The Difference Between Two Christmas Breaks

        These last two Christmas breaks have been total opposite but at the same time they have been really good and reminded me of different things. 

          Last year's Christmas break (2021) was all about finding my wedding dress. That is what we did for my birthday shopping day and we went on my birthday the 27th. We celebrated it that way. Sharon came with us to join in on the fun. After we went to two different places to try on wedding dresses, we found the one. The two places that we went were David's Bridal and Gracie's. We found my wedding dress at Gracie's. I tried on about 3 to 4 dresses at David's bridal. At Gracie's, I tried on about the same number of dresses. We also ate out at a small restaurant.

           This Christmas break (2022) was my family oriented. On the 27th, we had a Christmas / birthday dinner with almost all of the family there and Sharon. We even opened on Christmas presents and I got to open my birthday presents. Mom even baked me a yuletide log cake for my birthday. Even though it was family-oriented, there was one family memo that was really missed and that was Dad. I noticed him missing because of two things. He wasn't there in the morning to wish me happy birthday as soon as I got up. During the family prayer, it just felt weird when someone else said that we thank you for so and so on their birthday.

            Then on the day after my birthday, the 28th, we went to Silver Dollar City with some of the family to see the Christmas lights but there was a special moment for me that I don't want to forget. It was when I was with my mom in the Wildness Chapel for a half an hour Christmas sing-along. It really meant a lot to me just to be there with her for a half an hour. We also saw a little boy that loved the Christmas songs and he was singing his heart out. It was so cute. Even though Zack and I didn't get home until almost midnight, that was the best day after my birthday that I have had in a while. Just because of that one thing that I got to do with my mom. Hopefully, I will never forget that moment in the Wildness Chapel at Sliver Dollar City after Christmas singing Christmas songs along with my mom.

            

2022 vs. Rest

            Going into 2022 from a messy 2021 didn't start anything out right. I was exhausted at the start.

Jan.

     - whole new class

     - new assistant teacher

     - new director

Feb.

      - sent out save the dates

      - looked for new apartments

March 

      - try out dress and hair for wedding over spring break

April

       - dad's first birthday without him

       - went fishing with family for his birthday

       - his birthday was on Easter this year

May

       - mom had first wedding anniversary without dad

June 

        - first Father's day without dad so we went fishing to celebrate him

        - had Covid at the end of the month for the 1st time

July

         - fixed a tooth over summer break

         - painted flowers for the wedding over summer break

          - teachers quit at the beginning of the month

          -mri for chairi malformation 

August 

           - last time to tailor my wedding dress

           - I was second in charge at work

           - got a new class

           - work week changed to 4 days a week 10 hours a day

           - had by the shower this month

           - moved into a new place

September 

           - got another new director

           - last minute details for wedding

           

October 

           - wedding month

           - honeymoon for 2 days

           - the federal review for work the last week of October

           - director got fired was second in charge again for a little bit

November

           -2 Thanksgivings

           - parent teacher conferences at work

           - 2nd in charge again

           -Dr. Explanation of my Chairi Malformation 

December 

            - sick for 3 days with an upper respiratory infection at the start of the month

            - new director

            - getting ready for Christmas

            - sent some thank you cards for the wedding gifts

             -Sent Christmas cards out

             - had to get a new debit card

             -2 Christmases

            -2 more mris to see what's wrong with my head of my back

             -turning 35 

On top of all of the stuff in December and Christmas, it is a lot of firsts without my dad since I have calmed down.

          - other people gave you a pass on the holidays.

           - holidays stopped being polite and started getting real.

           - you thought you would be in a better place this year.

             

Having Actual Sick Days

          I have had 3 days off of work this week and as I have been lying around thinking about the last time I actually had sick days. I cannot remember when that was in the past 2 years. The sick days came at the perfect time. They came right before Christmas which I could get ready for when I feel like it and now I won't have to be so stressed out come Christmas.

             I feel that God planned it as perfect timing because he knew I was getting so tired of everything and that I have had a really busy past couple of years with my dad passing and planning for the wedding. I think God Neil I wanted to give up but he also knew that I couldn't On My Own Strength so the next best thing was to make me weak and sick. I have gone back thinking to the time before my dad passed away and all that consisted of and what I was going to with my job back then. 

             It is kind of funny now because it feels like now we all get to new people at my job and I'm resting so it's just like I can get on board with a whole new way at work after all that had happened before. Starting back 2 years ago I didn't even know if I was going to stay or be able to stay because of covid and just how things were. I didn't have an assistant teacher so I did another job for a while then after that job within the job I have now they found me an assistant so that was something new I had to do it on top of dealing with my Dad's passing. So I had two major things right there.

               Then if that was it enough or directors kept changing non-stop. I became the second in charge somewhere in between that changing of those so that I felt like was more on my plate with everything already happening in my life. Then if those three things weren't enough I had all new kids starting so I had to get to know the parents and the kids' routines and so on. Then the next thing that I know it was time for the wedding planning and everything that consisted with that.

               I had to move within 24 hours. I had to plan the wedding. I had to what about making special appointments for my dress, my hair, my makeup, and other things like that. I also had to travel for those appointments what's made it a little bit harder. It might be it might sound like I am complaining but I'm not I wouldn't regret anything that I have done in these past 2 years because I know they have helped me become the stronger person I am right now.                 I'm just glad God saw that I needed help with resting and he gave me that time before it was too late. Just looking back like my title says I just can't remember when I actually had sick days in the past 2 years so these three days I have taken really felt good for myself care and much needed. These past few days have shown me that if you won't take care of yourself God will find a way to help you help yourself. Might not be the best way but if it gets you to rest it might be the best way in His eyes. That is what I will be thinking from now on.