A Year In Review and Looking Ahead!

Well I for one, is very glad to see the back end of 2008. It was a year of more downs than ups for me and my family. I am truly looking forward to this new year with high hopes. It has been enjoyable reading all the different blogs especially all the ones of young mothers raising their babies. I wish I had had something like this when I was raising my children. Sometimes, any form of communication was few and far between and here we are in 2009 able to communicate with each other, no matter the distance. I have really enjoyed the different views expressed by you all and look forward to hearing and seeing more of you. Thank you for sometimes lifting me out of my gloom and making me laugh with you all, as if you are close. I can't wait to see all the new happenings in each and everyones' life. Happy New Year everyone! Here is just a few highlights of 2008. Enjoy

Spring came full force in 2008, leaving my garden all young and green, If you look closely you can see the cherry blossoms on the cherry tree. I can't wait for spring already, lol!

Our daughter Chelsea got her patriarchal blessing and it has been a blessing in her life. She has read it many times. Patriarch Fielden is such a wonderful and humble man. We love him dearly.

We had some new neighbors move in...the neighborhood was never the same after that. The kids named them Ringo and Star, lol.

Of course a year doesn't go by without visits from friends from afar. Here we had a wonderful time with a former missionary from Darren's youth, Marty Man Smith. Our kids loved him. He is just such a wonderful man. He lives in North Carolina and just loves coming to Nova Scotia. He calls it his second home.

Our second home, Rainbow Haven Beach. This past summer was spent going to the beach every hot and sunny day. Of course having family to share these memories made it even better. Cousins, Kaelym and Madlyn Blinn with Raven.

Mid-summer and my garden has taken off...my haven away from my busy life of kids, work and church.

Since we didn't do a big family trip this year, we played tourist in our own backyard and visited many of the lovely sights in Nova Scotia, one of them being the Halifax waterfront.

Fall has finally arrived in Nova Scotia and with it comes the changing of colors, smells and feelings.

With fall in full swing, nature's bounty is apparent. This was a busy time for me with all the canning and preserving to be done while every thing is fresh. I do love this time of year.

Thanksgiving Canadian style comes in October and what better way to give thanks than to share it with loved ones. Our family has always shared many of thanksgiving moments with the Blinns, my husband's sister Denise and her family.

One cannot forget those OTH(One Tree Hill) nights. Karen Bing is taking the pics while myself, Nicole, Laura and Kathy enjoy the food, lol. I must say these evenings have lifted my spirits quite a few times. What a hoot!

Of course, who can forget the excitement of waiting for HSM3. I thoroughly enjoyed myself as well as spending some time with my other nieces and sister-in-laws.

Denise, myself, Mellissa, Madlyn, Leeyah, Kaylyn and Raven. It was a fun night for all to be had.


Last of course is the Christmas season..it came up so unexpectedly fast, it caught me off guard. We manage to have a very good time but it also made me realize that I want to make this christmas of 2009 better than ever. Which brings us full circle! I want so much to make this year about the important things, like family, church, friends and laughing, just laughing!