Hello to 2008 as I pack away the memories of 2007

Back in the 90s I remember thinking that anything beyond Y2K just seemed like a fairy tale. Now I'm living in the fairy tale.

Chris received his first official date of return, so tune in around March 16 for the conclusion of this journey. Of course, I hope you tune in occasionally before then, but that is the all-important date. For now. As anyone knows with the military, we may have 2 or 3 more official dates of return before he actually climbs on a plane to head this way. Though he is ready to come home, his spirits are high, and he is enjoying his new post. They made a good celebration of Christmas. I wish I had a picture of the grill that they created. It would make any if-you-don't-have-it-make-it person proud to hear Chris tell about it.

Most people don't wait quite so long to reflect upon the year just passed. I guess I just haven't had much time to think. It was a full and blessed year, to be sure. January only found us continuing to adjust to married life as well as nesting. We continued to clean up the treeline and fence row to the side of our yard. The vines in this region are invasive and annoying, to say the least. I just got the electricity bill, and it confirmed to me that last winter was colder than this one has been so far. February saw us making two consecutive weekend trips to Alabama: the first in response to the unexpected death of a beloved uncle and the second to visit with a west-coast cousin who I had not seen in a number of years. March contained a number of church events and military events. Additionally I was able to help a former employer by attending a conference in southern La. While there I acquired :) my nephews for a week-long visit. This was a wonderful time, and when they left I sorely missed them. They are such energetic guys-full of life and love. Easter was celebrated the weekend after they went home. Later in the month we attended an air show at the base. It was my first air show, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Thunderbirds were great. The same weekend the Blue Angels were flying on the east coast, and I regretted to hear about the tragic accident of one of their new pilots. Thoughts of such an accident had occurred to me concerning our air show, and I had been praying for God's protection. We visited Chris's family in IN to finish out April. In May we had a visit from a Virginia friend of mine. We were able to attend another conference, this time in San Antonio, and also take a little time for ourselves. It was during the conference on afternoon that Chris received that call that changed our lives for the rest of the year. However, we were determined to enjoy whatever time God gave us together, and we continued to make plans for a two-week trip west at the end of June. Before that, though, we were facing our first separation while Chris went for training in VA. The Lord was merciful, and it was cancelled the Friday before he was to report on Monday. Then time for "the trip" arrived, and we excitedly drove off for our first day of travelling, a 14 hour drive to Albuquerque. The whole trip included: Painted Desert/Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon (camped in the park), Hoover Dam, Death Valley, visit with dear friend in CA, Sequoia National Park, a church youth camp on the top and side of a CA mountain (rusTIC!), Yosemite Nat. Park, another campsite and cooking in the dark :), a wonderful visit with family in Reno and time to take my dear husband to my favorite spots in the area (no, no casinos), old mining camps and ghost towns, the heat of Las Vegas at midnight, Zion Nat. Park, Bryce Canyon (camped in the park), Route 66, Saguaro Nat. Park, watched some beautiful distant rain storms, logged a number of new air bases (great on the budget for lodging), and made notes on places that we want to go back to and others we want to add to a future trip. It was the highlight of the year for both of us since Chris has never been west, I had the privilege of showing him places I have been, and we both enjoyed discovering new places together. The rest of July was simply spent preparing for Chris's departure and praying that he wouldn't really have to go. God's ways are not ours, though, and he left for training. After seeing Chris off at the end of August, when we spent a great three days exploring San Antonio (we found the BEST Italian restaurant), the rest of the year was spent, for me, in trying to adjust to a great deal of free time on my hands. I have managed to have enough visitors or trips each month that the time has passed quickly: Oct a trip for a friend's wedding and a church event and the passing of my first anniversary without my husband, Nov was a trip to my brother's and my in-laws', my parents and grandmother were in for Thanksgiving, and the birth of a friend's baby with a visit with her parents from Virginia, then December was busy Christmas shopping and preparing for Christmas at my parents'. What week Chris found out his first official return date. Unfortunately, that week also brought a funeral in Virginia that I did get to attend. "The return" wasn't as emotionally wrenching as I was afraid it would be, and I am ready for a trip in February if the airlines will cooperate financially.

I guess I just did that recap as much for myself as for everyone who would care to know. It was a great year, even with a deployment, and I am looking forward to what God holds for us this year. It may not all be good, and likely won't be since life is life, but I know God will be with us, and I intend to go to him with my laughter as well as tears, praise and worship as much as needs and requests.

Happy New Year!