2016 has come and gone. For some, it seems to have been a year of nothing but loss, grief, and pain. For others, a year of change. Still others have celebrated great successes and joys. But most of us have lived through a normal year where both good and bad things have happened in our lives and in the world around us.

My mom was a single mom starting the summer between my fourth and fifth grade years. She taught me a lot of things by simply living her life – she walked her talk and if it is true that character is “caught” as much as it’s taught, I hope that I caught the character with which she lived her life. The things that she taught me can be boiled down to specific sayings that have not only colored my world, but have helped me to become who I am. Among those sayings, there is one that seems to apply to looking back at the old year: “Two men looked out through prison bars. One saw mud; the other saw stars.”

Come along with me as I look for the stars in the past year – and then, maybe, spend some time looking for your own stars.

The year began at home with three of my men – I am so blessed to have a husband who loves me and helps to make an amazing home. Two of our boys, Phil and Ben are with us, and while living with adult sons is sometimes a challenge, it is also something that makes our days brighter and fills them with laughter and conversation.

Nate and Maira traveled out to join us for a week. Wisconsin followed it’s traditional winter pattern and was very cold while they were here, but our hearts were warmed by their presence and our time together. We spent a couple of days with them down in Iowa with family. The memories we have of that time are precious ones.

While teaching in Durand, I enjoyed sunrises and sunsets on my journey to and from work. I experienced safety on the roads and a mechanically sound vehicle with no flat tires. During those nine months, amazing fifth graders – eighty of them – made me laugh and think. They made my days hard sometimes, but most of the time, they made each day fun and better than the day before. The cherry on the top was reading them four historical fiction novels and having them fall in love with classic literature. Of course, there was that one day (maybe it was three or four days, actually), when a secretary gave me a long john with Persian Roll frosting. (My sisters will understand the significance of this delightful event.)

In April, we celebrated the fact that we have had an amazing daughter for four years as Maira and Nate celebrated their fourth anniversary. We love them, miss them, and we are proud of them.

Leading Craft and Chat mornings for the ladies at our church… So yeah, some days they love me – some days they may not, at least not as much… Giggle.

Saying good-bye to my students in May was, as usual, difficult. It was compounded by the fact that shortly after the end of the school year, the decision was made for me to look for a job closer to home. I’m so thankful that many of those students have chosen to say in touch with me on Insta-Gram.

Two weeks spent in Colorado and New Mexico. Time with my dad and second mom, my mom, son, daughter, sister, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews, grand dog Max, Zoey, friends, Scrabble games, the mountains, the desert – time of blessing, joy, and rest. The one down side was not having Mr. Gorgeous there with me.

Being hired to work at Meadowview Elementary as a member of the fourth grade team. It’s an amazing school with an incredible, caring, and learning staff.

Taking Dilly Bars to the firemen and policemen in our town on the 4^th of July as a gift from our Church.

Starting school with fourth graders who make me laugh and smile every day.

Having an amazing eye surgeon who wasted no time getting surgery scheduled and saving the vision in my right eye. So incredibly thankful.

A presidential election that – no matter how it turned out – reminds us that we live in a nation where we get to participate in our government, where certain rights are given to us, and where we can say what we want about the political process – even when we should maybe keep our mouths shut.

Thanksgiving – so much for which to be thankful. Celebrating first at school, then at Church and finally at home.

Cold, cold, cold days with wind chill in frigid ranges that remind me to be thankful for warmer days.

A Christmas celebration where I was once again reminded of the hope that we have due to the birth of a tiny baby who didn’t even own a crib, but who laid in a hay trough.

My – how many stars I have for counting.

How about you?