Happy New Year to my favorite people on the planet!!! I am not sure about y’all, but I crawled across the 2024 finish line! Our family experienced some kind of sickness in all members from December 22 all the way to January 3rd! Geesh! Enough already!!!
Anybody else feel like they flew the white flag for the end of the year?!
The truth is, whether you experience sickness or not, Christmas break can be tough. I would be lying if I did not admit that I brace myself a bit and allow a wee bit of anxiety to creep in as we move towards Christmas vacation. I try not to set up expectations, but the dreamer in me starts on December 1st imagining all the warm and cozy fun we will have together as a family. I picture hot chocolate moments filled with gentle game playing and movies snuggled on the couch. Ha! Is anyone with me? I still dream!
The reality though is quite different. Now, we do log some wins, and for these, we celebrate. However, the loss of a rigid schedule that school brings as well as scheduled therapies cancelled, can cause a stir in a few of my kiddos. We try each year to have a watered-down schedule, but in reality, the high need for the other Thorndike crew to just lay around and have down time usually wins. This is where mom and dad pick up the pieces. The overstimulation of the holidays in general can be daunting for a lot of diverse needs kiddos. The emotions can run high, and the arguing starts. By the end, it can feel like we are just full time putting out fires. Throw a little sickness in, and we had the makings of the movie “Christmas vacation” instead of “It’s A Wonderful Life!”
Fellow parents, I applaud you! I applaud those that had a similar experience to us, and I applaud those who had an easy, peaceful holiday. I applaud you ALL!!! No matter how your holiday landed, I hope you know that you are not alone! I hope you remember that God chose wisely for these kiddos we love! He equips us as we go along. Sometimes we are dancing, and sometimes we are crawling. He reminded me during a moment of “release” in my walk-in closet, that crawling was okay. He reminded me that when I am falling apart and weak, He is made strong. He reminded me in that tender moment that I was starting the New Year off with a strong BIG God and that He is writing my story.
Beautiful friends, it shifted my perspective. I was able to start the new year, still recovering, but carrying a peace that makes no sense. Isn’t He just like that?…
Our faith has been everything on our journey. It has carried us on the dark, exhausted days. It has empowered us on marathon days, and it has been our strength when we are crawling. It has been a source of stability, and when I am all mixed up in my thoughts, His word is the truth that realigns me. I pray for you all to know this peace. We need each other and we need faith that helps us rise. Happy New Year to you all! We made it to 2025, and I am so grateful to have a community like you all. You have encouraged me in so many ways. Please keep sending e-mails of wisdom and encouragement but also send us ways we can support and pray for you.
2 Corinthians 12:9
“But He said my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Love y’all!!!
