Sunday, January 1, 2017

2016 ~ Year in Review


The new year has arrived!  We have turned the page on 2016...and a blank book is waiting to be written.  It's a good time to gather a few memories from the 'year that was'.  Let me share few of the happenings of this past year...along with one image from each month.


These photos were taken one year ago today...on a New Year's Day drive to Hope.

January was a lovely month, which included some local hiking, a visit from my brother and family from Iowa and a birthday celebration at Harrison  Hotsprings.


In February I joined my sisters and nieces for a ‘girls only’ reunion in Las Vegas on the long weekend…we hiked, played games, laughed a lot, saw a show and did a lot of walking. On the day that would have been my mother’s 90th birthday, we (her five daughter's, one daughter-in-law, and seven granddaughters from all over Canada and USA) met for dinner and ‘reminisced’ a little .

 

We spent Easter in the Holy Land this year.  How special to walk where Jesus walked, to visit Jerusalem, sail the Sea of Galilee, stroll through the Garden of Gethsemane, and visit Bethlehem...
to witness a baptism in the Jordan River, and see the ruins of ancient cities we had often read of in the Old Testament. It made the Bible come alive!



April brought colour to the valley.  Every drive past our local tulip fields called for a photo stop!

Another highlight of the month was the annual 'Ladies Getaway' sponsored by our feed company. It took us on a trip to Victoria and Butchart gardens this year...during a record-breaking heat wave.  



May is a busy month on the farm...with all the fieldwork and corn-planting.  Elmer planted corn for the very last time. After 45 years, he decided that someone else will be planting the corn from now on.  My sister Bev (who lives in Texas) retired from nursing and took a long road trip with a stopover at our place for a week.

 

In June we took the motorhome to Whistler for a few days mid-month.  A visit by my cousin from Ontario called for a few get-togethers with my Isaak cousins.  School ended for the grands and we took in end of year concerts, recitals and soccer games.


 

July 31, 21016 was our 45th wedding anniversary.  We took a little trip to Victoria, just like we did 45 years ago.   Also in July...a ‘family reunion’ in Oliver and a visit by two of my American cousins (as well as my aunt from California).  It was a good month!  



The highlights of the month were spending the long weekend at Brae Island Campground in Fort Langley with our whole family...and a road trip adventure to northern British Columbia and a visit to Haida Gwaii.


 

September...we harvested corn, celebrated birthdays (including Dad’s 94th) and we took a trip to Indiana and Ohio to see a theatrical production called ‘Mennonite Girls Can Cook’ showing in two theatres over there.

 

October...finished the fall work on the farm and flew to Palm Springs for a little R&R.

 

November ~ Beautiful foliage and LOTS of rain.

(photo of our seven grands taken on Christmas morning)

December ~  Christmas celebrations with family and friends...


...and snow, snow and more snow!

It was a good year on the home front.  I thank God for His faithfulness...and am thankful that 'come what may' He is still in control!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year. 

10 comments:

  1. May 2017 be a wonderful "come what may." I always admire the folks who do these year in reviews. They are surely a marvelous way to document. My favorite photo this year? The Christmas morning grands! What a beautiful group they are...

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    1. Acckkk! Have done it again...commented first...something I have tried never to do again.

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  2. Wonderful adventurous year. I'm with Vee, the photo of the grands is great.

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  3. Your photos are always so beautiful, Judy. They tell a story without words. How do you do that?! I wish I had that ability. Happy 2017! Looking forward to your posts this year. And I'm with the others - I love the photo of your grandchildren. But when did they get so grown up? haha

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  4. Lovely, Judy !! especially loved the photo of your grands and your house in the snow! Lots of memorable events crowed into one year! A blessed one!
    May 2917 be a great year for you and yours, God's hand of abundance open to you.

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  5. You've had a great year, filled with God's blessings. Your house in the snow looks amazing - who would think that we live in a such a mild climate, seeing these photos? May 2017 hold an abundance of joy.

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  6. What an amazing year you had! I love all the opportunities you took to celebrate milestones, friendship, your marriage, etc! I loved also how you made note of the fact that no corn would be planted by Elmer... ever again. Reinforcement of such decisions is good!

    Happy New Year and may God bless you and those you love!

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  7. Your review makes me think I should do one too! Such a good year. I know we all have challenges too, but I love this focus on the good and the beautiful. And on top of all of this we published a new book!
    Wishing you a wonderful year ahead!

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  8. What a great review of your year past Judy! Your pictures are wonderful and I love how you mentioned all the visits from friends and relatives throughout the year. What fun to have a "girls only" get-away as well. Your house in the snow is stunning and your grands on Christmas day is such a great picture. All the very best in the New Year 2017 come what may indeed. God is Good!

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  9. Happy and healthy New Year, Judy! Your grandchildren have grown so much this year--they look so happy to be at grandmother and grandfather's house. You had a wonderful 2016, and I hope you are blessed with an even better 2017!

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'The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.'
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson