Another year is coming to an end. It’s been a great year, and a hard year, and a year of changes. But it’s been another year that I have been able to walk this earth. To be able to watch the amazing sunrises we have here in Florida and drive home while watching the sunset. It’s truly beautiful here in Brevard County.

I helped my only daughter and now son-in-law to plan their dream wedding. My family, our friends old and new came, and we had so much fun that it shouldn’t be legal. We ate, we drank a little, we danced and we celebrated the union of two very special people, Alexis, and Bryce. The next day we had a party to celebrate my Mom’s 90th birthday, and her elder sister, who is 93, was there to celebrate with us. How amazing is that?

I have several “children” from other mothers who have been friends with Alexis since she was a child. One of them even got ordained to become a legal officiate at Alexis’ Wedding. Thank you, Alison. Jamie, Trisha, David, their spouses and even some of the children of my other children came and we reconnected. 

Kristen Warren sang for us as the darkness fell and we danced.

I  started working with my local Sara Care facility, helping them with marketing and on some days actually helping with the participants as they spend a lovely day there. Many of the people would otherwise just be sitting alone with no one to talk to or interact with. I love making people feel good and feel like someone cares about them.

I massaged some long-time clients, I massaged the children of my long-time clients, and sometimes I even massaged the children of the children of my long-time clients. And, I also got the chance to meet and work on new clients.

As the holidays approach, I want to take a moment to say “Thank you” to all of you who have been in my life, both personally and professionally, this year. I particularly want to thank those of you who have taken a moment to leave a nice review on my Facebook page, or to post a kind work on my personal page, or sent a text, gave a call just to let me know you have been thinking of me.

I think the most difficult time I had this year was helping my strong, athletic, beautiful daughter recover from major surgery. As a parent, there is not much that is harder than to watch your child suffer. 

The upside of that was my people back in Brevard County were missing me and very happy when I returned home. That’s when you really know that people love you, when they post messages on your Facebook page saying please come home soon.

Valentina Boonstra