2015 was a very busy year for my family, filled with many beginnings and endings. Jessica and I began working together on this website and my son finished high school and left home to begin his college career. We said good bye to beloved family members and hello to new marriages and babies. Emotional highs and lows combined with a myriad of family activities to make the year fly by with lightning speed.
One of the more significant changes was the departure of the two youngest members of our family. Our sweet, lovely foster daughters had been with us such a long time that they became part of our family. The rhythm of our family life was turbulent when they first arrived, but eventually smoothed out to encompass their lives until it felt like they had always been here. Soon our lives were filled with Pre-K and elementary school schedules, concerts and conferences, Santa visits and wonderfully lumpy handmade treasures all over our refrigerator and underneath our tree.
For us, fostering was a labor of love. There were difficult times and many nights in the beginning when we cried and prayed after they had finally stopped crying and fell asleep. There were moments that I didn’t think we would make it. Our eyes were opened to see not only the darkness and evil that exists in this world but the never ending, healing power of love. We fell completely and absolutely in love.
We were committed to becoming a forever family, but when an aunt and uncle stepped forward who were willing, able and most importantly to me, fiercely determined to love and raise the girls, we took a step backwards. Our initial reason for fostering was to help a family stay together and that had been achieved. Our precious foster babies left us just before the holidays this year. Amid all the moving boxes and packed treasures, the flurry of scheduling monthly visits, last minute hugs and much crying, it became apparent, that no matter where they live, these two little girls will always be part of our family. They have a home in all of our hearts.
Now our home is a little neater and certainly a lot quieter. And I have time. After I clean the smudgy hand prints off the hallway walls and pack the last of the holiday decorations, I will still have time. Our family will shrink a little more as some of us head back to college and the rest of us return to a regular work schedule. Our family meals will go from six to eight people, to two and sometimes, just dinner for one.
2016 will be a time to work on myself. I say that, not even knowing what it looks like. I am very good at taking care of other people, but honestly, I don’t ever put myself first. This year will be a very interesting journey of self-discovery. I am sure there will be challenges and obstacles. After all, old habits die hard and I have been told that I can be very stubborn.
I am looking forward to this year. I will always miss my girls, but I can’t wait to spend more time with my husband and adult children while rediscovering all the things that bring me joy. I am even excited about being purposely healthy and active. I will try to get excited about working out, but we will see how that goes.
I am committed to creating new gluten free recipes for the dishes that we discover in our travels. I am excited to develop recipes that will feed just one or two, as well as a small army. Even if you are a party of one, you still can enjoy a decadent dessert!
I hope you join me on our journey this year. Whatever your motivation for being gluten free, there is much for all of us to learn and discover about delicious food with no worries.
Here is to new opportunities and journeys. Happy 2016!
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