The Year in Review

My little helpers left this morning . . . leaving the house feeling cold and empty. I think we’ll have to light a log in the fireplace today. The past few days I’ve seen again how children wake up to face each day like it’s a new adventure . . . joining Papa at his exercise bench first thing in the morning . . . excited about waffles with yummy sauce and later Grammy squished into the playhouse, pretending to drink coffee.

Just as they were heading out the door, Natalie suddenly had to run downstairs to find a little something . . . like a souvenir from amongst the toys strewn about. A small leather box with a lid and then a few treasures tucked inside . . . that’s what she took.

I understood. It’s what I feel like at the end of this year . . I don’t want to leave it all behind just yet, Maybe I can find a box and tuck in some special memories to take into the new year.

It has been a very good year! A year full of blessings I can’t take for granted. Going through my photos in my Picasa . . . my mind went back to the highs of the year, sometimes almost tumbling over each other. I remember now . . . one thing I was going to do this year was to count the number of airport visits . . . to pick up, drop off, leave from or come home to. I forgot to do that.

The year began with the anticipation of our first “local” grandchild to be born. Lacey Danielle was born on January 14. What fun it has been to watch her grow this past year.

In February . . . how can we forget the long awaited Winter 2010 Olympics finally upon us? My H had the privilege to be involved in some of the set up for the opening and closing ceremonies. We enjoyed a visit downtown with Shaun and Kristal as they had come home to see their new niece.

At the end of February and into March, we visited Chris and Julene in Indonesia.

One highlight of the trip was the River Boat ride to see the orangutans.

In April we spent some time in Palm Springs. A highlight was the hike in the Indian Canyon.

In May we began decisions on what the Mennonite Girls Can Cook cookbook would look like.

In May we also visited Shaun and Kristal in their new home and place of employment in Colorado.

In June . . . Chris and Julene came home via Los Angeles . . . so we all met in Disneyland for one weekend. This was the only time we had the whole family together this year and we made every moment count.

Chris and Julene spent the summer months in the valley and on the island. We had lots of time together around the patio table, picnics, celebrating birthdays, a gondola ride at Whistler, and playing at the park.

At the end of August the Mennonite Girls Can Cook met for our first retreat ever. All summer long we were busy cooking, practicing food presentation to photograph and editing recipes.

In September we flew down to CO again and welcomed baby Koen to the family!

In October we celebrated our 35th Wedding Anniversary.

In November I was happy to stay home, watch the falling snow and prepare for Christmas.

December came along, almost too quickly. It’s been a month of giving and taking . . . ending with a wonderful time at home with kids and grands. As always . . . I cherish the times we could spend around the table. In this photo Lacey and her uncle Shaun are checking each other out instead of looking at the camera . . . and that's how it goes.

My box is filled with wonderful treasures!