Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Trials and Triumphs

Lessons Learned and Memories Made

While most people talk about a year in review, we are so happy that 2024 is in the rearview mirror.

“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” I hope you’ll stick with me to the end. The moral of the story is worth it.

February started off with Tim falling and suffering a broken pelvis. I was in disbelief that he would heal without surgery, as the doctors insisted. But he did.

A Caregiver's Journey

This incident happened just a week before Tim turned 65. Twelve weeks went by without any weight-bearing activity for Tim. During this time, I had to take on many responsibilities. I became a nurse, giving him shots to avoid clotting twice per day. I was also the farmer, taking care of all the animals.

I even became the neighbor who had to deal with bulls that jumped fences. Thankfully, I managed to get them penned. However, one bull jumped over my head and kicked at my face. I was just inches away from disaster.

Weathering the Drought

Two years ago, we endured a drought that lasted for a long time without any rain. When it finally began to rain, we discovered that our roof was leaking. Water poured into our living room, causing chaos. Many other insurance claims around us were covered for hail damage, but ours was declined. They claimed it was older damage that was too far past the point of reporting. Sadly, we didn’t learn about this until it started raining. Tim was not well enough to check it out for himself, so we took the financial blow of replacing the roof on our own.

An Unexpected Accident

At the same time, the Warda bridge was being replaced. This required me to take alternative routes to work. One foggy, wet morning, I found myself on unfamiliar back roads with limited visibility. A sharp right turn appeared out of nowhere, and so did another car. I couldn’t stop in time and slid head-on into a Tesla.

We exchanged insurance information, but that driver drove off without explanation. I had no cell phone coverage, and my car was incapacitated. After numerous dropped calls, Tim managed to piece together enough information to find me. Luckily, no one was harmed. Yes, it was my fault, but I still wonder why that guy was in such a hurry to leave me stranded.

Growing List of Challenges

Month by month, the list of things that went wrong grew. We had to get a new dishwasher. The water oak in our front yard started dropping large limbs, becoming a hazard. Consequently, we had to pay someone to remove it. Without that tree, our attic needed better insulation. The pasture fences were in disrepair and required replacement. To top it off, our refrigerator broke down twice, but we managed to repair it.

A Much-Needed Vacation

In July, we took our whole family on a much-needed vacation as their birthday present. Experiences are essential, and visiting Kalahari was a highlight for everyone.

A Blessing in Disguise

In August, our son and his family moved back home. Literally. We are enjoying having them with us until their house sells and they build one nearby. This is one of the biggest blessings of the year.

Christmas Cheer

On Christmas Eve, all five of my grandchildren participated in the church play, and they performed splendidly. My mom came with us, filling my heart with joy and warmth.

After the Christmas Eve service, we were blessed with 3.6 inches of rain and some small hail. Thankfully, there was no immediate damage.

A Troubling Incident

Two days later, a large post oak tree fell on Tim’s tractor.

What a way to end the year! We are still waiting on the estimate, but it seems insurance may cover it. It looks worse than it actually is, or at least we hope so.

A Life Lesson from Jim

Throughout all these challenges, we heard a story from Jim at the tractor shop. This story will resonate with me for the rest of my life.

Jim’s dad, Al, who is now bedridden, once received a call from someone wanting to buy a tractor. The man said, “Al, I have one more tractor in me before I go.” Al delivered the tractor. But to his dismay, the man was on his deathbed, dying of cancer.

The man told Al, “I have plenty of money, and if I could write a check to restore my health, I would. But I can’t. However, I can write a check for this tractor. So anytime you find yourself having problems, ask yourself, ‘can money fix it?’ If money can fix it, then you don’t have any problems."

Moving Forward

Reflecting on this past year has taught me about resilience and gratitude. Despite the challenges faced, we found joy, love, and lessons that will carry us forward.

Happy New Year to all of you! May God bless you and keep you. And may 2025 be the best year ever!