Looking Back on 2012: My Christmas Letter to You

I can’t believe I’m wishing all of you all a Merry Christmas already. Wasn’t it just yesterday that we ushered in 2012?!? This year was filled with lots of happy times as well as trying times.

In 2012, I learned how strong my family really is.  Keeping the family together in love doesn’t come without challenges. This year, our family faced a lot of them.  There were several times that I thought I wanted to give up, but you, my friends encouraged me to keep going. The biggest family lesson I learned is that when challenges come your way, it’s best to not react right away during your feelings of frustration, disappointment and anger. It’s best to be still for a moment.

2012 was a whirlwind of a year, but I wouldn’t go back and change a single minute of it. Early in the year we found out that my Dad would need to have a lifesaving bone marrow transplant.  Also early in this year, a man I loved deeply, Leo was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  I was blessed to be able to spend time with him at his home in Vermont before he passed away in June.  My Dad was able to have the bone marrow transplant he so desperately needed and he's not given up, fighting will all that he's got even though the road has been bumpy at times.

In 2012, I was reminded time and time again that there are still so many good people in the world.  My Vermont friends stepped up big time when I asked for their help as Leo was in the final days of his life.  Leo was concerned that his wife Anne would be burdened with having to fix the things that needed fixing around the house.  Thanks to my friends, we were able to make sure that those things were fixed and before he passed, Leo was able to see that Anne would be taken care of.

My amazing listener friends in Pennsylvania also showered their love upon me and my family this year.  From food drives to fundraisers to donations of Christmas presents for the little kids, they simply went above and beyond and I just don't have the words to properly describe the feelings of love I have for each and every one of them.

In 2012, I was able to watch a friend get married, learned that my baby brother would be giving me a nephew, held on tight to my true friends are and said goodbye to the ones who weren’t.  I renewed old friendships, spent the most amazing lazy night at a lake cabin in the middle of nowhere reflecting on life, visited my family more than a dozen times, left a job and started a new one and moved to a new state so that I could be closer to the ones I love.

If 2013 is anything like 2012 was, a lot of new and exciting things are headed my way and I can’t wait to share my journey with you all.

Merry Christmas, from my home to yours,

Traci Taylor

Because so many amazing memories were made in 2012 and it'd be impossible to list every one of them, I've posted photos of some of my favorite highlights of 2012: