2012 first update!

Wow, it is already 2012 and February is soon to arrive. We survived the Amazing Snowstorm that hit us about a week ago. We lost some trees in our yard and some of our shrubs were damanged. We have a big cleanup ahead of us.
Christmas this year was the best ever and the most difficult ever. You see, last Christmas, was our first Christmas without Beth and Grandma, and I think we were all still in some kind of shock. This Christmas it was reality time and it was painfully clear that we had many Christmases ahead of us that we would feel the losses again and again. I tried to make this Christmas---"no stress"--- if that is possible.
When I reflect on 2011, we had a lot of amazing things come our way and one of the biggest was purchasing our first home. To update you, when we moved to Lakewood, WA, we rented a house, with the intent to buy, that was directly behind my father-in-law's house. I can look off my back deck, look over the fence and see the small hill that Michael, Elizabeth and Jodie all played on. I can almost hear the sounds of their laughter, as they played there on many trips to see Grandpop and Grandmama. Many times I looked at this big house across the lawn but never knew that someday my deepest prayer would be answered.
Next month, it will be two years since we lost our dear sweet Elizabeth. I cannot believe it has been that long. Recently, for the first time, I was able to go into her room and organize some of her items. I had to do it quickly, but I managed to sort through some of her things. I know she is not "in" her personal things, but it sure seems she is alive in my heart, when I touch her trinkets, her pictures, her clothes, her stuffed animals.
We all miss her so very. very much and look forward to the reunion in HEAVEN!