100 Days

I'm not usually one to wax poetic. I don't sit around and get nostalgic about the days that have passed. I tend to look more towards the future. But you guys, 2019 was hard. Not in a way that we struggled with food or shelter or friendships. In fact, We are incredibly blessed and the past year has solidified more than ever that Mitch is my person. We're in it until the end. I couldn't have survived this past year without him. 

Last week I was at the gym and the song "100 bad days" by AJR played on my phone. I was immediately in tears, like sobbing. So yeah, I don't get all sappy about life, but I can be emotional...what can I say, I get it from my mama. The lyrics say:

When all is going wrong and you're scared as hell
What you gonna do? Who you gonna tell?

Maybe a hundred bad days made a hundred good stories
A hundred good stories make me interesting at parties
A hundred bad days made a hundred good stories
A hundred good stories make me interesting at parties, yeah
No, I ain't scared of you
No, I ain't scared of you no more

Now in no way shape or form do I believe that one's bad days makes them interesting at parties...but the point is, I'm not scared. It's taken so much reflection but I know that my redeemer has had this the whole time. Even when I was scared and wasn't sure what tomorrow would hold for our family, I knew that there was a plan for us. Plan for good. Instead of focusing on everything that was bad in 2019 I need to reflect on everything that was good. I don't want Jacksons diagnosis, my moms cardiac trouble and more to be what defines our year. I want to be able to remember all the good. 

