Silence Runs Deep: January 2022

Saturday, January 1, 2022

A Blessed Year

Happy New Year, loyal blog readers! As we say goodbye to 2021 and ring in 2022, it's time to reflect on the year that was. Many would say 2021 was a horrible year. Covid. Political division in our country. Rising prices. Cancel culture. The seeming loss of of civility, decency, and decorum in our society. There are a thousand reasons people may say 2021 was not a good year.

I hold the opposite view. 2021 was another year my family and I were blessed beyond measure. As proof, I will attempt to list the ways we have been blessed in 2021. But I guarantee the blessings have been so numerous that I will most certainly forget some. That's saying something... there are so many blessings you can't possibly remember them all.

* In July we took all the kids and grandkids on a dream vacation to Grand Lake of the Cherokee in Oklahoma.

* Also in July Tami took a new job at the Hampton Inn where she is much less stressed.

* In September Michael took a new job at MMI Door in Fairfield. Better pay and benefits... Yay!

* At the end of June my mother-in-law moved in with us in the midst of a difficult family situation. She has been with us ever since and things have gone well.

* On November 12th, our 4th grandchild, Isaac Thomas Bell was born to Thomas and Abby. This is one of the most, if not THE most significant blessings of the year.

* The Morton grandchildren are thriving in Texas. This is in no small part due to their amazing parents.

* Many family members battled and defeated Covid 19.

* I renewed my teaching license for the FINAL time in July.

* I successfully completed another year of teaching and I am now in the middle of year 32.

* On December 26th, my niece Olivia gave birth to Henry James at the extreme premature term of 24 weeks. The little guy weighed in at 1 lb. 10 oz. He is doing better than anyone expected.

* On December 27th, Tami and I paid off our mortgage. We now own our home outright. This is a culmination of the Lord's blessings of provision over the last 28 years.

* We were able to make several home repairs this year without panicking and wondering how in the world we were going to pay for them.

* Tami and I are both driving (relatively) new cars and enjoy the security of driving reliable cars.

* Our parents have all remained mostly healthy.

*** Those are honestly the blessings I can think of off the top of my head. I have forgotten more than I have listed here.

And there you have it! Proof positive that 2021 was a wonderful year full of blessings.