Wed, 31 Dec 2003

Happy New Year!

Hey guys. It's Wednesday night, we just put Garrett to bed and I thought I'd take a quick moment and say good-bye to 2003 and welcome in 2004 with you all. What a year. What an understatement that just was. Jade said this morning he heard a local radio DJ say, "2003 is over with and I can't think of anyone I know who is sad to see it go." We both laughed and decided we belonged in that club too.

While this year has been challenging (and I wouldn't want to do it again nor would I wish it upon anyone) it certainly has given us an amazing persepctive on ourselves, our life, compassion and humanity. Sarah Ban Breathnach (a writer who seems to focus frequently on family and spirituality issues) wrote a book called "Simple Abundance" which I read five years or so when it came out. A thought from that book has stayed with me and has been in my head a lot the last few weeks. I decided to go dig it out and share it: "Just before we come to earth to begin this life, we are given a photograph of our futures - the Divine Plan - to get us excited about the great adventure ahead. As the photo pops out of the celestial camera, we're in such a hurry to get on with it, we grab the negative instead of the photograph. Now we've got the pattern of a fabulous life, but the perspective is reversed. What's white looks black. What's black appears white. We've got the big picture, but it's backward. So we cry when we should be laughing, are envious when we should feel inspired, experience deprivation instead of abundance, do it the hard way instead of the easy way, pull back instead of reaching out. And worst of all, we close our hearts so we won't get hurt, when opening them is the only way we'll ever know joy."

I guess that seems to sum up the experience we've had this year. Who would have thought in all the darkness we would find light or joy and hope amid the despair. We have such an army of friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers and even strangers to thank for helping sustain us with that joy and hope. Thank you.

Quick medical update too. Jade is feeling pretty good. We're still doing magnesium infusions nightly. He is going into the BMT clinic every other week. His next appt is Jan 6th and they will do a chymerism (Jade vs Jared percentage) test that day. We had a great Christmas week with family and a couple friends. It was quiet, simple and wonderful. (I've told a couple friends quiet and simple sure beats the alternative of dead.) It's more of the same this week as well. Nothing major in the way of New Year's parties but just some good food and football (yeah Runnin' Utes!) and movies. With all the snow here, it's perfect timing to have quiet days at home.

And so..........out with the old........in with the new...............Happy New Year and God Bless!

Much love and gratitude........................Tanya and co.