It's Alive!!

Hey, friends and family--it's been a while. It's been so long, in fact, that I imagine some of you will never see this post, because you've stopped visiting here. In which case, addressing you as "you" becomes rather silly, no to mention existentially meaningless.

I won't waste your time with excuses and explanations about last year's blogging failures. I'll just say this: I still see great personal value in writing here about my family's life, and I hope to resume blogging somewhat regularly. But I don't have a precise plan in mind at this point, so no promises.

For now, an update of sorts, in the form of a list. It's a list of ten things about our family--not the top ten things, mind you... just ten things based on my stream-of-consciousness.

1. We missed the first church service of 2014 today (Dave excepted). Graham has a bad cold, Esme had croup and now has general misery with a fever, and Meg and Matthew are working on (so far) mild colds. I'm sad for my babies, but I have to admit to smirking sometimes when they all start coughing at the same time. Makes me feel like head nurse in a TB ward.

2. We didn't send out Christmas cards again this year, so please don't feel slighted or worried that you didn't receive one. But we do LOVE getting and reading your cards, so thank you very much to all who included us on their lists!

3. My sister Lena, after three months of training in France, followed by unexpected visa-related hurdles and great uncertainty, is now safely in Senegal, where she and her teammates will spend the next three months doing mission work. We're so grateful and relieved that she made it!

4. There are so very many photo ops that I missed last year, and many photos I did take and failed to post here in 2013. But here's one of my favorite shots of the whole year, taken in September. I'm so glad I didn't miss this one.

That guy in the center of the shot, the one who looks a bit like my husband? He's a pretty special guy.

5. Dave got inspired/fed up on New Year's Day and rearranged our living room furniture. This is the first time we've done this since... I think... 2007. The room is much more open now, and we like it!

6. Our 2013 Christmas tree was named John F. Kennedy, in honor of the 50th anniversary of JFK's untimely death. I don't know if I'll ever post a picture of John F. Kennedy the Tree, but he was a very good looking, youngish fellow, so it seemed fitting.

7. Winter Storm Ion (uh... "Hercules" followed by "Ion"? Seriously?) has been easy on us so far. We had a passing patch of freezing rain and a bit more non-freezing rain, and plenty of fog we still have. All said, it was a very gloomy day outside, but nothing remotely so dramatic as what much of the country saw. Our thoughts are with dear ones in central Michigan, who are no doubt having a very different experience.

8. Yesterday I took Matthew and Meg and our friend Michelle to see a production of The King and I at our local regional theatre. It was very enjoyable. Today, Matthew could be heard going around the house repeating "Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera!"

9. Assuming poor health doesn't prevent it, we'll resume school on Tuesday after a lovely and productive winter break. We did lots of crafting and gift making this year leading up to Christmas, and I was able to take advantage of the break from school to make headway with several organization and cleaning projects. So encouraging.

10. We're so glad that Jesus is alive. Quite honestly, looking out on a new year can be as intimidating as it is inspiring to me, but oh... knowing that my King and my soul's Friend will be there with me at every moment, loving me most tenderly and faithfully... that's where it's at, friends.

Happy New Year and love from the Wilcox family!