Category: Year in Review

The Best of 2017

by stefmckeever, posted in Book Review, Lipstick Review, Special Needs, Year in Review

The best of 2017. Sounds weird when it was a year most would consider not the best. But, borne out of this year was good books I may never have read without the tough days, more lipstick than a girl could ever need because I tend to shop my feelings, and still a joy that has come from these hard days.

I’ve read some of my favorite books this past year. No, I have not been more impressionable in my emotional state. They were darn good books. Right now I’m reading Struck by Russ Ramsey. So good. His own medical trial is different from ours, but yet, it’s the same. Michele Cushatt is one of my favorite writers. I’ve read two of her books this year and loved them both, I Am and Undone. I Am was an easy to read daily bible study. Perfect for my life filled with “Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom” and the constant interruptions of hospital life. Undone has a medical theme; living an unexpected life. (I’m sensing a theme in my book choices.) Ann Voskamp wrote the bestseller, The Broken Way, and I really enjoyed its easier reading. It was a little less poetic than some of her others and more real life. I like real life. And finally, Matthew West took some of his songs and put them to book in Hello My Name Is. Or maybe it’s the other way around? Either way, he is funny and I loved hearing some of the background to a few of his most popular songs. And he always points me back to Christ in book or in song. What were your favorite books of 2017?

Lipsticks! So many to choose from. I wrote about my favorites this year that came from a weak moment shopping spree. But truth be told, my favorite lipstick of the year is from Stila. I love it in Brûlée. Get it online or at my go-to retail therapy location, Ulta.

The favorite blog posts of 2017 might not make any happiest moments of the year lists. But what I’ve found is joy isn’t always found in just happy times. Just because we are faced with trials doesn’t mean this equates to only misery. Joy comes from something, somewhere, someONE, other than a circumstance. I have learned to trust Jesus more this year than ever before. Because of this, 2017 has been a good year.

Top 5 Posts of 2017:

I hope you found Jesus here in 2017. I hope you know you aren’t alone in the special needs walk, be sarcastic to get though the nonsense, and you can’t go wrong with new lipstick.

Much love, S.

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My Year in Review: 2016

by stefmckeever, posted in Special Needs, Special Needs Parenting, Year in Review

bossfight-free-stock-photos-sparkler-fire-sparksIt seems like all the cool bloggers are doing it – a year in review. So I thought I would jump on that bandwagon and give you mine. (Because we bloggers really hope this is the time someone reads our stuff.) Don’t worry, I’m not much on talking about all that has been. But I thought you’d like to see the short version of my most popular posts in 2016.

Should I count down? I’ve never done this before. I’ll count down.

#5: Finding Joy in the Mundane. You would think since our life is kindof unique it would be exciting and always new. Well, no. Unless you count running to see who’s gagging in the middle of the night or the never-ending prayer, “Please God, don’t let this be a hospital visit.” That’s the kind of excitement we live with. Otherwise, we chase chickens.

#4: I Need A Nap. This wasn’t specifically about special needs, but more my rant on what a stay at home mom truly does at home. And what we do before 7:00am. Spoiler: In our house, it usually involves grossness. But, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Home is where my heart is.

#3:  They Have No Idea. An oldie, but a goodie. Kindof. The Target Incident. It was the day when we decided to take a break from Target. They didn’t send me a thank you note, but I’m pretty sure they didn’t miss us.

#2:  I’m ‘Just’ A Special Needs Mom. More on being a stay at home mom. Sometimes (a lot of times) I want more than this life I live. Rereading my own post reminds me of all God has given me right here, right now.

#1:  One of the Hard Days. (This was the most read, most popular post of 2016! Congratulations!)  Hard Days. We all have them. Sometimes the special needs hard days are the rest of the world’s great days. But, I know the source of my joy is in Christ. And that’s where I go on my hard days.

And one more for good luck – or just because it was one of my favorites to write … Thankful from the Disability Trenches. I am thankful for this life we live. Evan has taught me so much through disability. I didn’t know what I didn’t know until Evan. It’s difficult to be thankful for someone’s hardship. But it is what it is and I am just starting to see how God is using this life. I can’t wait to look at 2017 and see the way God has moved through it.