I cannot believe it's New Year's Eve. I feel like we've just started! And, given the mid-60 degree weather we had today, it doesn't feel like it should be December 31 either. What a wonderful year we have had.
It's been a great year as we've watched the girls grow up; I can't believe they are 5 and 3 now. They are real, little people now, not babies anymore. I love watching as they grow and learn. They are truly fascinating to me. We are so pleased with the new school Lily started this year; we look forward to being with them for a long time. We are very grateful for her teacher, Mrs. Worrell, and all she is teaching her. Of course, the changes in Mia over this year have been incredible to watch. These girls light up our world!
It has been an interesting year at work. Most notably, I acquired another local accounting firm at the end of October. I'm very excited about the possibilities this will bring. Of course, this means tax season may be even a little more hectic than usual, so we'll see how excited I am in a few months!
We were fortunate to travel a good bit this year. Best of all, Ryan was able to go on four mission trips during the year. He went to Ambler, Alaska three times which absolutely thrilled him. He has formed some really good friendships with several individuals in that village and with those in Kotzebue and Anchorage which are on the way to Ambler. It has been incredible to see the work God is doing in Alaska, and it's wonderful to know that Ryan has a part in it. Additionally, Ryan spent about a week in Lebanon in early November which was a very interesting experience, and one that we're grateful he was able to have. Thought not really a mission trip, Ryan was able to attend mission-focused conferences in Minneapolis and Chicago during the year where he learned quite a bit. We also had the good fortune of taking a wonderful cruise together last January; it was a fantastic getaway. We went to New Smyrna Beach with my dad's big family in July, and our family of four went to Gulf Shores with our great friends, the Hendersons, in October. We also took smaller and shorter trips to Birmingham and Fort Payne a couple of times. Travel is always fun!
All in all, this has been a great year. We were blessed to see Ryan's grandfather and one of my grandmothers celebrate their 90th birthdays. We have amazing families, great friends and, most importantly, a God who loves us. We have our health (though that has some room for improvement!). We have a comfortable house, food, clothes and cars. Really, we are blessed with so much more than we could ever ask for. With all these gifts and opportunities, I can't wait to see how God uses our lives in 2012. I hope you can say the same. Best wishes for a wonderful 2012!
No comments:
Post a Comment