Christmas Letter

Over the past week or so, I've been receiving Christmas cards and letters in the mail (and through blogs) from many of my friends. It has brought me much joy to hear about and see pictures of your beautiful families! I started wondering if I should write a Christmas letter this year (never have done one before), but at first as I thought about my life over the past year, I thought that it might sound depressing. However, after more thought, I received that what matters is that I overcame the challenges of this year and learned from them. I'm very happy with where my life is now and I'd like to share the journey which got me there...

A year ago I have lived in a small one bedroom house with my husband and our puppy Bella. I was working at the Wells Fargo Call Center in Salem. Unfortunately, our Christmas Eve didn't turn out the way we had hoped ... while at work on Christmas Eve morning, I received a phone call letting me know that my Grandma Hodges had passed away. This was very hard new for me to receive because I loved her so dearly! She was an amazing woman who I look up to and hope to become more like as I grow older.

In January, Sherman and I decided that we needed more room, so we moved into a 3 bedroom 2 bath (1250 sqft) apartment in Keizer. I loved that apartment!

In February, I took a teller position at a Wells Fargo branch because I wanted to have more face to face interaction with customers.

In March, we had our one year anniversary and went on a trip to California (the Bay Area where I use to live) and Utah. Our trip to Utah didn't go very well, since Sherman's mom ended up in the hospital and our dog Bella died while we were gone. On the flight home, I was very ill and couldn't keep anything down and had a bad pain in my side. That continued through April and May. I wasn't able to work because I was either drugged up or vomiting and in pain. In the end of May, my doctor finally discovered that I have a disk in my back pushing into my spinal column which is causing nerve pain. We saw a neurosurgeon who informed me that she would not do surgery on it until I lost 150 lbs or until I become paralyzed! That was very scary and frustrating to hear! In June, I started receiving epidermal injections in my back to numb the nerves. I continue to get them on a regular basis so I can continue functioning.

In April, we got a new puppy named Molly. She was very cuddly once she got to know you. Unfortunately, she needed more attention and love than we were able to give her so we found her a new home in August.

August and September were not pleasant months for me. In the end of September, I lost my job and we no longer had any income so we had to move out of our apartment. Sherman moved to Utah and I moved to my mom's home in Newberg. A few weeks later, he told me that he no longer wanted to be married to me so we filed for divorce.

Now for the not so depressing part ...
In October after I moved back to my mom's, I realized that I needed to make some changes. I started this blog, changed my eating habits, started losing weight (36lbs so far!), went to counseling (that helped a lot), started the process to go back to school, became more active in my church, and started hanging out with friends!!! I am so thankful for the friends in my life!! You guys are awesome! I also, went to the haunted forest twice! It was so much fun and not something I would usually do!

In the beginning of November, my mom and her husband put their house up for sale and moved to Dallas, Texas. Since then, I have been learning to adjust to living by myself (I've always lived with family, roommates or my husband). Had friends over for dance parties, movies, yummy food, and lots of laughter!

In December, my life has gotten even better! I was very worried going into this Christmas season that it would be difficult with the anniversary of my grandma's passing and the divorce. However, I have some amazing people in my life who have made this Christmas so wonderful for me! Lots of good memories, going to SleighBells, making Christmas cookies, singing, picking out special ornaments for the tree, putting up the Christmas tree, dancing in the living room, going to Peacock Lane, going to the temple, and much more!

Tomorrow is Christmas and New Year's Eve is a week away. As I look back at this year, I'm grateful for the lessons I've learned and how I've grown. I'm excited as I look forward at my future! I'm starting school at Portland Community College in a few weeks and hope to get into the OHSU nursing program soon! I've realized that this time in my life is to better myself and prepare myself. So, I plan on continuing to lose weight, get healthy and fit, progress in my education, grow spiritually, and have lots of fun along the way!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my friends and family!!
I love you all!

Sincerely,
Stephanie Bailey