Goodbye 2004

I can't believe Christmas is over and we are nearing the year 2005.  That is incredible to me!  I cannot believe how quickly 2004 has flown by and how much has happened during this year- 3 months in Ethiopia, graduating from CU, getting married, moving out of my parents house, moving to GR, finding a "real" job, friends and relatives getting married and having babies, and so much more! We enjoyed our "first" Christmas very much.  We were with my family on Christmas Eve for appetizers, candles, steak dinner, church, dessert, games, pictures, stories, stockings, and bedtime.  Christmas morning we opened presents with my family and then headed over to the Austin's house to open presents, eat a turkey dinner, watch some dvds (or nap through them!), put together legos, look at pictures, and eat dessert.  Phil also helped his parents edit a video clip from Togo to use in their presentation this Sunday night at Berean.  Saturday night we came back up to GR and watched a movie and just hung out.  We took a lazy Sunday morning (skipped church) and got ready to head to Muskegon for the Rexford (Phil's mom's side of the family) family Christmas.  That was fun because I put together a veggie tray and got to use more of my cool pampered chef stuff.    All the family was together in Muskegon so it was great.  We ate food, played games, played with cameras, Tim shared a challenge with us, opened presents, Phil set up Gma & Gpa's new dvd player, watched Phil put together cousin David's lego boat, and just enjoyed our time together.  I am so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful family. It was also an emotional time for me as my Grandpa Ron died 10 years ago on the 26th.  I still remember every detail of the phone call that mom received while she and I were in the kitchen of our house in Rockford that day.  He was a wonderful, loving man and I miss him very much.        Other than that, I have been off of work all this week, so I have just been chillin at the apartment.  Kimmy came up to hang out with me for a couple days, so we have been working on the wedding scrap book.  Mom and Dad came to pick her up yesterday so we brought some of her stuff over to Cornerstone (since she goes back to school on Sunday), ate lunch at Olive Garden, and then came back here to watch Mr. Deeds and eat ice cream.  I was really thankful to spend that time with my family.  Phil and I took down the Christmas tree last night.  It wasnt really watered very well, so the needles were dried out and hurt with every touch.  We decided the easiest way to get rid of it was off the balcony.  Our tree was a good size though, so as it was being yanked out the sliding door, needles and branches were sent everywhere.  We spent a good amount of time gathering, vacuuming (I know the needles arent good for the vacuum, but that is ok), and then crawling on hands and knees picking up the remaining needles that were stuck in the carpet.  It was an adventure for sure.     Tonight we are heading down to Kzoo for a wedding and a party.  Should be good times.  Hope to see many of you there!  Have a fantastic day!   Oh yeah, the new profile pic is a picture of one of the frames Linds got me for Christmas!  Doesn't it look pretty?  Thanks, Linds!

Posted 12/30/2004 9:45 AM - 1 View - 0 eProps - 0 comments - edit it