New Years Eve 2011

New Years Eve 2011, a photo by islandj on Flickr.

Okay, so ever since Texas, when we partied the New Year in at a street party downtown, I've wanted to do something fun with the kids. We've had some good moments - a favorite being the ringing in of 2009 at legoland (6 pm or midnight, kid standard time). But I just haven't gotten my act together... and this is just the reason that God has placed us in community with one another (no, not really to celebrate the new year in style, but to support one another's weaknesses with our strengths). My good friend Mrs. G organized a kids New Years Eve party for just a few families (she isn't crazy, you know, for all her fun ideas, so it was kept pretty small), and we happily attended. Each family decorated a 2012 number, crazy hats were worn, delicious food was eaten, silly - and I mean silly - jokes were told, trains were played, balloons were popped, and a great many kazoos seemed to ring as the clock struck midnight... in Newfoundland. See? She's a smart mum! We tooted and laughed and drank sparkling cider at 8 pm, pretended it wasn't past anyones bedtime for as long as we parents could chat without a child's fuss, and then hugged wildly like we wouldn't see each other for a whole year. It was great fun, and really, the perfect way to end 2011, and begin 2012. I have prayed since we left Bowen in 2006 for a community to really belong to. Friends, well, more than that, spiritual sisters and families. And this year, in ways big and small, near and far, God has abundantly blessed me, and mine. I couldn't possibly list all the ways and people He has brought into my life. This night, and these gorgeous women, are but one expression of that. Happy New Year. Happy, happy year.