Brand New Year

So it's been a little while since we last wrote, but so much has been happening this past month that it's been hard to keep up with things.

Carrie's new job has really taken off and she's happy to be "back in the saddle" doing what she loves. Jon's semester finished up well with good grades and all--now onto the REALLY tough semesters ahead!

 After Thanksgiving we celebrated our 2nd Anniversary by staying at a cabin up near Estes Park for a night. It was a beautiful place, complete with a hot tub just for us. Sitting out there in the snow was a pretty cool experience--we will definitely be going back there sometime! It was a wonderful way to celebrate our 2 years of wedded bliss and how far we've come (quite literally!). We are so blessed to have each other to spend our lives with.

The holidays were a little different this year. Carrie's grandmother (dad's mom) passed away a little over a week before Christmas (rather suddenly), so that made the distance from family at this time of year even more difficult. She was 90 years old and had literally dozens of grandchildren and even great-grandchildren - a remarkable woman. We mourn her loss, but are happy to think of her now with Pap (who passed away in 1996) and with her Savior. He must have needed her there in Heaven.

We also missed some family activities that we normally do the weeks leading up to Christmas, so we are feeling that void pretty keenly this first year that we are not within driving distance. But God is good - Jon's parents flew us home for the holidays, so we were able to be with family for about a week. It was a much needed rest and reunion - we were sad to leave.

2011 was a big year for us - lots of changes, some happy, some sad - but that's life, right? We are looking forward to this new year and seeing what 2012 holds for us! Best wishes to you for a wonderful new year, as well!