February, Baylor Medical Center, Dallas. Dennis had been hooked up already for several hours, donating the stem cells we hoped would save his brother's life. I stepped out for something, and came back to see Tom standing at the foot of Dennis's bed. Big brother had gotten up the strength to come down several floors from his own hospital room and check in on his little brother.
April track meet, watching Nate hand off to Trevor in the 4x800 relay, the only time they've ever run on the same relay team. It was a Schmitty handoff.
May, Paris. On a work trip, I learned that Tom's health had taken a serious turn for the worse, and I was in our hotel workroom packing my things to return back to the other side of the world as quickly as possible. I was crying. My friend Wendy sat there and cried with me.
May, Trevor's graduation party. "Oh noooo! We're out of cake! WE NEED MORE CAKE!! STAT!!"
July, our house was newly listed on the market when a nest of yellow jackets erupted into our basement. Dennis and I ran upstairs, slammed the basement door, stuffed towels in the gap under the door. And then looked at each other. oh shit.
August, University of Northern Iowa. Leaving Trevor in the rearview mirror and finally allowing the tears to spill. I've relied a lot on waterproof mascara this year.
September, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Colorado. I kept turning to take in the concert lights bouncing off the massive rocks, not even able to grasp the transcendence of the experience. I guess that's the thing about transcendence.
October, moving into our new place downtown and opening my eyes in the morning to see this out the bedroom window:
October, praying for God to guide me in getting involved downtown, and literally getting a phone call the next morning at 5am. Salvation Army mobile breakfast canteen. Is there any way I could possibly be there within a half hour to cover for a no-show volunteer?? Okay. Got it.
November, Royal Mile pub, the place we started going every Thursday night in hopes of making it our Cheers spot. On week six, the waitress welcomed us, looked at me and said, "Guinness, right??" I am home.
Thanksgiving weekend, Becherer Farm. We pitched in to help my sweet grandparents get the outside of their country home decorated for Christmas. The cold wasn't the only thing stinging my eyes.
December, Von Maur jewelry department, helping Nate shop for a Christmas gift for his sweet girlfriend. My little one, now standing taller than me, asking my opinion on what he should get for the girl who has stolen his heart.
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." -Bob Moorehead
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