This Iona kitchen crew cooked!

An ending approaches… As 2011 fades, a memory forms…

Looking back over the year, the joys and pains occupied different planes. Most years the two hold hands and nibble each others ears, this year they never met. One never touched the other, either there was joy or there was pain.

Pain is universal, we all know it and all need less of it. I’ll spare you the details, for no one likes pain on a page.

Joys I will share, for I need to remember and maybe, in remembering, you’ll smile with me.

This summary of my year is taken from our family’s Christmas letter, which was written by my twenty-one year old son. To add detail, I’ve added a few links and photos.

Me and my children, Charlie & Emily, in June

 Materfamilias (Mom, for short): Being a mother is tough. Being a mother of Charlie? Well, let’s just say that this amazing woman embraces the challenge! I could elaborate on the demanding nature of her regular telephone counseling sessions with her son, but will, instead (in an attempt to keep you awake), shed some light on Mom’s fascinating lifestyle. She advanced her freelance writing venture—titled “Word by Word”—via many hours of writing, editing, entrepreneurial work, and networking; she was published several times*, posted her 500th blog post, and has gathered a variety of subscribers including a monk, an almost-doctor, an Australian stay-at-home-mom, and an ex-convict.  In the spring, she traveled to Iona, Scotland for nine weeks, where she became part of a tight-knit spiritual community and learned how to speak cow and bake scones using the metric system.  After returning from this British adventure, she celebrated a 25thwedding anniversary (on the same day as my dad!  Quite a rarity these days!).  She is currently pursuing employment at a seminary and planning to take theology classes in 2012, but is also considering just writing a suspense/thriller novel based on the lives of her “crazy family and friends” (watch out!).  Don’t worry.  I will ensure a just distribution of profits…

We drove to Boston to see Charlie in August

Rich and I played in London in October

Grateful for the smiles you bring, and you bring them often, blog friends. You’re a huge part of my year, my years. I love to hear from you, read your comments and know that you here, with me, now.

Happy New Year! May God guide, protect and keep you.

* March: The High Calling’s Articles about Faith; September: St Olaf E-News; November: The Spirituality Gazette

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