I think we should be feeling like this was a bad year, and we're glad to see the back side of it. Getting 2 cancer diagnoses is enough to ruin any year.
But as I look back on the past year, I see only what good it brought us. Yes, two major surgeries for Frédéric, recovery time, medical expenses, worry, fear.
But it also brought us strength.
Strength in ourselves and as a family.
It brought us tears and laughter.
It brought pain and joy.
It brought hope.
It brought friends.
It brought us community. Without hesitation, our "village" stepped in to help before even being asked. The year has taught us how wonderful our lives really are, how lucky we are to be surrounded by so much love and support.
Goodbye to 2011. As always, we're lucky in our bad luck.