Happy New Year!

2017 ended roughly for me. And I'm doing my best to put it all aside.

But 2018 came in and washed everything white. Snow, that is. Roughly 5-7 inches of it, though it was difficult to measure it because the 50 mph wind gusts blew it all over the place. We had a drift over a foot and a half in the driveway and one even taller in between our house and the neighbor's house. 

But before I continue, there was one major positive event that came in the second half of 2017. The best thing that came from 2017 though was my move into a new house with my roommates! They have been a blessing, from the move itself, to when they sincerely helped me out when I was very sick for four days, to just hanging out while we've been stuck inside during this snow and freezing temps. On Thursday we took up the challenge to shovel out our driveway before the 12 degree temps we were supposed to get that night. A challenge this was, as we had to tackle the drift I mentioned and de-icing my car, and well, we had no shovel. But, we met four new neighbors, found ourselves three shovels to borrow, and met the man next door, who even gave us some salt to prevent an ice build up. It worked quite nicely, as by midday on Friday we had no ice.

I joked after this that while we’ve been roommates for two months now, 

apparently our first picture together occurs after shoveling the driveway.

2018 came and washed everything white on day 3. But just before the new year, I had a change of heart. And the new year came and washed everything, even my mind, clean. And now, six days into the new year, I haven't felt better since early July. I made a major decision (that I will continue to keep quiet about) but, it's changed my mindset. And I know there has only been six days in this new year, but I feel so much better about 2018 because of it.

So now, six days in, here we are. I've been stuck inside for three days, but I'm doing just fine. Last year, I remember when we received ice and rain and everything froze. I didn't go anywhere but by the afternoon of day 3, having not left my house except for a quick errand on the morning of day 1, I paced my parking lot because I had been feeling trapped. It's been three full days inside this time, and I've been home since Wednesday at 2pm. I've gone out to shovel the driveway, and today to take out the trash and make sure my car still turned on (it did!). But I'm not trapped anymore! I've got a bigger space, and two friends to share it with. Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm so grateful for them.