March Madness

Good Morning! We are waking up to about a foot of snow at our doorstep. Snow day: number 2.  I know it's March in New England, but I think Mother nature had a bad case of PMS, because spring is a week away and prior to this blizzard we had temperatures in the 50s and 60s.  I'm desperately waiting to buy my plane ticket to Atlanta in June, but with these snow days the last day of school is being pushed back. AGAIN.  #teacherproblems #NewEnglandlife.

Yesterday was the perfect snow day: slept in, fresh coffee, homemade scones, chill in the crock pot, and binged watched Once Upon a Time. Many people wouldn't get off the couch and out of their p.j.s all day,  but what else do we do? Take some portraits! I wanted to venture out into the street (there were no cars) but it was so windy that the snow kept blowing in our faces, so I settled for the porch.

 

I'm very lucky that I found a man who doesn't mind taking a photos.  And bonus - he always looks great, if I do say so myself.

::Charles Dickens had it right::

Is anyone goal planning yet? Writing down resolutions for 2017? Reflections of 2016? Charles Dickens had it right: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. 2016 was just that.

Recap of 2016:

Started off the year blissfully engaged
Titus and Jocelyn both turned 30
Went to Disney World with my BFF.
Titus got a job and moved to Connecticut
Four months later, Titus lost this job
Titus became an art teacher
Moved into a new apartment
Worked the entire summer - art and theater camps
Finally became certified and got her teaching license
Throughout the months there were wonderful bridal showers, bachelorette parties and Jack & Jills
Wedding Planning
Got a new teaching job
Titus got a teaching job
More wedding planning
October 1st - got married, best day of our lives
Honeymooned in Bermuda - best week of our lives
October 19th - worst day of my life
Made a short film with friends

As I look at my recap list. Theres a lot of good. A lot of good. Through it all, was is extremely stressful? Heck yes. I think the most stressed I've ever been.  Moving Titus to Connecticut, watching him gain and then loose a job, planning a wedding, BOTH of us getting new jobs, having a job that is extremely overwhelming, getting MARRIED.....and then, well, unexpectedly loosing my mother two weeks later.....people have question how I am even standing.

I've put things here and there about my mothers passing, but not much. I don't know if I feel like its not necessary, shows a sign of weakness or there's no just point....But here it is.  I can't tell you how many people say to me, "I know how you feel...."  Then I found out that their parent passed way when they were in their 80s or 90s. I'm not downsizing the loss of a parent, it's horrible and no one wants to see someone go through it. But I just want to scream them and say you have NO clue how I feel.  My mom was suppose live much longer than this, to see her family grow, to be with my Dad, to see her future grandchildren..... She was in her early 60s, and she passed way TWO weeks after my wedding. I'm tired of hearing, "At least she got to see your wedding." I'm tired of hearing, "She's with Jesus now." I'm tired of hearing, "She's with you in spirit."Can I blame people for saying all of this? No.  Do I know all of these things are true? Yes. I know it's true. It was God's perfect timing of having her see the wedding. I know she's in no more pain and she's in the best place in the universe. But it still hurts.

I have to say I'm happy to see 2016 go. The chapter has closed and now it's time for a new one. I have to start the year with the mind set that things won't ever be the same. I can't let myself loose hope and passion. This year will be full of adventure and possibility.  Titus and I just entered our 3rd month of marriage - and can I say, that I have the most INCREDIBLE husband!!!!  He has been my sanity for the past three months....I don't know what I would do without him. Well, 2017.....I have no choice, but to be ready for you.