2013 Started off a little slow, but then quickly got worse when I received the sad news of the death of a good friend, Angel Thomas. That started this year with multiple deaths of people I knew. January was also when I officially found out that at some point this year I would loose my job and began the search. Although, we had a positive with the Redskins NFC East Champs went for trying to win Playoff game 1, but we lost.
February started out like any other month of love. Bob and I went to NY to visit with family, go to our favorite Italian restaurant and see our close friend Jay for Valentines Day weekend. I just knew in my gut (one time I'm glad I listened) we HAD to go up to Albany to minister to Jay whom was having a very hard time with a family situation (as we now know of the separation with his wife).
What stands out to me the most was a conversation we had where he said, "Stef, I have a stupid question. Do you know where I can get a bible?"
I told him, "Not a stupid question...yes I do..." Gave him a few suggestions like add the Bible app to his phone, then I felt compelled to purchase him a bible.
"Stef, you know what really got me was the fact your brother ate MOST of the Chick-fil-A nuggets on your wedding day and I didn't get any."
"I'm sorry Jay."
Jay appreciated I had gotten him the Bible but he LOVED that I brought him all the way from VA Chick-fil-A nuggets! He said, "OH MY GOD YOU ARE SO AWESOME!" He gave me the biggest hug and a kiss on the cheek, and gave Bob a big hug and thanks for the cigar. But little did I know when we left the parking lot that evening and we honked and smiled and waved "Bye" to each other that would be the last moment I would see Jay alive! :( Julian With passed away 4 days later. We were right there by his side one last time with the help of a few friends whom helped us with funds to get to the funeral/viewing. Not a day goes by do we not think of Jay and we KNOW he is looking after us to this day! I also had some other shocking news this year from my family that has still been an adjustment. Also, I later found out that Jay had been reading the bible I gave him.
March, I had two more people I knew pass away. One was my very own Dr. Rajan. Rest of month was pretty slow for us.
In April I celebrated the best drama teacher Pat Quinn with her retirement party and I was able to see friends hadn't seen from HS in years! I also celebrated my 36th birthday in April.
May 19th brought our 1 year Wedding Anniversary! Bob took me to the place he proposed, National Harbor in MD to McCormick and Schmidt's. I paid off my last Student load, and was one more step closer to being debt free. Found out I was skin cancer Free.
June was pretty slow. Except I started to go to a dr for some medical issues I was beginning to have. It was the start of a roller coaster of emotions, faith and trust. June 15th mom and I also went to the Verizon Center to see the NKOTB, Boyz II Men, and 98 degrees concert!
July came when I was looking forward to the most. Bob went for the first time in decades to Disney with me and my parents. Of course I got a really bad case of food poisoning and wasn't able to enjoy the vacation as I would have liked and Bob didn't get to visit Sea World as he wanted. We will go back again!
August began with the return of Redskins football and training camp beginning down in Richmond, VA. We didn't make the trip. I even learned to sew for the first time with a sewing machine. Bob and I went on a spontaneous trip to Albany, NY and made a stop at the new Ridgewood, NJ Carlos Bakery store. Mom and I went to Wolftrap and saw Josh Groban perform. I saw One Republic perform at Wolftrap in Aug. or Sept.
September was an tough month for me. First started out I found out that my job was going away sooner than had realized and was going thru some tough medical testing. I ran/walked a 5K Return to Football run for the first time in less than 58:00 seconds. Proudest moment I had this year without training. The roughest moment for me was when I had surgery one day after Bob's b-day to remove a 4.8cm fibroid that had grown behind my uterus and some endometreous. This was done b/c it had become pretty uncomfortable for me and in order to hopefully become pregnant one day I knew I needed to get this done for myself. Bob also turned 40 years old! My back door neighbor Steve, lost his battle to cancer.
October I surprised my husband for his 40th birthday (on the 6th), I surprised him with his mom and step-dad coming down from NY, and several friends came as well.
In November Bob and I went to Ferguson Fine Arts Center in Newport News and meet Buddy V from Cake Boss!! :) I was officially unemployed on the 16th and I celebrated Thanksgiving with my parents and brother at their house, where I actually helped to cook for the first time in years! Paid off our Jared bill and became two bills away from being debt free.
Now it's December and I'm STILL actively looking for work. Paid off our couch payment, only one bill away from being debt free! Bob and I had the opportunity to meet Redskins VP Bruce Allen on Dec 8th when we were at a Snowy/Icy game against Kansas City Chiefs. We're still hoping to get pregnant one day soon and looking forward to celebrating Christmas remembering the ones that have passed before me and looking forward to a new year with new beginnings and a greater story than this year.
Whew, that's 2013 in a nutshell. I can only hope that 2014 will be a great year of new beginnings! I believe 2014 is going to be a year of unexpected blessings! I can feel it now!
