I think we’ve all waited anxiously for the Christmas season this year. The lights and decorations and songs we enjoy only one season a year make our lives seem more lovely. More peaceful. Less pandemic-y. Yeah, I just made that word up. 😅 I know the holiday season can make some stressed and others lonely, and I pray for those people. But for me this year I have spent this season feeling blessed by the best.

Blessed by:

God. He has provided for us this year and lead us through the pandemic with grace and mercy.

Todd, Jackson and Isabella. I would be nothing without them. Todd has worked harder this year than maybe any year prior to provide for our family. Jackson probably lost more than any of us with the impact the pandemic has had on the end of his Senior year and the beginning of his college experience…but through it all he has stayed positive and encouraging to the rest of us. And Izzy…we joke that she’s been training for quarantine her whole life. But in all reality she lost a lot of confidence and social skills in 2020. But she’s working her tail off in ABA and it’s making a difference in her life.

Our Health, we’ve had our issues this year, but we have been safe from Covid or any other serious illness.

My job and Todd’s. Despite the pandemic, we are still employed and have remained healthy despite high levels of interaction we have with the public

My parents, Tina and Kyle. We realize even more this year how important they are to us. The Cooper family has been challenged like never before with a health crisis this year, and have loved and supported each other through it all and continue to do so into 2021.

Our friends near and far. You have given us joy and love and checked in on us as we have on you. You have helped us through the dark days and celebrated the daily victories with us.

Our pets. We lost Princess this year, she blessed us for 15 wonderful years. We lost a best friend, and we gained a crazy friend. Griffin makes us smile and laugh maybe more than any dog we’ve ever had. The cats and especially Rosebud are sources of unconditional love.

Purdue University. They made it possible for our boy to GO to college and to march in the AAMB and start finding his way in the world. Purdue did it successfully when the country thought their plans were risky and others universities didn’t even try. And for a university of 50,000+ people, that’s a major blessing and accomplishment. And while it sounds almost ridiculous, I’m so grateful for FaceTime and Snapchat as well, as they allow quick and easy communication and proof of life check ins with my boy while he’s at Purdue!

Autism Companion Services. They were opening just as we needed an ABA program for Izzy. They have helped her in ways I never knew possible and have changed and blessed our family in amazing ways. Sara, Sarah, Jasmon, Angela and Jane have set high goals that I never imagined would be reached, but they have been. She has about another 6 months in the program.

Brad Unruh. We’re “on a break” because things are going so well in our lives right now, but he got us to this point. And he’s who said “It’s time for something more for Izzy.” I will say that without him, we’d still be struggling with the emotions and anger and blow ups that were a part of our DAILY lives only 5 mos ago. It’s a blessing to know he’s there for us all should we need him. He may have blessed Izzy more so than any of us, helping her deal with big emotions and hard diagnoses.

Noblesville Schools. While we are not “in-person” with them this year, they have allowed for the opportunity for Izzy to complete 7th grade online while being full time at ABA. And they’ve made it through a semester when many thought they wouldn’t make it a week. While I don’t know where Izzy will land for 8th grade, Noblesville Schools has been nothing but wonderful to our girl and I’m proud to be a Miller Family.

Our church. For figuring out a way to allow us to worship virtually. Even though I’ve never been one for “you have to be in the building to worship” it’s nice to join in that community of faith at Bethel.

My patients at work. Nearly every one of them genuinely inquire how I am doing working during the pandemic. It hasn’t always been easy, but working with a fabulous staff and kind and caring patients has made it easier.

As we look to 2021… I pray for Izzy to find a way to lessen her trich. She doesn’t see herself as pretty because of the pulling, and that breaks my heart. I pray she maintains the tremendous strides she’s making even post ABA and can apply all of her newfound strategies as she travels her future days. I pray for a more active and interactive semester for Jackson at Purdue. I pray for continued improvement in health for Dad, and Tina and for Mom to get that new knee so she can walk as far and long as she wants. I pray for continued health for all of us and a lessening of restrictions due to covid. The vaccine is on its way and I pray that my family, friends and patients line up for that vaccine to safeguard themselves AND me.

It’s been a tough and trying year, but we’ve learned a lot about ourselves, our family and our community. Thank you God for the blessings and the lessons. Now bring on 2021 🎉🍾🥳

It’s been awhile! We’ve had a surge of Corona virus, all of us have remained healthy. We’ve gotten Jackson home for the holidays, and made it through a quiet but nice thanksgiving. We’re sitting at less than 3 weeks until Christmas and almost to the end of this really weird year. Not that 2021 is going to start off any different, but I sure hope and pray it looks worlds different this time next year.

Izzy is now doing in-home ABA with Jasmon. She will return to the center, in their new teen space, in January. I thought being home would be great because she wouldn’t have to get up as early and I could drive straight to work…but I also didn’t think about the dogs being here or the fact that I like that time in the car with her because we talk during that time.

We wanted her to start sleeping in her room so much, now she’s in her room and loves being there and is there AL THE TIME. In her bed on her phone or sleeping. She rarely comes out and when I go in she wants me to leave. I hate it.

I’ve tried to be cool about it. I let her eat up there and I come and go in very brief visits. But it makes me nervous and I reached out to her clinical director today for reassurance or help. I’m grateful I have these people in our village who I can reach out to. My first go around with a teen was easy….this one will be a bit, no a whole heck of a lot, different.