As 2016 draws to a close, New Year’s Eve always seems a bit anti-climatic in the wake of our December Christmas celebration. The hustle and bustle of food preparation amidst screaming children and the crushed candy canes under my heels. Why are there candy canes on the kitchen floor, you ask? Who knows, maybe ask the two year old in residence?
The shopping, the present wrapping, the Christmas programs, and the endless to-do lists send my mind into a tizzy. Yet in the midst of my craziness this month, my two year old is often found playing with a baby doll and singing her favorite Christmas song, “Noel, Noel, come and see what Christ has done!” (Noel by Lauren Daigle and Chris Tomlin).
Her words make me pause and give thanks. Because this year we have been blessed by our God and we have so very much to be thankful for. As the year comes to a close, it’s so important to reflect on our past days, as we shape our hopes and dreams for the coming year.
2016 has been a good, and sometimes hard, year. Full of so many memories. Some of the crops this year were less than stellar and some were great.
Also, our oldest son faced a major health crisis in August and was hospitalized for six days. But he pulled through and has exceeded our expectations in his recovery time. We were so blessed by our customer family and neighbors over this time. Your phone calls, meals, and gifts overwhelmed us with your outpouring of love in the mid-summer heat. You paused and blessed us in many ways. We have so much to be thankful for.
I’m also thankful for all the special memories we made this year on the farm, thankful for every moment I had with my kids. I probably take too much of it for granted. Here are a few picture highlights of our year–some of the moments I cherish most.
We wish you and yours a very happy New Year’s celebration and may 2017 be filled with grace and peace for all of you. May you create many intentional moments with the ones you love most! Blessings!