Top Ten Photos of 2021

I enjoy looking over the year in photos and choosing my "top ten", which honestly might be a different 10 on a different day. The are a couple more than ten because two of them are in groups. For instance, soccer is one group (just to clarify for all the rule-followers like me).

The older I get, the better I know Jesus, the more I know that All is Grace.

“Everything is a grace, everything is the direct effect of our father's love - difficulties, 

contradictions, humiliations, all the soul's miseries, her burdens, her 

needs - everything, because through them, she learns humility, realizes her weakness. 

Everything is a grace because everything is God's gift. Whatever be the character of life or its

unexpected events - to the heart that loves, all is well.” ~St. Therese of Lisieux

We made good use of my annual checkup with the oncologist...we pulled the kids out of school and spent the day in New York City. We visited the financial district, walked the Brooklyn Bridge, we went to Times Square and we ate dinner outside on the sidewalk, in January! And...its always a happy thing to hear "all clear" from my doctor. This picture is just SO them. :)

Shaun and I made a quick trip to Boston to celebrate his 50th. We walked around Beacon Hill and I took lots of pictures, including this one which we used in our re-branding. We also ate the best burgers we've ever had and celebrated being old and still here with each other.

Soccer. As a family we coached, reffed, played offense and defense, cheered, started, sat bench, took pictures, played injured, learned how to deal with difficult people. It was SUCH a fun year of watching the kids be active and maneuver through all the challenges and triumphs that come with being on a team.

Whatever the perfect weather conditions are for optimal color in nature, I feel like we had for spring, summer and fall. The colors were vibrant, the trees and flowers holding nothing back. It was an exceptionally beautiful year and I delighted in taking it all in.

Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush 

afire with God, but only he who sees takes off his shoes.

 ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

This is a phone picture through my car windshield. But I love that they're happy together, smiling at me and leaving church where they spend much of their time. This night I remember thinking, what a distinct honor to be their mom.

We took a quick trip to Maine and it was a summer highlight. The older these guys get, the more we enjoy hanging out with them. We hope to be great friends with them when they are adults.

This little dude. So many emotions, so many things to say. God has transformed my heart in profound ways on this decade + foster care journey. 

Day 1, officially open for business in our new space. Wow...what a lot of hard work! Will it be hard? is almost never the question we filter decisions through. Our culture is way too committed to easy and comfortable and effort-free. Was it hard? Yes, but it was good.

Our Christmas card photo this year, which the kids were pleased with (thanks Lainie!). Love this imperfect crew and the life we're building. We argue, we struggle, we hurt each other. We love, we forgive, we show grace.

 

Top Ten-ish of Kodes

In trying to pick my top ten photos of the year, I kept coming across Dakota. Finally I decided to do a Top Ten, give or take, of just him. What joy he has brought into our lives! And he is such a cool kid. He's had a hard life and even now at three, he is stepping up to be "the man". But at our house, he just gets to be a kid, who is loved and adored and doted on. He's friendly and brave and helpful and funny without trying to be. We love our Kodes, Kody, Koda Bear, Bobby and 50 other nicknames we have for him. :)

(devastated to say goodbye to the kids at youth group drop off :))

 

If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

Matthew 10:39

Project 365, Week 52

Yay for Christmas!! It looked different this year, which was difficult, but the fundamentals of Christmas will never change, no matter how different traditions look. My heart is full of gratitude.

December 20

Avery's in the countdown for getting her driver's license, so Shaun and I sat down with her to talk business/finances. She's smart, trustworthy and responsible and there is so much about adulthood to know. I admire her for valuing our input and wisdom. And also I cannot believe we are here already.

December 21

Family time doing a little holiday gift card pickup.

December 22

The last of the 35 wires coming out of the front of the building were removed...SO much better!

December 23

We picked up groceries and Aiden's last minute gift, out with ALL the other shoppers.

December 24

I sat in the stillness of the morning for quite some time, snow softly falling outside.

Kiki sent me a picture of my dad doing something similar. Peace.

The snow was a surprise and Ginger thought it was just grand!

The day was spent preparing and picking up last minute food items.

And then (without arguing!) we were in the car, headed to our candlelight service.

It was a beautiful time of pausing and of worship to the King.

Kelly and C4 were on family candle-lighting duty and Nathanael was working behind the scenes to provide a quality streaming service for those online.

Because of Covid, etc the crowd that often tops over 40 was under 20 at Amy and Colombo's. Amy put in so much work and everything was beautiful. It felt strangely quiet and we were all able to fit around one table. It was lovely.

With our carfull of kids, we drove by the best lights in our town.

December 25

Christmas morning! Even after a late night, these two were up at 7am, excitedly exchanges the gifts they'd bought each other. It was SO sweet!!

We exchanged a missing-you-dearly, not-the-same-without-you morning photo with our family in New York. People came and went. We laughed, we loved, we opened gifts, we played games and we finished out the night with Elf by the fire. It was a good day.

 December 26

The next day, the kids pitched in and we cleaned up and put away Christmas, leaving only the tree with lights on. It felt good to get everything back in order.