2010!!!!

2010 has been an interesting year. It brought many highs and lows. I've had to search deep within myself this year and so some soul-searching, especially recently. It's been tough on me emotionally and yes physically as well. I've loved and lost this year and can only hope that lessons will be learned from it. I am going to highlight a few of the major things that have happened to us this year and I am going to be completely honest about my feelings.

I turned 31 (not a major deal for me - birthdays have yet to have a negative impact on my life - luckily! I'm sure there will come a day)

We went with some of our great friends to Lagoon for a family vacation. We had a lot of fun playing Rook (winning at rook for Janna and I) and watching the kids enjoy the fun rides at Lagoon. We stopped off at Shoshone Falls on our way home and snapped a group picture.

We met with Jeremy's family for a Franklin Family Reunion in Cheney, Washington on Jeremy's uncle's ranch. We had a lot of fun playing horseshoes, exploring the ranch, going on hayrides and participating in a mystery dinner.

We spent many weekends up at the cabin with both sides of the family - and loved every minute of it. We floated the river, played many games (including our new favorite "Settlers of Catan"), and watched many movies. Addison caught her first fish with the fishing pole she got for Christmas with Bapa Doug.

We said goobye to our beloved small group! This was an emotional process for me - feelings were hurt. Tears were shed. I guess when you love much, you open yourself up to the disappointment that close relationships can bring. It is still a sore subject for me to discuss because it brings up negative emotions that I hold inside. I love each an every one of the people that were involved in our small group - I really do!! It's my own shortcomings that I'm dealing with. I miss them all and I miss our group. I will always hold the times we shared as wonderful memories!

small group girls ( love them all SOOO much!)

We grew and maintained a garden for the first time this year. We produced corn, green peppers, lots of cherry tomatoes, strawberries and raspberries. It was rewarding and fun and we are looking forward to doing it again in 2011.

Coached volleyball again for the first time in 3 years. I had a lot of fun but realized that it took quite a lot of time away from my family and am not sure if I want to do it again in the near future. I LOVE it but may want to wait a few more years until Rhett is in school and able to withstand some time at practice.

Said goodbye to two of the most important people in my life - my precious grandparents. They both passed away in November and the wound is still fresh. I still cry often while thinking about them. I miss them soooooo much! I am so grateful that I will see them again and rejoice that they are having a blast in heaven but selfishly I miss grandpa's hugs and grandma's listening ear. This next year will be tough without them.

We also said goodbye to some of our closest friends. Friends that only come around once in a lifetime. Friends that made us feel completely comfortable to be ourselves. Friends that we've laughed with, raised children with and shared life experiences with. They received a call on their lives to become pastor's of a church in Redmond, Washington. We are so proud of their courage to follow God's path for their lives and look forward to hearing about how God is working through them to reach the lost in the Seattle area. We wish them the best of luck but selfishly miss their laughter and their presence. This next year will be a little more dull due to their absence.

We ended off the year with some fun family activities. We rode the North Pole Express to the North Pole, enjoyed intimate family time building forts, watching movies and playing games. We enjoyed watching the children open presents at Christmas and discuss the real meaning of Christmas. It was a great way to end the year.

I'm actually glad to leave 2010 behind me. I look forward to the coming year and the challenges and new experiences that it will bring. I'm a planner (kind of) and have enjoyed planning the coming year - I have some crazy ideas and I will be posting them soon.