Goodbye 2019

Well, what do I say? 2019 kicked my ass! There really is no other way to put it, I would love to have said something more eloquent, but come on. Here I am 48 hours after my HA and just got out of ICU to a room on the cardiac floor. I can’t believe it’s been 6 months!

Life can be stressful at times and it can be joyous at times. I have always liked this, God is greater than your highs and lows. This year has been by far our most stressful time for Jeff and I‘s marriage and it has been high and low. Jeff was my rock the past 6 months being very understanding with my limitations. I had just turned 48 and did not expect to be airlifted out of our local hospital on my way to a cath lab for a heart attack! I had a heart attack in 2019, what?! I still struggle with it obviously. Yes the physical is frustrating, but the mental, 6 months later it is still fresh. God was with myself and family this year. Christmas was difficult, I realized later during the tears crying into my pillow I knew I was close to not being here for my boys. I’m not worried about dying now, which to be honest is an odd feeling, but it’s also very peaceful. I still am unsure why God kept me here and I’m very grateful he did. I wouldn’t want my family to have any sorrow. 2019 was for me to move and change, not only personally, but for my family too. My boys, sister, family and friends have done so much for me this year and I’m very thankful. The holidays were exhausting, but I can tell I’m getting better every day, gaining strength and moving on.

I’m very excited about changes in my life in 2020. Researching recipes for heart health, gardening will be coming soon too. Just wait, I love to garden! I’m working on getting more adventurous with the boys on food. Walker has at least tried some new foods, Bay, not so much. I’m still working with winter squash, I will be sharing the stuffed squash recipe soon. After all of the holiday foods and overly rich foods I have some fabulous salad options coming. Let me just say, I’m really enjoying brussel sprouts right now.

2019 will forever be a life changing year. I can’t go back and change it, no matter how much I would prefer. 2020 will be new and exciting and to be very clear on this, I’m so ready for 2019 to be over. I will continue to talk and reach out to people over heart healthy. There is a meme going around about choosing a word for 2020 with the first letter of your name. I'm going into 2020 with the word “nourishing”. With STH I believe nourishing will work well for my heart and yours. To all of you that have been by my side and have sent reassuring words over the past 6 months, I can not express enough gratitude to you. God always knows when to send you something or someone just at the right time.

Please drop a word you will take into 2020 and a food you love to eat. Let’s get heart healthy together.