So Christmas before last (2024) our “gift” at church (the church always gives the congregation a small gift usually on Christmas Eve, made by the youth) was a Blessing Jar. It’s a little plastic jar with a sticker on it that says “blessings.” The goal being that we’d write down our “blessings” throughout the year and drop it in the jar. On Christmas Eve we are to open said Jar and remember all the blessing we have received over the past year. I liked this idea and fully embraced it. I didn’t drop a blessing in every day but when something good would happen I’d write it out on the piece of paper, put the date and drop it in the Jar. Even tho I got my Jar on Christmas Eve I dropped in a few in December as little Olia made her way into the world. I also have blessings in the jar for January, Feburary, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and well December. So I did better than I thought I did looking back on them.
A few highlights include:
- 12-31-2024- Olia has been discharged, everyone is home and a family of three starts
this next phase of this journey
- 1-18-2025
Got up super early and made our way to Pittsview to officially meet Olia in
person. She is so adorable. She slept most of the day but was a trooper with
being passed around so much.
- 1-21-2025 Mobile
got 6-10 inches of honest to God Snow.
- 1-27-2025 I
turned xx I’m blessed with family, friends and loved ones who reached out in various
ways to say HBD. I keep thinking of my cousins Kevin who didn’t make it to this
age (brain tumor). Am I living up to my potential ?
- 2-4-2025
Volkert turns 100 today. A great achievement and one that a lot of companies don’t
get to celebrate.
- 2-2-2025 Uncle
Ernest passed away today. Grateful that I got to see him back in January when
we stopped by after seeing Olia. He made it to 89.
- 4-19-2025
Andrew asked Alana to marry him and she said yes. There will be a wedding in
2026, a graduation too for both of them. Proud of them. She’s lovely and
already fits in well with our group.
- 5-12-2025 McNeil
graduated with a doctorate in Pharmacy
today.
- 6-8-20205
Golden and I went to Atlanta to see the Stray Kids. I’ve never seen her more
excited for a thing ever! I admit I didn’t know them before this but I’m glad
she introduced me to them they put on a great show. I had to manually control
her light stick cause we couldn’t sync them up but she only noticed that half
way through the show
- 7-18-2025 McNeil
is a fully licensed Pharmacist! I am so proud of him and how hard he works. The
kid is hella smart and focused.
- 7-30-2025 –
Mrs. Danley’s funeral was today (Paula’s mom). She had a brain tumor and while
her battle was short it wasn’t easy. The boys took it really hard. I’m proud of
them tho they both held themselves together when it counted. McNeil sang a
song. They both were pallbearers. Alana even made the trip down from school for
it.
- 8-15-2025 –
Mom had bypass surgery today. It was scary but she did really well. Several
friends came and sat with us during the surgery which was nice. I think dad
really appreciated it.
- 9-1-2025 –
I made it to Dragon Con ! Neil and Dad insisted that I go so I did but I thought
about mom the entire time. The day I left she was moved to a room. The following
day she was moved back to ICU as her oxygen kept dropping for very little
reason. I couldn’t fully focus on DragonCon but we tried to do all the things.
I ended up coming back early and mom was super excited to see me. So I’m glad I
did that.
- 9-6-2025 –
mom and dad celebrated their 55th anniversary in a rehab room, mom’s
getting stronger and that’s the best gift she can give him.
- 9-24-2025 –
MOM IS HOME!!!!!
- 10-3-2025 –
Andrew and Alana drove home so that we could throw a pumpkin party. I got to
carve pumpkins with my favorite people and I’ve never been happier. Grateful
this tradition means as much to them as it does me.
- 12-25-2025 – OLIA IS ONE!!! Or as we say around here … Olia is ONDERFUL. Best gift we ever got.
I like the idea of the Blessing Jar … I plan to continue it into the new year …. What to do with the old ones… I want to save them some how … maybe I’ll find an envelope and drop it in the Jar too. It was fun looking back at them this year. Maybe I’ll do better this year about including more things in the Jar not just the big stuff.
Here’s to a great 2026 for everyone far and wide, I wonder what blessings it will hold.
Marcy
