2024 was a year - and a very wise man told me it's one to "put on the shelf and take from it whatever makes us stronger and happy". That's what I intend to do. Providing us with strength and happiness was a good old with a ProJac Family NYE extravaganza filled with light and love (and no puzzle).

Christmas Day/Night 2024 Tradition of a winter walk, Chinese food and apocalyptic movie night didn't disappoint.
 

Last Winter Formal for Bennett. His preparation included making sure to get home from an impromptu CO ski trip with T, just in time to find something in his closet and iron it.  Quick shower and some hair goop and he was ready to go. 

First Winter Formal for Harper. Her preparation started months prior, as we purchased 4 options for dresses before deciding on this sparkly navy ensemble.  Shoes were purchased and sufficiently scuffed before hitting the dance floor. Hair washed the night before and curled, touches of make-up and gloss and delicate pearl jewelry rounded out the fit.

They danced (or jumped around) all night, and both had a great time getting home close to midnight, and sleeping in the next morning - until like 8am.

 

Talk about spreading holiday cheer for all to hear!! This group of wonderful people showed up to serenade me with some of holiday favorites ("Joy to the World", "Baby it's Cold Outside" and - of course - "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"). It was obvious they had spent time practicing after school, and even had the accompaniment of a ukulele. It's all about who you know, and I know some of the best humans on the planet. Thank you, RIS family. You matter.

 

Another bell ringing. December 16 was my last (of 28) radiation treatments. I went into it with the idea it wouldn't be so bad - stopping by the clinic every day for 10 minutes of radiation can't be as bad as infusion chemo, right? And, it wasn't, but it was not as easy as I was hoping. It was exhausting on a different level - could have been the radiation or the combo of radiation and the chemo pills - but either way, I finished and rang the bell!

Dear Mom and Dad,

    Surprise! Thank you for coming to my final treatment, and bringing goodies for the staff who took such good care of me during this time. More importantly, thank you for the endless love and support - without even saying it, I know and feel surrounded in so much strength. I can't imagine what it is like to see your child travel this path - but you have been there for whatever I need - even when I don't know what that is. 

                                        ♡ ~ gina

 

 H and I went to the theatre to see the Great Theater production of "The Wizard of Oz". It was a wonderful performance, with some familiar faces in the cast - and Harper only slightly rolled her eyes as I reminisced on our wedding day, and told stories she "already knows, mom".