'appy New Year!

     This is what happens when you give a little guy permission to help himself to the cookie plate. I'm not sure I understand it, but I'm sure he had a very good reason. I love the antics of children and the way it forces me to see the world from a child's perspective. Another example of this was when I handed all three grandchildren dog biscuits to give Henri. As they stood in the kitchen waiting their turn to hand Henri a biscuit, the two-year-old started eating his dog biscuit. When I told him not to eat Henri's dog biscuit he asked, "Why?" Well.. he rendered me speechless. I had no reason why. His mother and I looked at each other and laughed. Then I told him, "I don't know why. Go ahead and eat it I guess." Anyway, our initial alarm was enough to make him stop eating it and he handed it over to Henri.
     Our holiday season stretched out over two weeks with family coming and going and coming and going. It was wonderful in every way, except for missing Chelsea and her family who couldn't travel this year. Overall, everyone stayed healthy and safe and I couldn't ask for more than this. I took plenty of typical family photos which I will not embarrass everyone by publishing.
     Looking back, 2016 was the year my mom passed away and the year in which we did the most difficult things we have ever been called to do. I don't wish time away, it is too precious for such thinking, but I am glad that time has buffered some of the pain and that over time we can bring positive memories to the forefront and let the painful memories slip deeper into the past.
     Another huge change in 2016 was Steve's career move. After twenty-six years in the cement industry he made a move into a completely different industry. It involves a much, much longer commute but, his weekends have been free and his stress level is greatly reduced. It is a treat for me to now have him home on the weekends and to see him enjoy some of his hobbies a little more.             
     We have much to look forward to in the coming year. Of course, we have expectations. However, we cannot know for sure what is to come and part of that is the excitement of looking ahead. In the meantime, we go about our daily routines and seek paths for love, laughter, and learning. My three L's and my newly made up theme for the new year!

We had a little bit of snow. I wish I could have captured the look on the children's faces when they woke up and saw snow that morning.

Our niece's dog, Milo sits with Audrey and Jared. He has quite the personality!

It was the only hat we could find at a moment's notice for Jack to wear. He didn't mind the hat at all. The face he's making is because two of us were taking their picture and he didn't know which of us to look at, so he held his head still, but scanned his eyes back and forth between photographers.