To Newsletter or to not. (Happy 2009)

We decided to not.
The one year I wasn't pregnant and got around to doing a newsletter was great. I like sending them out to our distant friends and relatives and catching them up on things. While I considered the idea for 2008, I realized that there haven't been any major events worthy of newsletter-type news. So I'll just make a little recap, in case there are readers who are interested in what's been going on.

January - said goodbye to our best friends (who happen to be relatives) leaving for missions; said goodbye to our baby daughter Grace. Discovered I have a genetic mutation that causes blood clots, which increase risks in pregnancy.

Feb - March Shoveled snow.

April - Took a nice little away trip to Baraboo, WI, stayed in a great bed and breakfast and rode roller coasters and bumper cars and go carts. Without kids. :o) (That was probably the highlight of the year for me).

May - Mostly did my best to hide out at home and avoid people. Found out we were pregnant (I think. It might have been in June). Also discovered a second gene mutation unrelated to the first one, which also causes blood clotting. It's a miracle Arlene came out like she did. (And, I must add through the year, she was a source of great joy and wonder as we watched her develop a personality and start being able to communicate better.)

June - Two cousins, a youth pastor, and a Czech exchange student visited for a few days. Attempted to save my parents' basement from the raging Cedar River Flood, which overtook our city and left a lot of damage. Fortunately, my parents' basement has recovered. Some of the things that were down there... not so much. A few things are still MIA meaning we aren't sure if we threw them out or put them somewhere else before it flooded. That water was nasty.



July-August Daniel spent most of his free time helping out with flood recovery. I went to Montana with a sick 1 1/2 year old and my parents. Will not do again without Daniel along. But I did enjoy the fair with my cousins and got to hang out with my grandparents, which is always good.

September-Oct - Daniel worked. A lot. I kept busy with regular home stuff. Nothing very interesting.
Nov - My brother came home from his cruise ship tour and visited. His girlfriend from Peru also stopped in for a week, and we all enjoyed getting to know her also. Arlene turned 2. Got a visit from my aunt and uncle and a couple of cousins I hardly ever see. I wished they could have stayed longer.

Dec - Daniel spent two weeks in California for work. It was cold here, and it snowed a few times. In the middle of his being gone, I went to Minnesota with my small group. We had a great time seeing Triple Espresso and shopping (well, they had a great time shopping. I would have been done after an hour). When Daniel got home, we got to spend a lot of time together as a family and enjoying each others' company. We listened to Christmas music and celebrated together and then with our families. Things were simple this year. It was one of my favorite Christmases since we've been married.

It's kind of been a hard year, which you probably know if you read the blog much. So, we're definitely looking forward to 2009 with a finished attic (hopefully), and a new baby girl!