I can't believe it's already December. I feel like it was just yesterday that Kevin and I had loaded the trailblazer for the trip across country to start school. I remember the first two weeks of school and thinking "holy crap...I still have the rest of the year...I don't know if I can make it." Now there are two weeks left and I have made it through more than anyone should ever have to. I do get the strength from him to keep going, to get up everyday and at least try. I usually do feel better after I am up and busy doing some kind of activity. My brain still struggles though. I thought is was just me being more forgetful and foggy than usual but all the books and people I have talked to refer to it as "Widow Brain." I use to hate that word at first: Widow. It's a label. I hate being labeled. But I have learned to embrace it. I am living, I am going to school, and I am surviving even if I am a Widow. I am stronger than I ever thought possible and I only continue to grow. Some days are still much harder than others, but even on the hard days I can now make myself get up and do something. Even if it's something small, it's an accomplishment. I wasn't even able to make myself go outside in the beginning and now I make it mandatory for myself. I think that is some pretty good self growth.

The picture above is from Kevin and I's adventure across country. It was taken on December 31st 2010, the first day of our drive. Kevin drove about 40 of our 45 hour drive...he always loved to drive though. He turned into a Chatty Cathy when he was a passenger. I think it was because he was so bored that he just said every thought that came into his head...which was very uncommon for him to do.