New Year Blessings

As we look back on the past year, we are so grateful for God's presence in our everday moments and in the special times we have shared with our family and friends. We are so grateful for good health, Doug's job, my part-time teaching position, a wonderful Christian school for Hannah, precious memories, the love of our family and friends, and for two energetic and joy-filled little girls.

Here are some of the big events that happened for our family during 2008:

~We celebrated the arrival of new babies... most recently our great niece Adelyn Faith and earlier this fall our friends Dan and Trish finally welcomed home their daughter Chloe from China.

~We bid farewell to some special people. In Sept., my 97 year old grandma passed away and recently, a friend of Doug's from college, Bill, passed away after battling lung cancer.

~We created lots of good memories through taking short trips to Chicago, Wisconsin, and Petoskey. Hannah and I also loved taking a quick trip to see my college roommate, Stacy, and her family in New York.

~We enjoyed time with our families... especially our time with Doug's family at a cottage and time with my folks at Lincoln Lake. We also had fun doing special things around town with our friends and family.

~We celebrated Hannah's Chinese heritage by having her take part in Heritage Camp. She loved it and said she wished it would have lasted 100 more days (it was only a week long). :-)

~We savored time together with our adoption travel group friends. We had reunions for both Hannah's and Ava's travel groups. It was our first one with Ava's group and our 5th one with Hannah's group.

~We are thankful that my health scare in May has so far not produced any further complications.

~We are hopeful my mom's new treatment for meniere's disease will make a difference so she can once again resume her active lifestyle and enjoy spending time with her busy grandchildren.

We ended 2008 and rang in 2009 by doing what we love best... spending time with friends and family. Here are a few glimpses of our "New Year Blessings." Blessings to you and your families as well!

College friends get-together. In addition to my girls, these are the children of my dear friends Kristin and Sue. From left to right: Lindsey, Joshua, Hannah, Lauren, Ava, Ashley, Tessa, and Ryan.

Jen with Sweet little Adelyn Faith

How precious!

I had to include this... my husband baked for the first time in our 10 years of marriage (aside from ready made cookie dough). It was yummy!

New Year's Eve with our friends Mark and Sarah and Marc and Shelly and their children.

Celebrating Dec./Jan. birthdays with Doug's family

New Year's Day

Enjoying more time with Adelyn

Saying goodbye to the "Christmas Around the World" display and waiting to ring in the Chinese New Year on the 26th (which is also my birthday so it will be a doubly special day).