for PRISMS in honor of Ariana and our family, our team, our marathons!
And now we're here - in the present - in the now, as they say. A place we like to live daily. A place that is starting to feel comfortable again. Normalcy. Woe! Who would've thunk it?! We all made it through the year together. And though there may have been some lows, Asa reminded us just recently that
it's alright to cry... crying gets the sad OUT of you... it's alright to cry... it's gonna make you feel BETTER! And after the tears dried, we also had some very high highs. I feel so lucky to be a part of this new normal. So blessed to know and to LOVE Jim and Heather (and all the family that comes with them, too!).
Finally, we're incredibly glad to announce that the 6 of us are now living in the SAME state!!! How cool?! It was certainly a hope and part of the vision of our family last year, but now a reality. Just a little over a half hour drive from each other now, we have a new year to look forward to all sorts of time together - helping each other, supporting each other, growing together, and loving one another.
What a year! And to many, many more...
Merry Christmas to all --- and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
(
Click here if you'd like to take a look at our 2013 family pics!)
