2013 in Review or..My Annual Christmas Letter

 

 

 

 

 

                    

Wow! Perfect! Epic!

Those three little, over-used words of this year surely describe 2013 for this household. That’s the only time you’ll hear them from me, soooo over these, like ten minutes ago, dude.  

   In April I was able to complete a lovely round-trip vacation through Redding, Folsom, Walnut Creek, Rio Vista, Campbell and South Lake Tahoe. Because Kevin was waiting on call for work, I went solo. This was a fun ‘reunion’ trip which included an overnight stay with a new old friend; we knew each other in high school but were not social. Due to the Face

Book format, Bill, Connie and I have been forming a beautiful friendship. Wonderful what age and time CAN do. Treasured friends, my brother and sister-in-law, and my mom—one of the best trips of my lifetime. Rode a train in Rio Vista, did a little jammin’ with Hal and Joanne and stopped to enjoy a too-short visit with Terri at South Lake Tahoe. Childhood friend Debbie and I had a great dinner and may have even heard a ghost, hmmm? To this day she still doesn’t know what that weird sound was that we heard late that night.

Beginning in late March, Kevin and I broke out the kayaks- more this time than any other season and we’ve hit all but three lakes that are on our list, one that was a pleasant surprise! Taylor Lake on the Cascade Lakes highway is an absolute gem, difficult to get to but oh so worth the high mountain roller coaster drive. We were able to squeeze in a camping event on that one.

In June, Sara and I completed our six month planned, 10,358 foot summit hike of South Sister. I began walking in March, thinking I was pretty prepared for this trek. I could hardly walk for three days after we “came down off the mountain”. Let me tell you, coming down is just as difficult as going up; using different muscles and straining different parts of the body. Uphill your heels get sore, downhill your toes start screaming long before you’re halfway down the trail. A great bonding experience to have with one’s adult daughter. Later in the year we shared another fun ride; zip lining at Tree-to-Tree adventures in Gaston. FUN! Maybe a whitewater raft trip next year…

Kevin and I are both thankful for our health (yes, we have an issue or two at our age), we are rich in having a loving family fairly close and many good friends. We can feel our ages when we watch our two grandsons now climbing knot ropes or the youngest one starting school. It was just yesterday they were baby boys…

I count my blessings every day and I am thankful for being able to live in this country where we are free to believe in Jesus without being burned at the stake. Happy Birthday to our Lord and Savior.

(I must add that due to my OLD age, I added in an adventure that took place LAST year!!!) The hike up South Sister was in August of 2012...wow, still feels like yesterday!)