As 2018 comes to a close I would be remiss if I didn't take a few moments to sit and reflect. 2018 has been a transformative year on many accounts. I began the year with an accepted doctoral capstone proposal. I finished out my first term teaching. I was finally somewhat settled in our new home. I started 2018 with great hopes for beautiful things. We had one kid in school, the other 3 in good hands here with a person and family that would become framily. We trudged through the VIT going to the border for his Encuentro experience. I began my second term teaching. We continued on our seminary journey. As Spring rolled around we faced our first round of VIT/future clergy Lenten and Easter seasons. We said goodbye to dear friends at the beginning of summer. The VIT delayed CPE training which was such a blessing to us. We had a summer full of fun, and visitors, and I even got to go celebrate mutual graduation with a dear friend in Reno. The kids began the birthday cycle and before we knew it Fall was upon us. We would have 2 kids in public school, 2 in day care full time (for the first time) and both the VIT and I with incredibly full schedules. The early fall brought my defense and successful completion of my OTD. Yay! As the Fall marched on we experienced another Texas "fall". Some have said the consolation for the the wretched summer is that we get a very mild fall and winter, I would definitely agree. We again had visitors in the Fall. It's always nice to have visitors, they give you the connection to "home" and make the long days of fall a little easier. And then we reached Winter. My first class I ever taught graduated, it was a great day for them and me. It definitely makes all the trials of academia worth it. I'm proud of the people and therapists they have and will continue to become. We had the VIT's parents for the holidays, it was good to have them right next door and as we wished them farewell we know we will see them again.
Now as we are smack dab in the middle of "winter break" I am sitting amongst a somewhat disheveled house and thinking on all that we've accomplished as a family and that I have accomplished personally and professionally. I'm proud of my 2018, as I close that chapter I look forward to this coming year and the challenges it will bring. We have some fairly large things looming but as always, trust, lean in, and know that in the end things will all work out. I wish all of those who read this a blessed and grace-filled 2019. May you find the sun more than darkness and may your year have a mixed bag of fun and challenge.
J-Dr. Mrs. Vicarage
