Happy 1955!
I received this journal as a gift from Chip to encourage that a write down my insights. He thinks that I have a writer's outlook on life. What a wonderful and supportive husband! I have not kept a journal since college 22 years ago. How much my life and the world has changed in 25 years. I cannot believe that it is 1955! What happened to the time? Only yesterday I was a young wife and mother; now I am middle aged with an 18 year old son going off to college soon, and a 10 year old daughter who is caught between dolls and fashionable clothes and the opinion of friends.
I look back at 1954. It was the most difficult year of our lives since the Emily were born and Chip was in London with the clean up effort after the war. I had mononucleosis from February to May, gallbladder surgery and recovery during the summer, then a concussion and its repercussions (funny that rhymes) and vertigo for the remainder of the year. My problems were nothing compared to Ben's year of health issues and nasal surgery. I am so thankful to all of Ben's teachers and counselor for helping him keep up with his school work. I am glad he had the humor of his best friend, Bassam, to distract him. Yet the most difficult time was December when Ben was tested for numerous conditions. His doctor believes that he has hyperparathyroidism, which is easily cured with surgery. We see an endocrinologist in January.
Emily also had a difficult year. Her doctor thought that she had juvenile arthritis and a stomach ulcer. Thank goodness neither were the case - strengthening exercises and anti acids have helped. Yet I believe her dealing with those nasty girls in forth grade was the most annoying. This school year is a blessing with her new best friend Annie, and befriending the two new girls at school, Mary and Karen. They call themselves the Four Musketeers or the Four Stooges.
Chip was our anchor last year. He had a busy year, working a full day at the office, then coming home to take care of the house and yard. Emily was a big help, too, taking care of the pets and helping with Ben's chores. What would we have done without them?
Reflecting on and writing about our difficult year has made me feel surprisingly thankful. I am thankful for my wonderful husband. I am thankful that all of our health problems were just annoyances rather than horrible conditions, such as cancer. I am thankful for my loving family who became closer after our year of trials. Last, I am thankful to God for holding us in His hands, even though I forgot to turn to Him for help with our troubles.
Today I am requesting that we all thoughtfully decide what our New Year's Resolutions are, and in addition, reflect on what our blessings are. We will unveil our decisions at our New Year's dinner tonight.
I am going to cook a wonderful traditional southern New Year's dinner of pork roast, roasted vegetables, black eyed peas, collard greens, and corn bread. For dessert, we are going to have a homemade chocolate birthday cake for Chip, which is three weeks overdue. We will also have the delicious fudge that Emily made last night, using Uncle Steven's secret recipe.
Happy New Year!
Addendum: Everything above is correct except for name changes of minors and relatives and Chip's working in the clean up effort in London. Chip is deaf in one ear and is not fit for military service now or during WWII. I believe that he would have done his part on the home front, and he would have volunteered overseas when all danger was past. Also the language is much more formal than the way I talk. I would have griped a lot more and included quite a few foul words - another reason I have taken on this challenge - I hope to clean up my potty mouth and tame my acquired negative outlook and annoyance with other people, especially relatives. I want to recapture the optimism and love of people that I once had.
It's those tough times in life when God really makes his presence known! When He brings you through them he becomes all the more real in your life.
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