Tis the season … Fa La La La and all that stuff… Its the Eve before the Eve again. Here in my home town its a very pleasant and breezy day possibly about 25 degrees celsius? Who knows … Reports of foiled terror attempts and raging temperatures for Christmas Day abound on the news on TV – so instead I have on music and its The MAN of christmas himself – NO NOT SANTA… Michael Buble. YES The Bubble – the KING Of christmas. Who for all reports has had a pretty shitty 2016 himself with his little one sick.

So for all those out there – who’ve had a shit old 2016 this ones for you!

If I take five to take in what has gone on in the last 12 months – I see blessings and I see heart ache – but one thing that stands out for me is the strength and growth we’ve experienced as a family this year. Even in the face of loss and tragedy.

It was always going to be a tougher than usual year – with my knee surgery date finally set at the end of 2015 for June 2016 and that wasn’t without its delays and obstacles. I can say however that five and a bit months on we are still getting used to each other and the knee – being titanium is the boss. Ive yet to take it through an airport – so If anyone would like to take me on a plane flight for shits and giggles Im up for it!

We were blessed by water in 2015 first with the April storms and then by a kitchen disaster with an exploding tap. As we near the end of 2016 we find that we are closer than ever to completing the renovations on our family home. New Kitchen, New Laundry, New Bathroom most rooms are freshened and painted the attic is looking magnificent and the back deck is simply spectacular ( well almost that was this weeks project and we are still waiting on render to cure to complete the painting.)

We have gone through a steep learning curve as we decided to sell our two investment properties and we step forth into 2017 SELF managing our superannuation as the term suggests. For this we have sought the advice of financial planners without agenda as we know that to provide for our future we need to step it up. This is going to be one of my projects moving forward as well as getting this blasted book or six out of my head.

Now for the memories. This year we lost my Mother In Law to Dementia. This is an horrific disease that in the end takes away everything from the person. Strips them bare and at time leaves them not even knowing how to do the simplest of things like sip from a straw. But I will give my Mother in Law credit where its due, when she was lucid in her last weeks her blue eyes sparkled and she showed a wicked sense of humour. And gave my husband an amazing memory of her last moments – which I know he treasured. So Flo – we promise never to use bum cream on our lips to make them pucker.

We lost my Aunty and Godmother to Brain cancer. Again – cruel and torturous. To see someone who was filled to the brim with life and looking forward to what adventure was next to be taken so swiftly and painfully was agonising. My eyes still fill with tears when I know that theres none of her quips on my Facebook posts. Theres none of her nomnomming over my christmas baking. And Im sorry if eating my baking makes some sad this year – because yes tears may have fallen while Ive been making. Miss you! You bloody old woman. I want to talk to you – I want you to help me through this. I have somedays that I just can’t. I feel you prodding shoving me on, but somedays I can’t.

My Dad still struggles daily from his stroke. He’s also five and a bit months on from a major life event. I guess we both have our good days and our bad. And I know he has much to face down in 2017 as we move forward. And I sit here in the wings and I watch. Waiting ready to catch when Im needed.

Now revelations. Its become more than painfully obvious that upon now entering our seventeenth year together my husband and I are needed to become tighter than ever. Its more than obvious how very alone we are and how rock solid we need to be to face what is yet to come. We move forward as a unit together. United and we will not allow negativity and hate to penetrate what we have built and who we are. We have two great kids who are forging wonderful lives and we support them to the ends of the earth. Our little unit of four gives us the strength we need to face down the onslaught of exterior forces that try to bring us down.

Stats – Darling daughter continues to shine and have grace and humour in all situations. She shines in her schooling she shines and grows daily. We’ve made a beautiful young woman and Im proud. Emo boy has made it through his first year of high school and is now bloody taller than all of us. He’s all legs and arms and attitude. He’s had a tough year – what we’ve faced has affected him more than we thought but his determination to pull through shows. He’s also shining and doing well. He might only wear black – black and more black but he’s personality is developing and he’s still as crazy as the rest of us. Crazy is good.

We have had many obstacles this year – but I choose to focus on the positive and we will not submit.

And in the background Micheal sings this :  God Only Knows…

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May 2017 bring you all prosperity and love and new adventures xoxo Be kind to everyone – sprinkle that shit everywhere – its much better than sugar.