Considering the old and looking forward to the new, that’s how I’m ringing in the new year! I’m posting my Happy New Year greetings early and will see you all again in 2012!

Highlights of 2011!

Our son Josh opened his own Mortgage Office with his parent company in January and had an open house in February.

Katie and Andrew got married on March 11th in North Carolina before the Magistrate.

My 60th birthday celebrations in March were amazing with several well orchestrated surprises. I’ll never forget the fun and love I was showered with.

We had our first Sisters Weekend trip to Victoria, B.C. in April and we got to meet my new bloggy friend Pondside who treated us to a great tour of her island.

Our cookbook, Mennonite Girls Can Cook was published in May. We had a celebration dinner at Lovella’s and book signings at Lepp Farm Market and Winks. I am so thankful that God brought these beautiful ladies into my life through blogging. Wow! Who could have foreseen this blessing…

Katie traveled to Florida to spend several days with Andrew before he was deployed to Afghanistan with the Marines later in May.

I traveled to Washington D.C. in May with Dear on a business trip and enjoyed seeing so many wonderful historical sites.

In June I started to get serious about dropping some weight so I’d be a happier person when shopping for the Mother of the Bride dress.

We got to meet another bloggy friend in July when Jill came to stay with us and Katie, Jill and I traveled to the Lavender festival in Sequim.

Katie and I traveled to Southern California the end of July and had many fun times with our extended family, including a Bridal shower for Katie.

In August Josh and Laura celebrated their 10 year anniversary in Hawaii with my niece and her husband who also were married in 2001.

In late August Dear and I spent a couple days in Oregon traveling along the coast and inland visiting Multnomah Falls. We stayed at Salishan Spa and  Bonneville Hot Springs.

Dan had the fun privilege of learning all about horses and horse back riding this summer. No surprise the horses really take to him. He even road a horse in his hometown parade.

In September we finally found our new church home and have been settling in at Northshore Baptist Church.

October was a very busy month with travels to Canada at the beginning of the month and the end of the month for book signings and cooking demonstrations at the Women’s show. I also traveled to Sacramento for a dear friends funeral.

In October we had the menu tasting for Katie and Andrew’s wedding. That was a very fun appointment tasting so many yummy dishes.

From March until October we enjoyed our season tickets for the Sounder’s Soccer Team! Another successful season, winning U.S. Cup for the 3rd time.

In November we had a Northwest Bridal Shower for Katie. It was so much fun to have so many old friends together again.

 Thanksgiving came early for our immediate family with everyone here but Andrew.

Our very first and oldest niece had her first little baby, a girl, in November! A miracle and a great joy!

We traveled with Katie to North Carolina to get her settled into her and Andrew’s military housing in early December.

Andrew arrived safely home from his deployment in Afghanistan on Christmas morning.

God filled our cups in 2011!

What I am looking forward to in 2012!

Celebrating Josh and Dan’s birthdays in January.

Gatherings with the Mennonite Girls in the New Year.

Meeting our new Grand Niece.

Katie and Andrew’s wedding on their one year anniversary in Seattle in March.

Our nephew Levi’s and Kristin’s wedding in May in Southern California.

A new roof on this old house.

Being open to any new adventures and lessons God has in store for us.

  Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!