Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Dear 2006

Dear 2006,

Sometimes we don't realize how busy a certain part of our lives has been until we reflect upon it in terms of a day, week, month or year.

When I was writing Christmas cards this year, after looking over all the cards and letters I'd received the year before, it dawned on me that although I may remember a particularly busy week here and there, the entire year was full. Full of memories, milestones and growth. You would think that I would be able to recall all the important highlights of 2006 more easily, being such an obsessive scrapbooker, but then again, I'm 3 years behind.

Among those events not captured on film, a few of my most notable memories for the year include:

*Visiting the E.R. to have a hair clip removed from Katie's nostril (we narrowly avoided surgery).
*Visiting the E.R. to have stiches given to McRae's elbow after tearing it open on Grandpa's dock (watch out for spinning levers).
*Visiting the Walk-In Clinic to have dermabond affixed to Wyatt's head after one of Brett's "Firefighter of the Year" trophies fell on his head during a fort building session.

As you can see, the medical emergencies took the cake.

On we go...

*Waiting for our new "niece" to get home from China!
*Getting to know Lila.
*Getting to know Sage.
*Brett completed his Officer's Development class, thus adding yet another credential to his bursting resume.
*Scrapbook camp (twice!).
*The bear running down my street (I am not kidding).
*Volunteering in the boy's classroom and correcting tons of 3rd grade homework (I needed a cheat sheet).
*Library story time and lunches with the girls.
*Celebrating Grandma Carol's Birthday (always a highlight of the year).

I have a lot to be thankful for. I wish that I could add to the list:

*More people taking care of people.
*Less importance placed on celebrity weddings and more attention given to issues that really matter.
*An end to our reliance upon foreign oil.
*Seeing the violence in Darfur and other impoverished regions come to an end.
*Having our troops withdraw from the "occupation" in Iraq.
*Peace

That doesn't mean that I don't love you, 2006, but you could've done better. I'm just looking out for my kids, after all,


and my "Grandbaby",

and my extended brood,

and my parents,


and the loves of my life.



"You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one"

-John Lennon



Sincerely,
Carrie

7 comments:

Queen of the Mayhem said...

What a great post! I am also a HUGE fan of scrapbooking! However, 2 kids and a full time job later, I am 2 years behind! My daughter is in third grade, and you are NOT lying about needing some help. She needed help with math the other night. I had to send her to her father! Thanks for stopping by my post! Come back anytime!

PS: You have a lovely family!

Lisa said...

I'm reading yours and Queen of Mayhem's comments. I'm going to be more than a bit scared when my son gets older and brings home math homework. eeek.

Sounds like an eventful year. I hope 2007 is just as happy and warm but with less trips to the ER!

Kelly Wolfe said...

Loved this post. Nice to put the last year in perspective. And I am a "dreamer" too, hoping your list of things you wish for happen too. Maybe things are on an upswing...

Lisa

Kristin said...

Such a great post... your "addition" list could come straight from my mouth...

And of course, hooray for Dermabond and GUESS WHAT? I have a stash...

Anonymous said...

what a great post. J and I JUST FINISHED last night M's scrapbook catching her up till now.

at which point J said, can we stop doing this now? whew. All I can think of is the therapy I'll have to pay for later, for all the "why did you stop loving me when I was two?".

I love the pics.

Anonymous said...

You have such a beautiful family!!

Mamacita Tina said...

I'm with you all the way, definitely room for improvement. And I'm a dreamer, want the world to be as one also. Happy 2007, may you not see the ER ever.