Updated
January 2, 2003
Welcome to 2003
-- Happy New Year from Ed, Katie, Jackson and Porter!!
I have to say
that the past year has been one of the better ones for my family,
me especially, in quite a while. We finished off the year strong,
with me mainly at home, and enjoying the boys as they experienced
the fullness of the holidays through the eyes of 2 and 3 year olds.
Santa was good
to the kids all around, and Jackson was very happy to get exactly
what he asked Santa for: a chalkboard and story books! They both got
enough new books to keep us going for a few months, and the art supplies
and 'city streets' rug for their cars should keep them in Creative
Play mode for a while. Nana got them a workbench (just like Bob the
Builder's) and they absolutely love it. We're still working on the
LeapPad he got from Mimi and Papaw -- but that's something that he'll
grow with for a few years. Porter, of course, is just happy with everything!
The time we spent
at the lake with my folks was really nice, even if it was one of the
more destructive ones, thanks to the boys. Think yellow highlighter
on the sofa and white carpet . . .
The year ended
with Katie and I enjoying a night at home -- after kicking back a
few rounds in the village at the G-Man, and toasting a bit with our
neighbors.
And despite the
challenges we had over the year (ranging from the truly bad, to not
so untolerable: losing our Monsignor; Porter being sick for most of
the first few months; ear tubes; Jackson as a 3 year old) -- our good
outweighed our bad.
What do I want
out of 2003? Mostly just more of the good and less of the bad! I'd
like to see my boys grow stronger in their love for life and eachother.
I'd like to see Katie find ways to relax and face an easier day-to-day.
I'd like to see more of my friends, and make new ones. And I'd like
to be able to play more songs on the guitar from memory.
I hope there
is enough in our lives to make it worthwhile -- enough love, tolerance,
kindness, curiousity. The list goes on --
Mostly, I just
want 2003 to be a time to extend my life and uplift my family. In
all that has come from 2002, I think I learned more to embrace the
simple things that bring happiness, and I want that to continue.
Happy New Year
--
