Bye Bye 2011!

Wow, what a year it has been!!  It's crazy to think a year ago at this time I chose to leave behind the one thing I had worked my whole entire life for....college cheerleading.  Sometimes I beat myself up over it, but when I stop and take a look around I know I did it for all of the right reasons.
I had made the decision to come home based on many factors, my boyfriend and I at the time were having serious problems (that's a different story for a different day), I was seriously not doing so hot in the education part of college (but I could out drink 300 lb football players...so clearly my priorities were a tad bit....screwed up), but most importantly...I just had a sense that my family needed me back home!
I made the decision around Thanksgiving time after coming home the first time since I moved away. My parents were totally supportive, although they didn't want to see me throw away my dream, but none of that really mattered to me.  I went back to school, said goodbye to my squad, and at the end of the semester I was out of there.
20 days after I got home my mom and dad had to drive to Maryland.  My pappy had gotten real sick, and the doctors called and said that if they could they needed to get there overnight.  I was in the middle of work, and getting ready to register for school, so the original plan was for my parents to drive up over night and I was going to come after I got everything figured out with my work schedule.  But there wasn't much time. My pappy passed Jan 15.
My parents didn't come home until March!! I mean, I'm a big girl, I know how to live on my own and all..but still...that was a lot of responsibility just thrown at me. I actually had to pay bills!! My parents brought back my grandma, and it was a HUGE adjustment!  I'll leave it at that, because details aren't really needed, and I don't wanna bore ya'll.
Anyway, this whole year went by without much problems...until August..when my grandma had a stroke.  It has taken a major toll on the whole family.  My momma quit her job to take care of her, and my dad is just now starting to go out and work again.  I try to help as much as I can, but with my work and going away to school.
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is looking back now I know that I made the right decision to leave behind such wonderful friends and teammates.  In the end it all worked out.  I have grown up so much in this last year...more than any other year, I'm positive!  Not only have I learned that family is the most important thing, but also that good things happen to those who let them happen..instead of trying to make them happen.
I feel like I'm the rock that keeps my whole family together!
IIt's been real nice actually being able to be right here with the one's that love me the most!
Hopefully 2012 will be less tragedy- filled, but I'll make the most of it no matter what comes out of it, because I know God wouldn't give me anything I couldn't handle, and I'm one tough cookie!
<3