2014 Summary

Wow!  I think one of my resolutions last year was to do a better job blogging...must have been written on the same page as the resolutions about diet and exercise...that would have been the first page to get thrown away!
So here I am, it's New Year's Eve and I am determined to make an entry before midnight to recap the year.  It was eventful so I don't want to miss documenting it, in case I ever keep the resolution to print this blog into a book!!
Here goes:
2014 started out cold and snowy and stayed that way for w-a-y-y-y-y-y too long!  I think we had snow for 7 out of 12 months - EEK - that sounds more like we live in Alaska!
Feb.   Randy and I celebrated our 26th anniversary which I did blog about.
Mar.  McKayla attended the Military Ball with her boyfriend, Brandon.  She chose a purple dress with just a bit of bling.  She looked stunning....and he was quite handsome as well.

This event took us back to Wayne County and therefore allowed us to spend some time at the farm.  Always peaceful; always welcome; always comforting; always a blessing.

April:  I decided to take a position in a new senior living community in Nicholasville.  I was particularly interested in the Best Friends model of care the facility was operating on as I had read about this program as it related to Alzheimer's care.  Bridgepointe has a secure memory unit and I have to admit I was a little apprehensive about working with this population BUT what I found is that it is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.  Essentially I acted as gifted and talented teacher for seniors with memory challenges. Before I knew it, I had 20 more grandparents that I loved and enjoyed being with.

May : Madison graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Kentucky.  Many family members visited to attend celebrations! 

Celebrated Mother's Day with Nana and Nannie...and me. 

Traveled to AL to surprise cousin Emily on her high school graduation!      

McKenzie & McKayla complete sophomore year at West Jess.

We enjoyed a weekend with the Medlins and other extended family at the farm.

June:  Ojures' visit us in Kentucky - in Nicholasville!  We enjoyed summer fun and family fellowship -- including picking strawberries at Boyd's Orchard!

  

Celebrated Father's Day with both great dads in our family - Randy and Papa. 

And...left for sunny Florida a few days early!!

July:  Oh Sweet July!  To be honest, I was a bit worried that we might not get to take a full month off but God must have known how very much I cherish my time by the sea each summer.  The lady I was filling in for at Bridgepointe came back from maternity leave and there were no other new positions budgeted for the new community until August...perfect situation!  So off we went.

Knowing Madison had several opportunities available, we cherished the first couple of weeks when we could all spend time together.

In mid-July Madison accepted a job offer with IBM and she and Randy traveled to Chicago to locate new apartment for her.  She now resides at the Tides at Lakeshore East across from Millenium Park.  Quite an emotional time for me but I am so proud of her.  An interesting thing happened when I dropped her at the airport in Pt. Charlotte to catch up with her dad.  I watched her through security and pondered in my heart that there would be no more returning "home".  This was her first transition into adulthood and she would be establishing her own home somewhere outside of mine...again, emotional but so proud of her.  I was silently conversing with God on my drive back to the condo in Venice but needed to make a stop on the way.  As I walked into the store, there was a strange yet hauntingly familiar song on the store music feed.  An old celtic tune called "The Water is  Wide".  The song was printed inside Madison's baby book and that was the first time I had read the words.  Some years later Misty sent me a CD with a version of the song performed at the Lilith Fair in the 1990's.  I hadn't heard the song or read it for years, yet here it was today.  I like to think it was God's way of comforting me, reminding me that He is ultimately in control of all things.  It was a blessed moment for me...and I remain thankful for it.

Some of the highlights of the month were seeing another sea turtle lay her nest...and this time, I took the photo (after she was headed back to water); watching baby hatchlings make their way to the water; hanging out with friends; sitting out for sunsets; canoeing on Crystal River; cherishing friendships that we hope will last forever.

 On July 29th, we celebrated McKenzie's & McKayla's sweet 16th birthday at Krista's new home in Tampa.  Where has the time gone?  How did they grow up so fast?  Both have grown into beautiful girls. Both are very talented.  They have very different personalities.  They are both a joy to have in our lives.

August:  We visited Madison in Chicago and helped her get things in her apartment all settled.  We also explored with her a bit.  I must admit I felt much better about her living in Chicago after visiting her there.  It really is an exciting city and a fun place for an ambitious twenty-something to be.

In mid August, I returned to work at Bridgpointe this time in a community relations capacity.  McKenzie and McKayla began their junior year of high school!!

Sept:  Celebrated Madison's 22nd birthday with family and friends.

Oct. Randy & I purchase mid-life convertible to spend weekends leaf peaking...hopefully for years to come.  

We enjoyed traveling the backroads around central Kentucky and visiting some state parks!

McKenzie got her permit to drive!  She continues to practice and improve each time she is out.  Still cannot believe she is old enough to drive.  Everyone asks if McKayla got hers but she has decided to wait a while...just one of the many ways they are different and its OK!

During Fall break we visited our Chicagoan daughter, who, by now, is a great tour guide!

Nov:  We had Thanksgiving at home.  My parents came to share in it. Madison came home too and we did the black Friday - Thanksgiving night at Macy's....which I did not enjoy.  The weekend after, we traveled to TN to have Thanksgiving again with Randy's family, although Tori's family was not able to come due to the birth of Roman a few days before.  

Dec. -- Madison came home on Christmas Eve.  We all went to Christmas Eve service at church where Randy participated with the choir.  It's always an uplifting service to pause and reflect on the gift of Christ rather than all the presents and stress of commercial Christmas.  

Speaking of gifts, our crafty McKenzie made everyone in the family a photo holder.  She started with a 2 x 12 and ended up with a nice gift for everyone!  She even made burlap flowers to go on them.

Our immediate family opened gifts on Christmas morning.  It's quite an undertaking to surprise the girls now that they are all getting older, but I think we managed to achieve it this year!  Everyone was smiling when the unwrapping was over!

My parents drove up on Christmas evening so we were ready for our "Meet Halfway" trip to spend time with the Ojures.  
Early Chtistmas morning, we headed out to Lancaster, PA to a vacation rental to meet my sister and her family.  
Confirmation that we are clearly in Amish country.....

Scenes from the countryside.

Scenes from downtown Lancaster.

Family.

It was a great time and a good reminder that simple time spent with special people really is what life (including Christmas) should be about.
Wishing everyone love  ....  & peace...... in the new year.