What a year!
As I look back over the year, I’ll admit I’m overwhelmed just at the thought of it. It’s been a hard year. One full of severe physical pain (for Tom), surgeries for Tom and I, problems with the kids and parenting (which led to our home being a miserable place to be), a cancer diagnosis, a change in jobs, etc. I’m glad I didn’t know what was coming when the year started or I might have tried to find a rock to hide under. (Well not really, but you know what I mean.)
I know it’s not a surprise to you, since you’ve been reading my blog, I but tend to look at the negative side of things and worry. Fortunately, I can look back at pictures from this past year and remind myself that it’s been full of joy as well. (And that we’ve taken lots of last minute trips out of town. I love that!)
At the beginning of the year, my friend Sara challenged me to take a picture a week for the entire year. It started off with a few prompts to try and help with our photography skills, but I ended up just choosing my favorite picture from each week. I love this project and plan to do it again next year.
Life is far from perfect, this side of eternity, but scrolling through the pictures below, I sure feel blessed.
Project 52 – 1 picture a week for 52 weeks
Week 1 – Helping Tom with recipe notebooks for work since his arm is in a cast
Week 2 – Playing with the new Dr. kit she got for her birthday
Week 3 – Making an apple pie as a family
Week 4 – Seahawk doughnuts for Superbowl Sunday
Week 5 – Tom working from home in our new office a few mornings after we moved all the rooms around
Week 6 – Someone that we love
Week 7 – Mt. Rainier
Week 8 – View from the top looking down at our shadows on the beach at La Push
Week 9 – Looking at a map of the Arboretum as we walked around one evening as a family
Week 10 – The heart of our home – the kitchen
Week 11 – Meal time – having tea for breakfast one morning before school
Week 12 – Hands (Our 5 year old’s and mine)
Week 13 – Seeing the tulips
Week 14 – Golden Gardens
Week 15 – Playing Just Dance on the Wii during Spring Break
Week 16 – Tom and I went up to Vancouver BC for the day. This is from China Town.
Week 17 – Balloon hats
Week 18 – Our oldest played Glinda the Good Witch in The Missoula Children’s Theater Performance of The Wizard of Oz
Week 19 – Making a movie with friends
Week 20 – Tea time with Mom to talk about growing up
Week 21 – Ready to start swim lessons!
Week 22 – Portland for the weekend – getting ready to eat at one of Tom’s restaurants.
Week 23 – Field Day at school
Week 24 – Maple Valley Days parade for the 5th year with these friends
Week 25 – Tom was off on Father’s Day (YAY!!!). It was so nice to celebrate on the actual holiday instead of a day before or after!
Week 26 – VBS here we come!
Week 27 – Happy 4th of July!
Week 28 – Spending time at the lake
Week 29 – Slide Waters in Lake Chelan during vacation
Week 30 – Restaurant for the neighborhood kids
Week 31 – The girls had a great week at Performing Arts Camp practicing and performing the musical, “Back to the Cross”.
Week 32 – Birthday party at the lake
Week 33 – Music in the Park
Week 34 – Back to school shopping at the mall
Week 35 – Overnight getaway to Whidbey Island
Week 36 – End of the summer party with the neighbors
Week 37 – First day of school (5th, 2nd and 1st grades)
Week 38 – Dressing up and doing makeup and hair with neighbor friends
Week 39 – At the airport heading to LA for our cruise!!
Week 40 – Formal evening on the cruise
Week 41 – Marathon day at Disneyland and CA Adventure
Week 42 – All 3 girls in the production Aladdin put on by the Missoula Children’s Theater
Week 43 – Praying with friends the Saturday before my Chemo started
Week 44 – Getting my new wig
Week 45 – Sorting Halloween candy
Week 46 – First piano lessons with Jim Jansen
Week 47 – 11th Birthday Party
Week 48 – Hanging out with Aunt Marilyn
Week 49 – Dad’s visit up here (and Monday help from Lauren Hartke)
Week 50 – Night at the Hyatt in Bellevue
Week 51 – Saying hello to Santa at the Pittock Mansion in Portland
Week 52 – Christmas Day
At the beginning of the year, I had no idea how it would end like this. I knew this would be a fun project to do, but with this cancer diagnosis and a pretty scary looking future ahead of me, I am so thankful for these pictures to look back on!
So much to be thankful for . . .
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