First of all, Happy New Year!  I know, it’s already February and I’m a little late to the party.  I had all of these great intentions to write a New Year’s post reflecting on 2017 and all that happened and it was going to be laced with hope for 2018.  There just seems to be something about a new year that brings hope.

But for me, 2018 didn’t bring hope.  It brought hard.  Hard relationships, hard days, just hard.  We had a family trip to Disneyland in mid January and that wasn’t hard…that was fun!  It was some much needed “play” for our family.  But back to the hard.

I didn’t intend to “sit” for the remainder of January but when you wear flip flops on a ladder, that could be just what happens.  2 weeks ago I was putting suitcases away in the garage and needed the ladder.  (We have those racks that hang from the garage ceiling…)  So, while Adam’s car was gone, I was just going to do it.  It was a fresh morning – I worked out, ate well, was being productive, for real…It was what a “new year” is all about.  I went to put the suitcases away quickly before I reorganized the files (for real).  Hind sight, I should have just thrown them up and not tried to put them away exactly how we found them.  I also should have put tennis shoes on.  I was just a couple of steps from the top (read: pretty high up there) when my right shoe got hung up as I was coming down, and then I really came down.  Full force, full weight (more than there should be) on my left foot.  Cue, ankle rolling.

The strange thing is, I didn’t cry.  It was definitely painful but I laid there (in the fetal position) thinking I just really messed up my ankle.  I hopped inside and grabbed my phone and some ice, put it up and called Adam.  The rest is full of crutches and X-rays and ice and a really fancy boot. (HA!!!)

This morning I gathered my family in my bathroom and walked (read: shuffled) across the floor without crutches.  My kids were cheering for me, much like I cheered them on when they first learned to walk.  The irony.

My family has been amazing through the whole thing.  The first week, mom was completely sidelined, on the couch, foot looking very similar to “a baby elephant’s foot.”  (Direct quote from Adam.)  Adam made dinner every night, got Reagan to volleyball  3 nights in a row, went to the grocery store, and did most drop offs and pick ups from school.  (Bright side – it is my left and not my right – I can still drive!  And I could watch church online…see!)

Then, Adam left town (for 8 days) and the kids stepped in like champions.  They helped make dinner, did the laundry, cleaned up, did the dishes, everything.  They were seriously amazing.  A new friend (who I feel like I’ve known my whole life) made us dinner and picked up my kids from school every day the week Adam was gone.  My mom came up to help, which was huge!  She made dinner, helped the kids, washed my floors, did some laundry, and we even went to see The Greatest Showman (twice…in three days…SO good…run to see it if you haven’t).  Mom left, Adam came home, cue “normal” life.

So, what have I learned?

First, that your dad was right when he told you to get “real shoes” on before climbing a ladder.

Second, that my family is petty amazing and my kids can do more than I thought.

Third, that transplanting back home was good; family close is a good thing. 🙂

And finally, letting people help is not my strength.  I’ve “prided” myself on being strong and being able to do it on my own.  This isn’t necessarily a good thing.  It started by design…living places where we didn’t have family and didn’t know anyone.  I don’t think it is bad but there comes a time when you do have people and you can count on them.  My “new” friend here told me that at one point in her life she needed help and had some amazing women that stepped in to help her.  Now she gets to do the same for other people.  (And she told me she wouldn’t take no for an answer. HA!)

It does take a village and I’m starting to see my village here, in my new-old home.  God designed us to be in community and he gave each of us strengths and weaknesses, different from each other.  That was on purpose.  He created us that way so that we could come together and compliment each other.

(Ladies, if I may take a minute, she is going to be better than you at certain things.  It just is what it is.  But there are things you can do that she can’t, and you need each other.  As much as it might pain you to admit, you do need each other.  So let’s stop all this comparison crap and just be there for each other and love one another and work together.  There is nothing more beautiful than the body working together, not against one another.  Can you imagine what it would be like if we modeled this for our daughters?  I think the “mean girl” would be come extinct.  Just a thought…)

Lastly, just because 2018 started “hard” and not the way I wanted, doesn’t mean the rest of the year is going that way.  I know that God has purpose in all of this.  It has brought up tears and prayers and hard conversations but all of it has been good.  He still speaks, friends.  Even when I’ve jacked everything up and tried to do it on my own, He is still there waiting for me and when I listen closely, I can hear some sweet words meant just for me.

So, here’s to 2018 and hope and healing and our villages.  Here’s to the highs and the lows, the easy and the hard, the despair and the hope.  And here’s to the whispers I am praying that you hear.  May 2018 be a year of growth and joy for you.  (And may you have your tennis shoes laced tight before you step on a ladder!)  Cheers!!