Acknowledgments

Every post is better with a picture, don't ya think?

This was taken yesterday after a fun evening at the Flower Mound Community Activity Center with Tio, Tia, and Tia's adorable sweet baby sister, Denise. (This is the first time David and Mary have played with Denise, and they loved her. David commented, "I'm glad Tia and Tio finally have kids now." I explained that Denise is Tia's little sister, not her daughter, which was kind of confusing. I then pointed out that Tia Ale is so lucky to have a little sister when she's a grown-up. I asked David if he would want a baby sister when he's a grown-up. He did not seem keen on the idea. He sure likes other people's little sisters just fine, but he definitely thinks he himself should be out of the little sister business once he's a grown-up.)

So now that the photo is out of the way, let's move on to the business of this post.

I owe a serious debt of gratitude to some folks for making this year possible. And it's not the U.S. Air Force I have in mind. When I say "making this year possible," what I really mean is "making it possible to avoid institutionalization this year."

First and foremost, thanks to my parents. I don't even know what to say. "Thank you" seems lamely inadequate, considering we turned their lives upside-down. I am deeply grateful they had room in their home and in their lives and in their hearts to care for us. How will my dad survive now without getting Mary's breakfast every morning in the PINK bowl, or mowing the lawn without David's help? After a year of afternoons doing puzzles with Mary and riding bikes with David, my mom will finally get some time to herself...which she will probably have to spend reassembling her house in our wake.

Thanks to Grammy and Grandpa for opening their home to us on so many weekends. David will miss getting donuts and thoroughly enjoying all the fabulous toys Grammy's has carefully saved for her grandchildren--the Legos, the blocks, the car mat, the Playmobil sets, and so on. Mary will miss her early mornings with Grammy, her spot on the kitchen stool, and the treasures in the big desk upstairs. I am so very grateful for the friendship I've developed with Greg's parents. It was a blessing for me this year to see their example and experience close-up their love and support.

Thanks to my brother Dave and his wife Ale. There is no way for me to express what a blessing they have been in our lives. They were like angels. David, in particular, NEEDED that relationship with his uncle.

Thanks to all of the other family who has been here in Texas from time to time. To my brother Daniel, with whom we shared the upstairs for half the year, and who set the example for my children by leaving to serve a mission in Chile. (We're also thankful he introduced us to Bahama Buck's.) To everybody who came out at Christmas and filled our hearts during what could have been an empty holiday season. To aunts and uncles and cousins we got to see at other times, like Ben, Teresa, and "the Presidents," Matt and his kids, Uncle Daniel, Aunt Leslie, Aunt K and Cousin E, Aunt Marie, and Aunt Le and her kids.

Thanks to the super-dee-dooper fabulous teachers David and Mary had at preschool. And thanks to the friends David made and their awesome moms.

Thanks to the support we received from friends at church. I'm grateful for the friendships I made. I have learned so much from the women with whom I associated. They were wonderful to me and my children. (Also, hooray for visiting teaching!)

Thanks to my little Sunbeams. They may have tuckered me out, but they enlarged my heart, softening it, and opening it to more faith and hope and love.

Thanks to Jessica (who is not as outnumbered as before) for opening her home one weekend during one of the hardest months for me emotionally. I wish I could so the same for her now...but Wisconsin is a little far away.

I feel grateful for the love and support I have received from friends and family from afar. I have appreciated your prayers and your words of encouragement. Some of you I have even been lucky enough to see, be it here in Texas (Alisa! Diana! Mandy! Jen W.!), in Colorado (Deanna! Gina!), or Utah (Liz! Jacqui! Charity! Andy! More Aunt Marie! The Whole H Family!). I love you all.

I almost forgot. Roderick. Thanks to Roderick for pretending to be my kids' dog for a year. We miss you. (Yes, I said WE. I admit, I miss him too a little bit. If my parents ever wanted to drive to Madison for some crazy reason, I would let that dog in my house. Now that's one special dog.)

If I weren't so tired and IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING, I'd write something reflective or perhaps even semi-witty. But like I said, I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING.

Also, I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF MISSOURI.