Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The 2007 Christmas Letter That Never Got Sent.....

Greetings from the GRAHAM’s - December 2007

As I start this (December 2nd), we are having a major snow storm. I always get nervous because the snow here is different than the stuff we were used to in Mackenzie. Because of that, it’s always a driving nightmare. We live at the bottom of a hill which makes it very interesting. So many people can’t get up the hill and they end up having to slide back down or pull u-turns in front of our house. The good thing about snow here of course, is that you know it will be gone in a few days because it’s definitely going to rain….and rain……and rain………………….!!

I’m sure our year was very interesting but as I reflect back on it now, I find that I can hardly remember from January to June. It’s called “old age”. Here’s an example of what has happened to us as we age: we went to Mexico for a week in November. Before we left, Rod hid his credit cards and ID that he didn’t want to take with us. He told me where he hid them and I remember thinking, “That’s a very unique spot – so unique that I will remember for sure”. We came back from our trip and we both forgot where it was. It took over a week before I finally remembered and it was only after a lot of praying for my memory to kick in. Some would call it a coincidence that my eyes were suddenly drawn to a place we had been walking past on our frantic searches through the house. I call it an answer to prayer and a miracle that God finally got me to look there!!!

I will now try to recount our year for you:

January 2007 was an interesting month for us. For 22 of the days we went to work, came home (those were the week days). On the other days (week-ends) I can’t remember what we did. I know in February it was Rod’s birthday and that was probably fun but I can’t remember it now. I know we must have had cake and maybe we went out for dinner or something. Don’t know. March – now that was a good month. My birthday was at the beginning of the month and I’m sure something exciting happened but don’t ask me what. Also the first week of March I slipped on the ice going into my Jazzercise class. I hit my head on the pavement and hurt my back a bit but I was fine other than that. Later on in the month I know we went to Alberta. Now that I do remember!!! We visited Tan & Shelley in Canmore and Dylan, Pam and kids in Edson. That week in Alberta was so great except for the part when I slipped and fell on the ice and broke my arm.

April and May are quite blurry to me now but I do remember having a cast on my arm for most of the time. June was great because we were expecting puppies (well not us personally – but our dog Georgia…) Mariah (Jerod and Lisa’s daughter) turned one year old on June 29th and the very next day Georgia had her pups. In July our wonderful son Dylan and his family came to visit us all the way from Edson Alberta!!!!! That was great but the time flew way too fast…………….Now the next few months are also unclear but I do remember looking after puppies (it was fun sometimes BUT sometimes overwhelming). We also camped a lot (with the puppies……..). Oh ya…..Jerod’s birthday was in August and I know we had a barbeque and that was fun.

One thing about September that I remember is Dylan’s birthday. Then in October it was Lisa’s and then Lauren’s. November was not bad except for the part when I fell on cement and broke my new glasses and hurt my left hand and ankle and my right knee. One week after that happened we went to Mexico!!!! That was so much fun except for the part when I tripped on the pool chair and fell on the cement, hurting my left big toe, and my right knee and elbow. Keep in mind that I was still in pain from the previous fall so now I can hardly move. The trip back from Mexico on the sardine can they call an airplane was torture. (**I was not drunk any of the times that I fell….honestly!!!) While we were in Mexico we took a day trip by bus into the Sierra Madres to a little town call San Sebastian – home of the first silver mine in the area. It was extremely interesting and the town was pretty much the way it was 300 years ago.

Now here it is December already and almost the end of 2007. So far we’ve been getting Christmas stuff ready to send to Alberta and trying to get the house organized after the little flood we had in November. (oh ya – I forgot to mention that…)

I haven’t fallen yet this month although I did trip on my chair at Starbuck’s today (close call)…

As I look back over 2007, I realize I don’t remember everything that happened during the year; but the one thing I do remember is how God has blessed us with a wonderful family and some close friends. The memories of the times we spend together always stay close to my heart and clear in my mind….and even though we don’t see you very often. We think of getting together with you a lot. Looking forward to another great year.

Wishing you all God’s best in 2008!!!

Love, Christine and Rod

***Jerod and Lisa are expecting their second baby in May!!!






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