Silver Linings (or "the good things that happened because everything was cancelled!")

2020 will go down in history as a year unlike any other. In the US, especially, we have had more than our share of troubles; from the pandemic to a heated presidential election and just about everything in between. So as the year draws to a close, it's only natural to look back on what all has transpired.

While the big picture has been bleak, there are moments, silver linings, that I am choosing to remember.

I am an avid cyclist, so every chance I get, I ride. With all of my Liturgical Conferences and Quilt Shows being cancelled, I rode a lot this year! I even took a cycling trip to Florida. My brother lives there, so an added bonus was spending time with him. My oldest son came with me and while we were there, he interviewed and got a job in St. Petersburg! We came home, he packed, and went right back. He was unemployed because of the pandemic and had always wanted to move to Florida. Talk about Divine Intervention!

A very bright silver lining for me this year has been to spend more time with my family, including my 2-year old grandson, who is one of the happiest little boys I have ever known! My family has been healthy, so far, through all of this. I hope that is the case with you and yours, too. I feel very blessed, even in the worst of times, to have my health, my family, and my work.

We don't know what 2021 and beyond will look like. It will most likely take a long time to get back to "normal" and even then, things will probably be different. So, I hope during this upcoming holiday, everyone can just pause, take a breath, reflect on their own silver linings of 2020 and leave the future to unfold as it will...