1. In January we had beautiful snow, and we had pictures of the girls done here at home. Probably still my favorite pictures to date. 
2. Hattie got her first pair of glasses. 
3. Leah qualified for state in the 50 Fly.
4. She was also 3rd place finalist at the Dunscomb meet. 
5. Leah qualified for US Swimming Regionals in the 50 back. 
6. We went to Charleston to watch Macy play Volleyball against Mt. Zion. 
7. Mitchell took me on a wonderful vacation to Playa Del Carmen...again.
8. While we were there my in-laws took care of the girls and took Leah to US Swimming regionals where she got 8th.
9. Selfies with my brothers and sisters in law on a trolley headed to the beach and more fun than I could've imagined. 
10. Leah qualified for YMCA State in the 100 IM.
11. Kiersten swam her first 100 IM. 
12. We hosted a 5th grade get together with boys and girls and laughed and laughed while they "Just Dance'd"
13. Holding my love bug in my arms the night before her 9th birthday, she said she didn't want to grow up, and I reminded here there would always be room in my arms. 
14. Papa got Leah a new guitar. They share a love of music. 
15. Kiersten was on the podium for every race she swam at Y districts. 
16. Knockerball fun at the Y with the rest of the Gators. 
17. Leah and Hattie swimming at Y State. 
18. Kiersten saying the Pledge of Allegiance at the School Board meeting
19. Mitch taking all three of his little ladies to the Father Daughter Dance. 
20. Leah's 1st Solo Ensemble competition, taking top honors with her friends. 
21. Being able to hold my brothers hand and pray over Jackson as we received his diagnosis. 
22. A sister in law who takes selfies with me in our surgical mask at the hospital, because why not?
23. My grandmothers handwriting, a prayer in a prayer book to comfort us and remind us that she's still with us. 
24. Jackson smiling and laughing through the chemo, playing with snapchat filters on my phone. 
25. A neice who made orange friendship bracelets with her friends to support her brother. 
26. Leah being recognized as the most valuable 10U girl for the Gators swim team. 
27. A husband who held me when I couldn't keep the tears at bay. 
28. My family of  5 spending Easter in Arizona with Aunt Laura and Uncle Jeff. 
29. A wonderful celebration at the Robison's with Easter baskets for the girls. 
30. A reunion for Hattie and her BFF Khegan. 
31. Aunt Laura giving us a tour of the Arizona athletic facility...cool pool!
32. An Easter Sermon that was exactly what I needed to hear, when I needed to hear it. 
33. Frost Gelato
34. Leah was the top medalist at the BNSC Spring Fling. 
35. A great trainer as I prepare to become a swim official. 
36. Jacksons laugh when he dips his ham sandwiches in apple sauce. 
37. Being able to celebrate Macy and Leah's birthdays together, again. 
38. Leah's virtual reality birthday with all her friends. 
39. Mitch buying his first rental property.
40. Kiersten winning her first travel softball tournament in Effingham. 
41. Kierstens softball friends coming together to support Jackson, making a banner in his honor. 
42. Friends who help transport and watch the girls while I'm at Riley's with Jackson. 
43. Jackson scaring the nurses (And me) with his rubber snake and giggling furiously. 
44. Lunch and ice cream with Alex and Shelby Strong before they moved to Peoria. 
45. Mrs. Rozanski spoiling the girls with treats. 
46. Leah finishing the year with straight A's. 
47. Girls who are eager to help in the new rental house. 
48. A handy husband who knows how to do lots of projects. 
49. Visiting Jackson while he's home from the hospital. 
50. Helping Papa with yardwork for a dollar. 
51. Leah having a blast at sleep away swim camp. 
52. Hattie's 1st slumber party for lucky number 7. 
53. Working with Jana and numerous other people for Jackson strong T-shirt fundraiser. 
54. Having the girls help distribute the shirts. 
55. Being able to go to Charleston and donate blood at Jackson's blood drive. 
56. Stripping and painting bedroom furniture with my Bug. 
57. Studio B dance recital...those girls danced their little hearts out. 
58. Kiersten winning the hot heat at the Illini Open and a DQ gift card.
59. Mitch took me to Vegas
60. Visiting the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.
61. Seeing the Valley of Fire state park in Nevada with Mitch. 
62. The girls fishing with family. 
63. Campfires at Lake Lobster. 
64. Hanging out in a hammock. 
65. Getting to babysit Nat and Jo for a week in AZ. 
66. Making cupcakes from scratch with the girls for Uncle Jeffs birthday. 
67. Being able to be there for Joanna's 4th birthday party, watching the Lion King. 
68. Playing in Nat and Jo's pool for days. 
69. Sleeping in bunk beds. 
70. Arizona Air time trampoline park with Khegan and RaKel. 
71. Pedicures with Leah. 
72. Daddy picking us up at the airport with our new sweet puppy, Piper. 
73. Kiersten's bedroom remodel with the Southwest theme. 
74. A fantastic new job at Mt. Zion Junior High
75. Celebrating Jacksons birthday at Gigi's house. 
76. Kiersten pulling Leah's teeth as Dr. Brumeister gave her the assist. 
77. Three girls successfully back to school. 
78. A bowling and ice cream date with daddy. 
79. Jackson in remission!!! A clean bill of health and release from Riley's.
80. Cousins together at a football game cheering on Colby. 
81. A mother who makes joke in the ER after a heart attack...she's cutting us all out of the will if anyone takes a picture. 
82. Making friendship bracelets with the girls. 
83. Seeing the Strong's at the BNSC Season Opener. 
84. Jackson's good report from his 1st check up at Riley's
85. Dr. Pyle and my mother's successful mitral valve replacement. 
86. A husband who took care of the house and kids while I stayed at the hospital. 
87. A sister and I who could laugh on the way the hospital about coffee...apparently if you need cream and sugar you are weak. 
88. The girls Halloween costumes...Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Rosie the Riveter and Amelia Earhart. 
89. The Halloween Orchestra concert. 
90. Kiersten got her braces off. 
91. Trick or treating in the snow and Chili for dinner at Gigi's house. 
92. A neighbor who always helps me with my John Deere mishaps. 
93. Dr. Morisetty bought our family dinner. 
94. Leah performed with the orchestra at the Illinois Music Education Association District Festival. Waio Waio, the Haitian Folk song was my favorite. 
95. Mitch prepared a wonderful Thanksgiving meal for us and we got to share it with Gigi, Papa, Aunt Laura and Uncle Jeff and the girls. 
96. The Schaumburg family Christmas get together with lots of BINGO. 
97. Co-Workers that make me laugh with their political propaganda, and TGS Home school brochures. 
98. The girls swimming at the Natatorium in Indianapolis and dropping time in every race. 
99. Wicked at the Fox Theater in St. Louis with all my favorite girls. 
100. Kiersten performing in her first band concert. She did wonderful. 
101. Leah being 1st violin and tuning the orchestra. 
102. Christmas in Minnesota. 
103. Macy sending me selfie of her and the girls. 
104. Papa giving Leah her very own violin. 
105. Gigi and Jackson both home and healthy for Christmas. 
106. Facetime that let me see my sister and nieces across the miles. 
107. Friends that check in with us when our sweet Hattie is sick. 

So for what it's worth, I refuse to let 2019 be defined by all our troubles. I want to head into 2020 with a clean slate. With 365 new opportunities to make memories and leave the world a little better than it was the day before. Cheers to you all, the memories we make, and may only good things come your way in 2020.