2024 Year In Review

This year has been filled with many ups and downs, but they are just circumstantial ups and downs. What we have experienced is God’s abundant faithfulness in every season of life. Abundance that goes beyond circumstantial abundance, but one that is full of God’s goodness, miracles, and presence. As I was looking back at this year’s pictures, I couldn’t help but start crying. Some of the pain feels so fresh yet, HIS MERCIES HAVE BEEN NEW EVERY MORNING. There were days when it felt like my life revolved around naps, medications, and anti-nausea meds, but God has brought so much healing to our family. It’s surreal to think what God has led us through, but like I said, God has held to His promises. My heart and flesh may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and portion forever.

We started 2024 off with a BANG! I was admitted to Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids for my bone marrow transplant on January 4, with many appointments leading up to this admission. It was an emotional day, saying goodbye to Mazy for an unknown amount of time. Also knowing I’d be given some of the most nasty chemo out there, yet be given the chance of a cure because of my donor. Such a mix of emotions!

My niece, Addison, made me this picture to take with me to the hospital and it’s one that I still have in my bedroom to this day!

Since I would be in the hospital for weeks, Mazy fittingly made an ivy string to decorate my IV pole and a bead counter to help me keep track of how many laps I walked around the bone marrow transplant floor. It was so hard to be away from her, but I knew I had to fight as hard as I could so that I COULD come back home.

On January 10, I received my bone marrow transplant! They say it’s like being given the gift of life because without it, after the chemo I went through, I would not survive. Also, it was my last option for a cure from my AML, otherwise I would’ve been on chemo for the rest of my life. I can’t wait to share more about my donor someday, and Lord-willing, someday we will be able to meet her! We still do not know her name or many details, but still write back and forth, when we can. It was incredibly surreal watching those cells get transferred from the bag through my IV, into my body. Dan recorded a video, where you can see the actual cells – millions and millions of them.

It was a little nerve-wracking because if you live in Michigan, you may remember we had a blizzard and they weren’t sure they would be able to get the cells to me in time. After these cells took some very long flights, they finally made their way to my room. We even celebrated with cupcakes – transplant day is known as your new “birthday”, so I also now have a birthday on January 10 as well!

After a few weeks of being in the hospital, one day I brushed my hair and started to get clumps. I knew that was the day I was ready to have my head shaved. No tears fell, just gratitude that my nurse tech was willing to do this for me. Since then, my hair (or lack there of) has been a reminder of where God has taken me, but as I see it slowly grow back, it reminds me of the growth he has brought to my life too. I DEFINITELY miss my long blonde hair, and my hair is definitely WAY darker, but it’s okay – it is coming back so well and I’m just grateful to almost be a full year post transplant!

Due to healing from my BMT, I was unable to go on spring break with Dan and Mazy, and our friends, to Georgia, but this also created an amazing opportunity for some daddy/daughter time! I also ended up having major heart issues and had to get cardioverted (shocked) when they were gone, as my heart went into an atrial flutter. Thanks to my mom who brought me to the hospital Easter morning!

I FINALLY made it to day 100 mid-April! It seemed like that time was never going to come, but I made it. I was also able to stop my at-home magnesium IV, which I was SO ready to be done with, and though I still had to be very careful about living life outside the walls of our home, it felt like I reached a major milestone, CANCER FREE.

The best place to be was the outdoors and what an incredibly mild winter/spring we had! I spent SO much time outside, since indoors wasn’t the best place for me, but God gave me the perfect gift of beautiful weather this year! I had pretty severe neuropathy early on, so sometimes just sitting in the sun was all I could do, but it was so refreshing!

Last day of 3rd grade for Mazy!

How is this sweet girl 9 already? Couldn’t love this girl more!

Dan and Mazy are sometime up to no good…they said the leaf blower was clogged, so I tried to “fix” it, and POOF, was doused with flour :). Mind you, this was shortly before we had to go to church. Those two…

We were blessed with a week away at a friend’s cottage in June! It was the same place where we took time to process losing our twins back in 2012. Our dream then was to take them on that lake to go fishing, but instead all we had was a picture frame to remind us of them. Twelve years later, on that same lake, we took Mazy and she caught the biggest fish of her life. It makes me cry just typing this – a reminder of God’s faithfulness in grief and grace. He set that fish up just for her (and us) to remind us that he never forgets too.

In July, Mazy and I went on our now annual trip up to Mackinaw City and Island! We LOVE it up there and had the best time together! Each time we go, we never want to go home, but it reminds us that we always have next year.

We celebrated my parent’s 50th anniversary this summer! What a gift it has been to witness my parent’s marriage and the example they set for us all. My dad was also diagnosed with ALS this year, which has been very difficult for our family. It is such a nasty disease and so difficult to watch your dad and mom go through this. It is a debilitating disease, but we trust in God’s unfailing love and trust that he will provide what he needs for each day. Please continue to pray for my dad and mom as they walk this journey.

In October, the farm my uncle and dad built, burned. My cousin has since taken over the farm, but it was an emotional day as we watched so much hard work, livelihoods, and memories go up in flames.

Dan helped coach Mazy’s rec soccer team this year!

Camping at the Conference Grounds in June and for Fall Fest was so amazing as always – I often say that the CG is a slice of heaven here on earth.

Dan and Mazy back at it in the hunting blind! No luck this year though…

This is our golden, Maggie, who brings much laughter, joy, and hair to our household!

When I was diagnosed with cancer the first time, Mazy made a “sword” that says “FIGHT THIS CANCER”. We found it a few weeks ago and we are just so humbled that so far, God has kept my cancer away after my BMT. Everyone needs a sword like this!

The Winning At Home Daddy/Daughter Dance is something these two always look forward to.

Thanks to our friend Sydney for taking our family pictures this year! It’t still surreal to look at myself with such short hair, but I’ll admit it’s growing on me…

Why not add one more heart procedure to close out the year 2024? I had an ablation at U of M on December 10. It didn’t go as well as we had hoped, but hopefully it’ll suffice for awhile. We are just grateful for the world-renown surgeon that I have at U of M. I am a complex case and even though sometimes the drive seems far, in all reality, it is so close.

This was one of the biggest gifts this year – being able to celebrate Christmas and go to ALL the parties this year! Something I tried to never take for granted, knowing the past 2 years have looked so different. No having to prep our hearts and minds to be separated for cancer treatments. We could just be together.

If I’m being completely honest, the turn of the year comes with some hesitation, not knowing what God has in store. The turn of the calendar tests my faith. Each year for each of us, brings on it’s own challenges. But God has the gift of a new year, all wrapped up for me to unwrap and when I think about it that way, it gets me excited. All these blessings ready to be revealed for the next 365 days. And yes, EACH DAY has blessings – and I get the opportunity to see them every day, despite what God allows.

I don’t know what thoughts of the past year bring or what the idea of the new year brings for you, but may we all be able to see the countless blessings He has given us. These pictures are just a SMALL sampling of the goodness He has undeservedly given us. May we all take time to reflect, scroll through our phones or picture albums, to reflect. Maybe even do it as a family! Give all the glory and honor to Him as you take a look back and anticipate what’s to come.