Somehow I've fallen a year behind, but since I do one entry per month, I should still be able to catch up soon enough, right? It is pretty interesting to look back to a year ago. What I recall about last December was a tumultuous period. But without a diary, I don't remember the details anymore. I actually sort of regret not keeping a private journal, especially for the last ten years. So this blog is the closest thing I have, and it still is important to us after all these years. Thank you if you've been reading for a long time. I hope that once I get caught up I can write more meaningfully again.
In December, I tried to reach out and spend more time with people I didn't know well, especially older women/widows. I visited with a mom of my friend who has been mostly homebound since getting older and becoming blind (from a genetic disease). When she told me how she has to remember the beauty of trees and horses as she can no longer see them, I felt so sad. We take so much for granted. I also baked some cookies to give the neighbors, something I haven't done in years. I especially love these white chocolate peppermint cookies a baker doctor friend introduced me to, but you need to play around with the ratios or add more than just "a pinch" of baking powder or they will flatten into a puddle.
Lucas's sports class switched gears to track since it was a short session and families might be traveling. Amazingly the weather held up every time we met. I also ran the 5K myself (slowly and with a lot of stops as I am more and more out of shape). Lucas placed third in his age group, which was cool.
In recent years, I've been driving by myself to see my friend. It's a long distance from my in-laws' to her dad's house, and often the visit is after we've driven around with my family for 6-8 hours. I do sort of like going alone, though. I enjoy driving solo. It's also good to be able to see some friends and catch up, sometimes pray. There is another childhood friend M. who lives by my in-laws whom I see every year, but she asks me not to post her photo. Just noting it here for posterity since I don't have a photo. Last December, I was just very thankful to catch up with friends I hadn't seen in a long time, to see family again, and to make some new friends, too. Also thankful for our dinner date, Lucas's sports class, and Naomi being home from college.
I love the fall colors that go into the winter in our area, which does not really see snow.
A friend gave me this mug, and I enjoy being reminded of this every time I have some tea
Cats at peace
Naomi and her friend M. at Christmas in the Park
Out with my friend M. for lunch
Visiting K. at her home
Cat in the box
K.'s dog (I'm scratching her behind the ear, not grabbing her). I forget her name, even though I've seen her so many times. I've a lot of friends with dogs. It's like when my friends started having more and more kids; I couldn't remember all the kids' names anymore.
Send-off for one of our coaches last year. She and her family returned to Thailand.
Date night at Bon Mot, a Korean fusion lobby restaurant
Fancy happy hour food
Octopus and I think fried chicken?
Interesting they picked this tree to light up
Coach says Merry Christmas
Celebrating birthdays with my journey group--yummy sweetgreens salads, taiyakis, tea, and other desserts
I made a little locket for my mother-in-law. The previous one was before Isaac was born.
Christmas light arches in our area
Lucas placed third (out of 11 kids) in his age group in our sports class 5K race.
Naomi was in a garage band for a year, like you see in the movies. This was the garage.
Baking pecan snowballs, dipped ginger snaps, and peppermint white chocolate cookies for the neighbors
I will never not love Snoopy Christmas (these were for the cookies)
Church Christmas dinner served up by two of the journey groups. We made meatball pasta--easy, economical, and could feed a crowd.
Like steps to heaven on our drive
In my in-laws' backyard. Isaac liked to go outside at night.
Games at the Christmas Eve party
The best tacos
buena comida
Family photo with Santa/Uncle David
Sibling photo. Aunt Quinka has since passed on. The parties really won't be the same without her.
Presents! Thank you Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Dolly!
Naomi made some special cards for the family in a hurry. So cute.
Isaac showing Grandpa how to make one of his favorite drinks, Brazilian lemonade
We loved Dexter. This was the last time we would see him as well.😢
Puo-Puo cooking up another Christmas feast
Our annual tradition--lunch at Old Spaghetti Factory, joined by Uncle Gerard
Took Naomi to get a famous Dutch Bros coffee. To me, it wasn't that good, but it was huge!
Taking the boys for a drive, because again Isaac needed to get out.
All the lovely desserts made by Manny's cousin's daughter. She is very talented!
Family photo with Puo-Puo and Gong-Gong
With Deysi, C.'s cousin's dog and her family's dog Rocco sleeping in the bed. This would also be the last time I'd see Rocco.
Her dog Mocha
C.'s husband and son gathering some lemons for us.💝
First time at Raising Cane's for me. Pretty good!
Afterwards I met up with H. and D. and ate some more! (Taiwanese snacks) We chatted and prayed. Really wonderful day of fellowship for me.
At Sonic Drive-In on the way home
Picking up the cats. Coach was crying to get out, and Pluto was just fine.
My first Snoopy ornaments, from my sister-in-law!
From an ornament party before Christmas (photos are out of order as usual) at my friend's house. They asked we not post photos of the attendees, so I didn't.
New Year's Eve snacks
