2008 Wrap-up

From Christmas '08

I read Gregg and Allison's post reviewing the year that just closed and appreciated it so much that I thought I would take a wack at it myself. In order to do this, I actually got out a pencil and paper and rolled back through this year of posts.

This year . . .

• we had great trips to Florida, Indiana, Door County, Alpena for Independence Day and Christmas, and Seattle.
  
• Ben graduated from kindergarten.
• we welcomed Jacob Alexander Falder and Samuel Michael Gammons to our extended family.
• Matthew learned to go on the big boy potty.
• I mourned my friend Bill's leaving our office and our lunch table.
• Amanda turned 30!
• Ben and Caleb went to Gigi's house by themselves.
• Amanda struggled through anxiety to relief to joy in her homeschooling of Ben.
  
• Molly turned 1 and learned to walk.
• we instituted our Hymn of the Week at our family worship time.
• we mourned and prayed with our friends the Colberts as they journeyed (and continue to) through their daughter Abbey's leukemia.

Some of our favorite reads from this year

• Chaim Potok's The Chosen and The Promise
• Edith Schaeffer's books about family and home
• Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer
  

The themes that have dominated this year are getting to know our kids as people even more, loving our church and finding connections there through ministry and our new small group, a struggle for contentment in vocation and developing a deeper partnership in parenting and life for Amanda and me.

It has been an interesting year and one of many blessings. We have seen God's hand in our lives drawing us into deeper relationship with Him. We have experienced frustrations as parents and even greater joy. We thank God for our family and friends--if you're reading this you fall into one of those. We pray that God shows us even more of himself in 2009 and this morning, I pray that for you as well. Thanks for reading.