HIghs & Lows of the Holiday Season

Happy New Year. I'm glad that 2008 is past, replaced with a fresh new calendar. It was a tough year with losing Andrea, Brad losing his job, then Brad starting his own business only to have the economy bottom-out just a month later (www.concretecolorscapes.com).

But, we made it through, battered but not beaten. So, I've decided to just look back on the holiday season. It began with a wonderful Thanksgiving with my parents, sister and husband, brother and wife, nephew, and Brad. The day began with great food and ended with great conversation. We decided against the traditional movie and put on Christmas music and talked and talked and talked. The evening ended with dancing. Yes, dancing.

My parents in the background, my brother, John, and his wife, Lisa. I believe they were dancing to "What a Wonderful World," but I could be wrong. I just remember putting together care packages of turkey and looked up to see them dancing.

The following evening, I decided to have a "Girls Night," inviting the women of the family. My sister was in town from Chicago and my cousin, Liz, was here from Australia, so it was a great time to try and get some of the crazy ladies of our family together. What a memorable night. Let's just say my stomach ached for the next two days from laughing. I love these women! They are my mentors and best friends.

Did I mention they were fun?!

  But, the season did have its low points, as we lost two grand matriarchs. Before Thanksgiving we lost Lupe Guerrero, whom I lovingly called "Everyone's Grandma." And shortly before Christmas, we lost Dorty McDonald, a wonderful mother of a wonderful friend. Lupe was a kind, little woman who was devoted to her family and to God. And, she loved to shop! And she truly loved her granddaughter, Ingrid.

 Dorty McDonald is the mother of our good friend, Terry, and she too was devoted to her family and to God. Both of these women loved church with a passion, attending mass daily. Dorty went to mass twice a day. Such remarkable ladies. They will be greatly missed. They were both truly inspirational.

 Christmas arrived quickly, but we were able to enjoy a party bus tour of Christmas lights with friends and Santa. Santa even stopped off at the Olde English Pub for Karoake!

 Christmas Eve was spent with our newest grandchild and only granddaughter, Rainey. What a true blessing she is to our family. It is so wonderful to have a little one at Christmas again.

 Then, the day after Christmas we celebrated Jon Cressler's 40th Birthday.

 We spent New Years Eve at the Shocker game, which was so much fun as the Shox came back to tie the game with less than a minute. It ended in disappointment, but I was glad those young men hung in there. I still think the highlight was Coach Marshall urging, and I mean urging, the crowd to respond, to stay with them, to not give up.

I think I'll take that memory of Coach, stomping along the sidelines and waving his arms, with me into 2009. Urging me to keep going, stay in the game.

As always, more pictures are in picture gallery. Enjoy and again, Happy New Year.