2015

Happy New Year!!

2015!!

I am on vacation in Texas and it is raining. As I listen to the rain, I'm wishing for a hotter and dryer place.   I don't love the rain because it keeps me from being outside, (only because I don't like getting wet).   We are enjoying being with new family and discovering what is new and great about Texas.

We've been gone from home for about 5 days.  I'm doing the first load of laundry on our trip, and we are onto the second birthday celebration.  Christmas and New Years bookend a few other celebrations in our family - Maddie's birthday, Michael's birthday.  We celebrated Maddie turning 14 and Michael turning 9.

Maddie is the most beautiful 14 year old.  She is so full of generosity and kindness.  She loves to read, she adores her friends, her room and her posts on Instagram .
She has the best taste in music, books and movies.  

Michael is celebrating turning 9 today.  What a joy my sweet boy is.  He loves soccer and football.  He loves the Broncos and Clemson.  Last night we asked him what the best thing in 2014 was, and he honestly answered "My friends".

I always have great hopes and wishes for the new year.  For 2015 I want to worry less and pray more.  To fuss less about the little things in life and place more importance on the things that really matter.  I want to "be slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to be angry."

Bless you, my friends and readers. For the moments of your time that you give me, I am appreciative.

Christmas 2014

Top 10 Memories of this Christmas

 

10. The snow that just. kept. falling. - I think we got 7 inches. Postponing our Christmas plans with our family. Disappointing but hoping we can reschedule.

9.  Going to the movies - "Night at the Museum"

8.  Christmas Eve Service - Meredith's ballet dance.

7.  Last minute drinks and appetizers with friends (2 days before Christmas)

6.  Cold.  Cold.  Cold.

5.  Daddy's calendar got #1 gift

4.  Finishing our Christmas puzzle

3.  Dinner with Grandma and Grandpop

2.  Receiving over 75 cards from our friends and family in the mail!

1.  One thing you need, one thing you want, one thing to make the world a better place  - This was our gift giving strategy this year.  We drew names and spent all of December planning and talking and giving.  I think it was the BEST thing we've ever done.  We gave money to the Humane Society, Ft. Collins Read Aloud, and Adopt -a-Family.  It was so wonderful to give AND receive this year. 

 

 

    Merry Christmas!

 

 

Christmassy things

Somewhere between the first verse and chorus of  "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" I teared up.  We were all sitting in our favorite pew at church, standing and worshipping the Lord.  My daughters are all 3 very great singers, and it truly felt like I was in the middle of a choir.  They were singing parts, and I paused for a second just to enjoy the sound of their trio.  To say it was beautiful would be minimizing it.  It was angelic.  I felt so blessed to have been the audience of one to their mini-concert.  I love it when we all sit together at church.  We are unified with our presence, even if we all hear the words differently and process the content differently.  I love the routine that "church" is for our family.  It is a KNOWN.  All we do is come with a heart that is ready.  December is a favorite time for us, mostly because of the music.  Christmas carols, traditional hymns, advent candles.  We love the whole shebang.   

Most years, we make our way up to the mountains and cut down our Christmas tree from the big forest.  It is one of our favorite traditions.  Sometimes there is snow, sometimes there is wind.  Most of the time, the weather is just wintry and it revs us up for the whole Christmas season.

Molly, our doggie, loves this annual romp in the woods.

She is busy, busy smelling all of the new smells that she never smells in the city...

It has been said over the past few weeks that this is our best tree ever. 

I think that we say that every year, BUT... This year, it just might be true...

 

Merry Christmas!