Wow!  How crazy that we’re at the front side of a brand new year.  2010

A friend was trying to think up sayings for 2010…you know, the corny ones like “lose some weight in 2008″  So far none of the ones I’ve heard have hit a chord for me.  The only one I could think of is “pick up a pen in 2010″ to try to bring back the art of letter writing.  I love receiving handwritten notes or letters and RARELY does that happen anymore as we’ve moved beyond snail mail, to email, to the crazy world of tweets, texts, IM, FB, etc.

Rob and I were trying to think through the year ahead and for the first time in a long time I’m not extremely curious about “what will happen?”  2009 brought so many surprises and excitements that I’m still recovering – in a good way.    I think it’s okay and actually better for me (God says so!) to just take things one day at a time.  As we entered 2009 I had no idea Robbin would get engaged to Jake, Bethany would start a relationship with Dwight, or all the girls would move out by the fall and a few odd assorted happenings in between.  But, I am living proof that no matter the highs or lows, God is faithful.  God sustains you.  God protects you.  God comforts you.  God LOVES you unconditionally.  Wow did I see that played out in our lives this past year!  It gives me great courage to live day by day for 2010.

and a brief update from the holiday festivities…

• Dec. 23rd – Whiskey Shrimp Dinner.  A great family tradition. Yum!  An old recipe my mom discovered on her 25th Wedding Anniversary trip to Iguasu Falls in South America.  We almost lit my cupboards and my face on fire when we lit the whiskey to burn off the alcohol.  Oh well, what’s a couple of eyebrows.
• Dec. 24th – Christmas Eve services…3:30, 5:30 and 11:oo (Candlelight) Beautiful time to remember Christ’s birth and the peace that can only be found through Jesus as he lived and died and rose so we could live, eternally.
• Dec. 24th – One batch of cinnamon rolls didn’t rise, batch number two finally did, worked on it ’til the wee hours of the morning!  I only make them once a year and I was bound and determined to have them this year.  First batch literally was a lump of mushy dough.
• Dec. 25th – CHRISTMAS MORNING  my favorite!  Kelly tradition is to wake everyone up with this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfnXZGBqxFc Took playing the song 3 times this year to wake up everyone.  Then it was on to the stockings, then presents, then brunch with more family and friends, then off to the movies for a double feature AVATAR in 3D and Up in the Air.
• Dec. 29th – a great fun day with my friend Debbie Bresina – we started the day in Golden for breakfast, then ended painting plates at a place in Arvada. 9 1/2 hours of good conversation and laughter!
• Dec. 30th – had dinner with the Browns, not my daughter and son-in-law, but our other good friends, Kim and Tim.  We literally froze at Wahoo’s Fish Tacos downtown – I guess they don’t believe in heating their restaurant, but we moved on to Starbucks and closed it down, sitting by the fireplace reminiscing and catching up.
• …and many days of hanging out with the best husband in the whole world!  His bright idea for being productive was to clean the kitchen.  Note, when Rob is a part of the project, be ready!  Clean the kitchen meant to remove everything, I MEAN EVERYTHING from every drawer, cupboard, pantry, etc. Clean the kitchen, sort and rearrange all items.  The trash man hated us this week I’m sure!
• It was a great two weeks!

a few pictures of the festivities…

My day started with a phone call from Elise (who currently works at Starbucks)

“Mom, I just thought you would like to know, Egg Nog Lattes are back and so are the Holiday cups!”

Hooray for the little things in life.  I got myself ready in record time and buzzed on up to her store to get an EggNog Latte in a red holiday cup on my way to work this morning.  Yum! 

And, my brother sent me an email with the picture below…so, here’s a holiday idea for you:

Happy day and it’s only 51 days and counting until Christmas! 

THE KELLY GIRLS with the new MRS. BROWN

From left to right – Elise Kelly/youngest, Robbin/oldest, Bethany/middle-est 

I am the luckiest mom in the whole world.  I love my girls.  Each one has grown into an amazing young woman, it’s so fun to watch them pursue the next chapters in their lives!  This picture was from Robbin’s wedding…a day we’ll never forget.

I love my life.  I love this season. I am truly blessed!