Welcome Gus
Last year was a whirlwind. I mean, 2020 was really something but what in our world was 2021? We added to our family at the beginning of the year with our second pug, Gus. Gus was the runt and of course he was: I always root for the underdog and I’ve always loved the runt. We didn’t pick him so much as he was left by a family who had wanted him and his parents needed to find him a family. That quickly became us. I saw him in a Facebook group and he was black, like our pug Gracie. Black isn’t all that common for pugs so he caught our eyes and hearts immediately. He was two hours away-one way-and my husband quietly told me to say we’d take him, but “don’t tell the kids.”
We stole away in the evening using my mother-in-law’s “furnace issues” as an alibi to be gone from midnight to 4 a.m. Our kids slept safely at home, unaware an 8-week-old pug boy was on his way to his new home. We snuck in the house, laid him on my son who was fast asleep. Gus immediately started licking his face and I got my daughter and told her to come right away. Through blurry eyes that became tears of joy, they welcomed this little stinker into our lives. Gus is still a tiny guy, though he’s a year old. He’s still a stinker.
Meet Gus
Good Changes Coming
This was a good year. It wasn’t without its struggles. My daughter totaled her car the week Gus came home. There was a horrible snowstorm and her commute was icy. Thankfully, God kept her safe and sent guardian angels to help her out of her car and keep her warm.
I continued to have some great collaborations on Instagram with amazing brands. That is something I love doing that. I have fun bringing you worthy products, skincare, food and clothing.
We celebrated my son’s birthday in the winter and my husband’s in the spring. We added to our family in another way too. My husband adopted my children. If you don’t know, my husband is not the biological father of my children. My abuser was. Since he’s no longer among us, my husband has been raising my children with me for almost a decade. My kids essentially grew up with him as their father. They were already young adults when they asked him to adopt them. But this official step was important to all of us.
In June, we sat before a computer in our home and COVID-style, sat before a judge and made the adoption official. It has been a healing step for all of us, I think. This certainly has solidified our collective bond.
The Proposal
But let’s go back two months to April. My daughter got engaged! Her military (now husband) then-boyfriend let us in on his plan to surprise her and come home to propose. So one day in early April, we told her we were having family photos taken at the beach. We all dressed up. I curled her hair, thinking She doesn’t know I’m curling her hair for her surprise proposal. She indeed was surprised, elated, and giddy as she said, “Yes!” overlooking Lake Michigan while the love of her life kneeled to pop the question.
From that day forward, she and I were all about wedding planning. My niece, the maid of honor, planned her bridal shower that we celebrated in July. It was a busy summer but so much fun being involved in all these plans. Engagement in April. Plan, plan, plan. Shower in July. Bachelorette weekend in August.
Family Time is the Best Time
On my birthday, my daughter and I got matching tattoos. This is my third. They’re all subtle and very meaningful. I never thought I’d ever get a tattoo! Now I have three. The first one I got right after I turned 50 and all of them I’ve gotten with my kids.
I went on date nights and movies with my family. I found out in October that my Crohn’s is not great. Well, it’s never been great, but now it’s worse. I’m inflamed with a stricture and trying to come up with treatment I can tolerate. Stay tuned.
We celebrated my daughter’s birthday this fall and days before her wedding, was our own wedding anniversary. Nine years married already. They’ve been crazy and amazing. I love our life.
The Newlyweds
In November, my daughter became a wife. Earlier in the summer I had taken online classes to become licensed clergy so I could officiate their wedding. That is one of the greatest honors of my life. She wore a stunning, sparkly dress and walked down the aisle with my son on one arm and my husband on the other, and took the stage at the 1930s theatrical theater where they chose to marry. Her husband in his dress blues and me in a rhinestone-encrusted burgundy ballgown (chosen by her) waited for her. It was a beautiful day. They danced the night away after then rode away in a limo to begin their happily ever after.
On Thanksgiving day, they flew to their new home where my son-in-love is stationed in the US military. It has been hard for me ever since. I’ll write more about that another day. When a baby flies the nest, it’s just not something you can emotionally prepare for, and certainly not something that we openly talk about enough. It’s hard. Really hard.
Christmas at the Beach
We rounded out 2021 with a trip to my daughter’s for a week for Christmas. It was warm, glorious, and full of close family time. It’s the best thing for me. The best thing for us. I only feel fully whole when both of my kids are with me. That’s the best part of my world.
We came home and ended the new year very low-key. I’m writing, editing, and organizing our home. My words for 2022 are simplify and nurture. I’m simplifying my life by purging material things, toxic relationships, and overall just delighting in simplicity in many ways. I’m nurturing my relationships with God, my husband, my children, and my new son-in-law. What’s better than that?
Simplify and Nurture
The new year is off to a mellow start. I like it. Today I started 75 Soft. Stay tuned for how that goes. It’s more than a fitness challenge but I will be praying for five or more minutes a day, working out for 30 minutes four times a week (the biggest challenge for me given pain and health issues), reading 10 pages a day, drinking half my weight in ounces of water, and eating 90% healthy foods. Wish me good luck!
On a scale of 1 to 10, where would you rate your 2021 experience?
Be blessed,
