Hello dear reader,
Happy new year! I hope your year is off to a great start and I hope this blog post finds you doing well and in good health. Thanks for stopping by to catch up with me. Its been awhile I know and for that I am sorry. A lot has happened - a lot has changed. Definitely not as traumatic or life threatening as 2021, but just as life changing. Here's the scoop of how 2022 unfolded.
The year started out with me still battling with my health and learning how to manage Crohn's disease. It was a challenge but that has somewhat smoothed itself out. I still have inflammation though its decreased. I have figured out for the most part my dietary restrictions. Well I thought I did and then I recently in 2023 did allergy testing and now I am back to the drawing board with food. I might share more on that later. Anyway, as of my latest colonoscopy my body is still very angry and not ready for a reversal surgery. Its okay, I am just thankful to be alive.
Popeye and I moved to another state and another command. I am so proud of him. He got promoted--so well deserved. I know he will be an awesome leader. Pray for him you'll he is dealing with so much. I am not at liberty to give details but God knows so just keep him in prayer if you are of the praying type.
Popeye and his friend Tom decided that I and Tom's wife would be good friends if not best friends but neither of us ladies thought that would be the case. However, we took a leap of faith and decided to meet up one day during the deployment. Her name is Jacqui and she has an adorable daughter named Liza. Anyway, Jacqui and I hung out at her house. I planned on only staying there for an hour so that I don't overstay my welcome. But we ended up really enjoying each others company and conversation. We laughed at how our husbands were trying to set up an adult-play-date for us. I am glad they were right, I adore Jacqui and Liza. We hope to get together again and hang out more in the future.
Shortly after we moved, our beloved Yoda passed away unexpectedly. 
That was so traumatic. He died at home while we were in the process of trying to find an emergency vet. He wasn't sick prior to his death. He had had an awesome Friday, the day before. Saturday morning, he didn't want to eat his food and he just wanted to lay down even when I asked him if he wanted to go for a walk. That wasn't normal so we both started calling around to find a vet that was open on a Saturday morning that could take him in and check him out. By the time we finally got a hold of a vet (over an hour drive away) Yoda was gone. As sad as it was, I am so glad that Popeye was home for it. It would have been 100 times worse if he was deployed--I would have had to wait till he returned home to tell him.
We also rehomed Roxy. Roxy was a foster puppy we acquired prior to moving. She was a German Shepherd puppy of about 1 year of age when we picked her up. She was just too much for me to handle and because Popeye was going to be deploying soon we decided it was best that she went to a home that could handle her. It took several weeks but we were able to place her in a home that truly loves her and she gets to live her best life. I know we made the right decision.
I traveled to visit my parents a few times this year. That was fun. The first time was a whirlwind. During that first trip to visit my parents, was the first time I would be traveling on a plane with Maria Consuelo. I was so nervous. I learned two things that trip: Maria Consuelo gets me stopped by TSA and I can indeed travel with Maria Consuelo and not need to feel panicked. Aside from that it was such an amazing trip. I was able to see my favorite high school teacher, and two of my best friends. I've known them for 24 years. One of them got married that weekend and I was the matron of honor. I was so honored to be apart of their day. It was beautiful and so very busy. I love her husband. They are such a cute couple.
Also in 2022 I found out that the job I started in 2020 was being eliminated. That was such a hard pill to swallow. I really enjoyed that job. It was nice of them though, the last few weeks they allowed us to use our working hours to look for another job. As only God could do--I was blessed with a new job within the same parent company. I like this new job but it is very different and has a large learning curve.
2022 also brought me closer to my friend Jess. I've known her for about 10ish years now. Her husband and Popeye semi work together. Anyway, I adore her--she has been such a great help to me. There were a couple of times that I needed help with transportation to and from treatment/procedures and she helped me. This is the most we've talked and spent time with each other and I am loving it. I look forward to seeing how our friendship grows.
So much more happened last year but this has been a very long post so I am ending here. Thanks for sticking with me this long. I will try to do better in 2023 with keeping up with my blog posts.
Till next time take care,
Simply That
