Overall, it's been a great year. There were three negatives: my father's Alzheimers has gotten significantly worse, another close relative has had serious mental health issues, and I had back surgery (partial discectomy). If you have your health, you have everything, really.
On the positive side:
I got engaged!
I took my two teenage kids to Paris and Nice over the summer. It was great to introduce them to two wonderful cities I know and love. I got to use my French, which came back better than I thought it would, much to the shock of my children.
Younger kid survived a bullying issue last spring with grace and strength. He is doing great now.
Both of my kids are happy, healthy, and excellent students.
Fiance, kids, and I had a lovely, relaxing spring break trip to Florida.
I found out I am going to be a step-grandmother!
I got a new job, which rescued me from a very difficult boss and boosted my income and title. The downside is that I went from an 11-mile round-trip commute to a 54-mile one, which I do believe is related to my back problems. So I need to think about that one in 2017.
My stepdaughters threw us an amazing engagement party. It was thoughtful and lovely.