Happy New Year, Friends!
As I write this, the Christmas tree is still fully decorated, and glowing brightly in the next room. I’m not quite ready to pack it all away just yet. The snow is falling quickly outside, making me feel cozy and content on my brown couch. These quiet moments make me feel as though I can slow down time, just a bit, before plunging ahead into a new year. I love the time between New Year’s and the start of school…a few days to savor the quiet and shift into forward motion.
It’s also the time of year when WordPress sends me a lovely, animated email to summarize my blogging statistics from the past year. It’s quite helpful, as it tells me which subjects that appeal to you, my dear readers, and how you find your way to my cozy little cyber-space. Finally, it allows me to celebrate the posts that resonated most, and consider topics for the coming year. Lots of bloggers like to share these kinds of stats as they transition to the year ahead.
I’m going to share statistics with you…but not those. Below are the 2013 statistics that matter most…to me…
23 Years of Marriage to my very best friend, (and the most handsome, wise and kind gentleman I know!)
19 Years with Annie, our college sophomore whose wisdom and intuition inspire me. She is going to be a great teacher.
17 years with Bill, our high school junior, who has displayed sound judgment and strong leadership (and has entertained us greatly, on stage and off…)
(photo cred: Lydea Swit)
4 Days in New York City during the summer…making great memories, seeing two shows, touring museums, and eating HUGE portions of chocolate cake.
5 States visited to teach church leaders about how to reach families affected by disabilities. (Furthest: NEBRASKA!!) As always, l learned more than I taught, and I met the most wonderful, funny, talented people…and laughed until my sides hurt.
1 publishing contract…which means 1 step closer to accomplishing a lifelong goal of writing a book. (Special thanks to my mom, who always believed I could do it, and to Mrs. Manley, my fourth grade teacher who gave me extra time for creative writing.)
3 generations in my living room during Thanksgiving break.
1 Completely Awesome Day when THIS happened…
12 years with Mitzie. Seriously. The best dog in the universe.
1 Great God…from whom all blessings flow.
Wishing you JOY, my friends, and a new year FILLED with statistics worth remembering.
Love,
Katie
Diving for Pearls 
Love your stats! Looks like it was a great year! And, baby, I’m keeping my tree up for at least another week or two…it tricks my mind into thinking once Spring arrives that winter was shorter than it really was…call me crazy 😉
Oh, Adrienne…YOU ROCK. xoxo Happy New Year, my friend.
I asked the family today when they wanted to take Christmas down…both Em and Jason said, “Valentine’s” and Ryan just stared blankly, like, “We take DOWN Christmas?!”
Love you so much – so happy to see the book deal – we were going to write one and got derailed by life’s circumstances – so glad you ran with it! I would love to know about the cockpit photo someday – love your kiddos and your wonderful Tom. And yes, glory to God, yes – we have the most awesome Lord! Happiest new year to you and your family. Love, always.
Dava, dear…what a shining light you are! We must get back to that book project one of these days…we’d have such fun! Happy New Year, my dear friend! Love you.
Hey Katie! What a great update and congrats on the book!
Hope to see you around CF sooner than later!
Stephanie
Thanks, Stephanie!! Happy New Year, friend!!