Monday, December 31, 2007

A Year in Review

Because it has been well over a year since our last post, we thought we should go back over the last year and bring everyone up to date.
I have been extremely busy with work as business administrator for the Ontario Beekeeper's Association. With several board meetings, spring, summer and annual meetings to plan for, plus regular office duties, there isn't a lot of time left for me but I really enjoy my job so don't mean to sound like I am complaining. Ken who works for Tuckersmith Communications Co-operative as a telephone/internet technician also enjoys his work, (now that he is back at it, but I am jumping ahead, we'll get to that before the end of this session)
This year, January, February and March were calm months for us with nothing too exciting happening, April took us to Michigan to pick up our new (to us) horse trailer, which we enjoyed thoroughly over this last summer and plan to use again this coming year as often as we can. We left on Friday after work and headed to Michigan to look at a couple trailers that we had lined up but never looked at after seeing the first one, it is a 2000, 26' (on the deck) three horse slant load with an 11' living quarters (quite new looking) and quite comfortable when parked in a pasture field. We managed to bring home a little surprise which you will have to ask about when you see us if you haven't already heard this story. (No, we are not smugglers)
May brought us into the warmer weather and riding season which we were able to do right up until the end of August.
Our fall was a little stressful and not something we ever want to repeat. On August 28th Ken and I were in a motorcycle accident on our way to Niagara Falls via a friends house. After failing to negotiate a severe curve and ending up in a swamp (which probably saved us), Ken managed to break the C2 vertebrae in his neck and his right forearm in two places. I didn't seem to hurt any until the next day. Ken was in a halo for 9 weeks and then a collar for another four weeks.
His fall season was spent pretty much on the couch and mine was spent caring for him and extra hours spent in the office preparing for convention. That, physio and numerous trips to London for Ken's doctor's appointments has kept me very busy.
We have so many people to thank for all their help, for all the meals brought in, cards sent and prayers said, wood split and piled for the winter months, house cleaned, Ken's hair shampooed, face shaved, and the list goes on. You all know who you are and words of thanks just don't seem adequate. Your support and love was overwhelming. We especially want to thank our boys, Jeremy and Jeff, we are so proud of you both and the way you pulled together to make things happen around here that needed to be done this fall. We love you!

In November we also celebrated our grandson's first birthday with him. Bryson is such a wonderful, cute, smart, (I could go on forever) little or should I say big boy and we love him dearly.



We love to keep him as often as we can, and hope to have many more opportunities before he doesn't want to spend time with his grandma and grandpa.
December (I can't believe 2007 is almost over) was a quick month, Ken got the OK to go back to work on the 17th so we decided that before that happened we would surprise Lori with a visit so we booked our flights after emailing with Darryl to make sure it suited ( we didn't want the surprise to be on us) and flew to Saskatchewan on December 11th to see Lori, Darryl and new little Sarah. What a darling little girl and I had four wonderful days to spoil her.



We left Regina early Sunday morning on the 16th and after being stranded in Winnipeg for two days because of storms here in Ontario, we arrived home in lots of time for Christmas. Our kids were home on Boxing Day for Christmas and we enjoyed a turkey dinner at noon. We spent the afternoon together, visiting, opening gifts and watching Bryson help everyone rip the paper off their gifts. A grandchild makes Christmas extra fun and so enjoyable.






And here we are on New Year's eve, reflecting on another year that has passed by very quickly. So much has happened and we have so much to be thankful for. I think it is time to close for this time, we have 18 minutes until 12:00 but we will try to post more regularly in the New Year.