New Year's with Fish

For the New Year's holiday, our family joined some good friends in Pigeon Forge for a great couple days of card-playing, football-watching and lots of feasting. On New Year's Day, some of us took the kids to the Gatlinburg Aquarium. At first, Laurel was a little intimidated by some of the large fish, but she soon got into the hang of it and helped us point out all the pretty (and scary) fishies.

2009 has been a wonderful year of ups and downs and more memories than I can recall. First and foremost is clearly the addition of Laurel to our family. We could not be more blessed in such a beautiful, cheerful, inquisitive child. She brings us more joy than I could have ever anticipated, and made what might have otherwise been a painful year, the best of our lives.

Both Tim and myself lost our last living grandparent this year when my dear Papaw Fain passed away in April and Tim said goodbye to "Chuck" earlier this very week. They were both very dear to us - strong, family-centered men of faith who faced the evils of cancer valiantly. They were both veterans of World War II, worked on the railroad, and lived healthy, vigorous lives well into their 80s. They will be well remembered and loved.

As we look toward 2010, we can't wait to see more of the person inside our sweet baby. We look foward to her first birthday at the end of this month and to all the adventures our family will experience in this new decade. To our dear readers, we wish you and your family much love and well wishes for health and happiness.