End of year update from the Halls

As our annual Christmas cards had limited space to give a more full update, we wanted to share more about what has been a very full year for me and Brandy in our lives in Knoxville.

The Halls didn’t get a Christmas card out in 2022, and this was about both logistics and trying to figure out how to process some continued grief.

We lost our sweet boy, Gus, in April 2022. We had adopted him from Young-Williams in the summer of 2011 shortly after we moved into our home. He grew into a very big boy, 100 pounds at his biggest, and he was a lot of strength and affection and so many things. We have the solace that he had a very full life, and he did not have to suffer a slow decline. We were so grateful to have him as our dog, and we still miss him.

2023 started with a lot as we experienced a lot of changes with our therapy practice, Haven Counseling Center, then with many new providers joining with us through the spring and into the summer.

But this summer was certainly a doozy for us. Brandy had significant surgery in July, with a colectomy and radical hysterectomy. This ended up being an almost 8 hour surgery with multiple nights in the hospital and several weeks recovery at home. We were so very grateful for her two surgeons and their teams, as we only found out after surgery how close Brandy was to a major medical complication. This was an unbelievably trying time for both of us, but we were so blessed by the support of our family and community, and the health improvement that Brandy has experienced since her procedure has been something for which we have been very grateful.

In a quick turnaround after Brandy's surgery, I injured myself playing with my nephews, and had to have hernia surgery in September (fortunately, my recovery was far less significant).

And as we have reached the close of a year that had a lot of hardships, we are grateful to be ending it with a great spot of joy.

Brandy and I are set to close on a new home this December. We are grateful to be staying in the middle of Rocky Hill, which has been our neighborhood for the past 13 years and was where I was so blessed to grow up. The new house has a saltwater pool, and we are greatly looking forward to the coming summer where will be able to share the space with family and friends.

In great affection and gratitude.

-David