{....some things I've learned from 2010}

I am SO grateful for an amazing husband, family and friends. I had the most devastating, heartbreaking, stressful and painful times of my entire life the last year. I can say without a shadow of doubt that had it not been for their constant, unconditional love, support and encouragement, there is no way I would have made it through everything I did.

Because of my experiences over the last year I have learned some very important life lessons. 1) Accept the things you cannot change. 2) We should all be eternally grateful for the things we have been blessed with. 3) Everyone needs to realize that there is always someone out there that would give anything in the world for something you have and take for granted every day. 4) It’s not WHAT happens to us that impacts our lives, it’s how we handle the situation and what we learn from it, and lastly. 5) Shared DNA, giving birth etc. do not make someone “family”, that makes them “relatives”. Family are those who. A) Aren’t afraid to tell you something that could very possibly ruin their relationship with you in order to keep you safe. B) Aren’t scared away when things get tough. C) Can be together, yet not say a word to and be completely comfortable. D) You don’t need to talk to every day, week or even month, yet you know you can count on them no matter what. E) Do not (and would not) ever treat you, your spouse, spouses family, friends etc. disrespectfully.

I now look at everything very differently. I have new respect for my life and now fully understand the importance of “living it to the fullest”. Sometimes, I think back to everything I’ve been through in almost a year now and I still cannot believe I made it through all of it. I was a lot stronger than I ever thought I was/could be. For that, I am extremely proud of myself. This isn't at all how I pictured my life as 22-year- old newlywed; but I am now a much better wife, daughter, sister, niece, granddaughter, friend, teacher etc. because of my experiences in 2010, not in spite of them.