With Every Broken Bone

I've said it before. Each year for Christmas I make sweatshirts and a family movie reflecting the past year in pictures. The planning for this usually begins in June. I look for the PERFECT song to set the movie to. It needs to represent something I want to say to my family without me sitting them down and giving them the "mom talk". I sift through pictures that are funny or meaningful to represent our year. I plan and design a sweatshirt that suits our family. It's a process that I love.

I had a perfect song. I had a design in my mind. I was ready to go and thrilled with the memory I was going to create. Then Shelby sent me a text:

"I know the perfect song for the Christmas video. It's called I lived by one republic. Look it up and read the lyrics. You'll DIE."

I don't let my kids know what I'm doing. I DON'T share the song I'm using. They don't see the design of the shirts. Heck. I don't even let them tell me what color of sweatshirt that I'm going to use. So when I answered "Hmmmmm okay. I have one already picked out but..." I really had no intention of changing the song, let alone letting Shelby in on my gift. 

I listened to the song. 

I changed my choice of music to "I Lived" by One Republic.

2013 visited the Deason clan with a vengeance. Difficult. Scary. Heartbreaking. Overwhelming. Hopeless. These emotions have pummeled us at every turn. There were times that I wondered if we would ever get through the turmoil visited upon our shoulders. 

We did it.

I'm grateful for so many things. I find myself grateful for the difficult times that I slug my way through. Maybe that sounds weird, I don't know. I do believe when I "own" something, I take the power from the problem and the power becomes engrained in my soul. I find honor in overcoming pain and heartache. That door isn't presented to everyone and in turn, not all choose to step through the opening. Those of us that choose not to turn and run?  The blessings are endless.

I put the birthday of each member of our family at the bottom of the design. Within those date, the blue number (if put together) is the date of the beginning of our family - 06/15/1983. Let me say it loudly - THE DEASON's HAVE LIVED.

Sweatshirt Back:

Sleeve:

Ernest Holmen said "Today I live in the quiet, joyous expectation of good."

It will be good. I know it.