2020

January

A New Year, a New Month.

I thought that things would slow down for me once January rolled around, but it just kept on going, one thing after another.  Just enough busy to keep things from getting boring, but not so much as to make me crazy.   John and I decided it was time to take an island vacation.  We decided on Fiji. As soon as that was figured out and scheduled, things just kept being added to this month because next month we are going to be gone all month.  There were the usual birthdays and extra lunches and shopping. 

Here are 3 of the birthdays, John's 65th was especially a good one, because now he gets Medicare and that is going to save us at least $500 a month in insurance and he will get better coverage.  My Dad turned 85 and Emily turned 21.  Son John had his birthday at the first of the month and Ariel had his at the end, but I didn't get photos of those.

It is pretty fun to have the kids get older and come up on their own for a little visit.  

We were able to have the Veras grandkids overnight.  I really like it now that they are old enough to learn to play games that are my favorite games.

My high school friend Melanie and her husband came to town and we met up for lunch.  I love that we can just pick up where we left off at the last visit.

Emily's birthday brunch with all four kids.

For a week they weather report was that a HUGE snow storm was headed our way.  We watched and hoped and waited.  Here is day one, day two and day three of our huge snow.  HUGE SNOWFALL???  At least we had a trace. 

Jessi didn't have ANY at their place, so she brought the kids out here. They had snow ball fights and made snow angels, followed by hot tubbing. 

Here are some of my favorite shots for the month.

Can you believe that the hummingbirds are still around?

A glimpse of the river through the clouds.

I always love the contrast of color of that hillside in the winter.

The photo below really shows what they mean by a snow line.  The whole hillside across from us is topped off right at the snow level.  Just like that, God drew a line.

Mt Hood showed off the new layer of snow, but we didn't get to see it very often.

Most of the month looked like the shot below.

A few flowers don't know that it is winter.

Here are a couple of hearts to add to my heart collection.

We had a couple of visitors to our front yard.  I don't mind sharing my plants with them at all.  So amazing to see nature up close.

Arianna had her hip hop recital.  It is so fun to watch the kids perform. 

We ended the month with a memorial for John's Father.  His ashes were joined with John's Mother's ashes at a military service with Catholic Committal.  There was a 3 gun salute and the playing of Taps.  Always.  Always it brings tears to my eyes to be a part of that.  Afterwards, the family gathered at our house for food and conversation.