2009 - A Wonderful Year

December 2009


I’ve been so teary this holiday season. A beautiful package, a nice note, people helping someone’s grandmother across the street. Maybe it’s the hours I’ve spent driving around looking for a parking space in New York City listening to Delilah – for the Christmas music of course – and balling every time they play Christmas Shoes. Elf even brings the tears, especially when Buddy the Elf finally inspires everyone to spread Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear.

Some may attribute it to holiday stress, but in the few moments I’ve had to sit and think today, I realized, I’m just overcome with gratitude, at every turn.

Remembering where I was last year, nervous about moving, but praying that I would move out and be independent by my upcoming birthday, not sure if I would make it in New York City on my own, I see how much this year has brought me.

After worries about signing the lease on my own, it was finally accomplished and I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful women as they have come and gone with their internships and studies.

Worried about fitting into a singles ward and making contacts in a Stake I knew little of, I was asked to be the Compassionate Service Leader in our ward and later also the Primary Activity Days Specialist for the Stake. Both callings which have helped me make friends and which I have reaped more than I have sown. One of the greatest blessings is to finally have my NYC person, a friend to call on, Amanda Haslam … we were afraid at first that we really did have the same brain, but after realizing we were still our own persons (she loves the hymn If You Could Hie To Kolob and I am not a fan) we find our differences compliment each other at every turn.

While most of my family lost their jobs this year and budgets have been tight, I’ve been blessed with a job I enjoy and a boss who I adore. We laugh, we cry, and for all the hard work, he makes sure that I have fun from time to time. I’ve attended the Van Morrison Concert, KISS Concert, The Monty Python Documentary Premiere, and the Gala for the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias – which I love attending every year.

One of my favorite events of the year though, was watching Tara create the most amazing dinner for over 800 people in June recognizing the damaging effects of Diabetes in particular, in the death of Larry Miller. She says I helped out with the dinner … but I hardly call putting programs on the table helping out. She did an absolutely beautiful and perfectly executed job.

My absolute favorite event was this last weekend, watching my baby sister graduate from UWM with a bachelors degree in Nursing. My grandmother had hopes that all of her daughters would one day graduate from High School – a dream that seemed near impossible given their circumstances, but which they accomplished. My mother’s dream was to have us
all go to college. We’ve all gone … but only 2 have graduated. The oldest and the youngest. I’m so proud of Marilyn for helping keep Mom’s dreams alive and for setting an example that I hope to follow in the upcoming year.

I had no intentions of traveling this year with the cost of living, especially for the first time in New York City, being so high. But I squeezed in a few trips. This year I’ve been to DC – for the most amazing birthday celebration as well as attending the Inaugural Concert, Pennsylvania to see family and celebrate birthdays, New Jersey (countless times) but always to visit with family and have some great times with everyone down at Aunt Dot’s, New Hampshire, Maine (ate the most amazing lobsters in Maine! And made friendships that will last a lifetime), Utah (twice), Wisconsin (twice), California – to visit Kendra’s darling family and celebrate Tara’s Diabetes Walk accomplishments, Massachusetts to attend a fantastic conference wherein we worked on brainstorming ideas on how to best share the gospel.

And it is for that that I am most grateful this year. I realized this year more than ever that the Savior is the only concrete thing I have to hold onto here in a bustling world. He’s there for me when I’m on a shady street late at night, He’s there for me when I have to make decisions that seem beyond my wisdom, He’s there to help me serve others, He’s there to grant me peace when emotions are stirred high. My goal this coming year is to show Him just how grateful I am for all that He is for me.

One of the scariest things I’ve done this year is to actually start my own business. People have urged me for ages, but I never felt the timing was right, and now in the midst of all this holiday cheer (and tear), everything is falling into place. By the end of the year, CAKE by Maggie will be up and running. I’m finally taking all those talents and putting them to use, hoping to increase smiles in these times as people share moments with the perfect chocolate chip cookie, or melt into the most amazing cupcake with even more dazzling frosting. It’s a project that has been 7 years in the making, but this year, because of the encouragement and support, and helpful hands of close friends and family, it is coming to light. I just want to make a special shout out to Tara Demke, who helped me with the name, and to Brad Muramoto, who helped me come up with the most perfect logo, as well as all of their support and encouragement. What was once a venture full of fear, is now an adventure filled with enthusiasm. So visit! Buy! And donate to the American Diabetes Association while you’re at it. www.cakebymaggie.com

Thank you for all of your love and encouragement. I couldn’t do any of this without you.

For all the stresses and tears and disappointments that come with being single in New York City, I’ve had so much to be grateful for, more than I could ever list. But most of all, I’m grateful for the news that the angel brought as he announced, Unto us is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11.

May you have a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

All My Love,

~M