reason to believe: December 2022

I'm ending 2022 cozied up in my warm living room with my fur niece, Sunshine, and feeling like the luckiest girl alive. I have a home, I have my family, I'm retired and loving every minute, I have friends. It feels like the world is returning to normal after two years of chaos. Life is good. So good that sometimes, if I close my eyes and ears to it all, I can imagine that this world we live in is perfect.

Those pictures creep in, though, of children, parents, grandparents, fleeing their country as their homes and cities are shattered from missiles and bombs. The war in Ukraine rages on, and lives are forever changed. I have a personal connection to some of those affected. I had two classes of students from Ukraine in my online teaching job. Right after the war began, they stopped coming to class, and I didn't hear from them for a month. I prayed for them daily. Just when I thought I would never hear their voices, they came back. Most of them were now in other countries--Poland, The Czech Republic, Scandinavia--in exile with relatives or friends. All 20 were safe and ready to return to school. Prayers answered.

Marianne Williamson, one of my favorite inspirational writers, always has the words to put things in perspective. She said,

If the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine proves anything,

it’s that a light is missing in the world

or so much darkness could not have gotten in.

Part of that light is who we used to be.

For the sake of literally everyone, may we claim our light again.

I'm claiming my light in 2023! I'm shining a big spotlight on any darkness from the past year and turning it to light.

The 4th of July fire across the street from my house that almost crossed the street? Shining a light on that. And thank you, superhero firemen, for keeping my house safe.

Sad goodbyes and teary reminders of world figures? Let your light shine on all of us. Remembering Princess Diana on the 25th anniversary of her tragic death followed so closely by Queen Elizabeth's passing was heartbreaking. I revisited all my Diana books and collectibles on August 30 and even dug out my black sheep sweatshirt from the 80s patterned after Diana's red sweater. Mom and I watched all the ceremonies for Queen Elizabeth. What a role model and leader. And may I just add, can we be done with the constant "news" about this Royal family? Buckingham Palace and all the Royals--stop being racists. And Harry, stop selling out your brother. Find your light, Royal Family.

2022 was already filled with light despite the darkness. So many of us jumped on the Wordle train this year. It has become a morning routine for my mom and me, We sit at the kitchen table, Mom with her iPad and coffee, me with my iPad and tea, and work together to solve the day's puzzle. It's always interesting to see if Mom is going to find Wordle . No Mom, you're on Facebook. Wordle is in Safari. No, that's messenger. Safari is blue. And on and on. It's hilarious. I really should record us sometime. But, wow, is she good. Often times it is Mom who gets the word, not me.

We needed a little help from Sunshine.

My online teaching job is often the highlight of my day. I absolutely love teaching English! When I retired in 2017, I worried what I would be if not an English teacher. Here I am, almost six years later, still an English teacher. I work less than ten hours a week, all from home, with students all over the world. I have my best friend to thank for shining a light on this opportunity. Thanks, Eileen!

There is no brighter light in my life than my family. I got to see almost everyone in person this past year and definitely spent lots of time FaceTiming. Here are picture highlights:

TEA PARTIES!