Lurching toward 2024

I’d like to say we’re sprinting toward the finish line of 2023, but the truth is we’re lurching.

We will not be the family that crosses that tape in lockstep, grinning easily toward the camera and wearing our festive matching Christmas jammies.

At least not this year.

We’ve hit some headwinds on our bell lap — we had to toss our Christmas ham when we realized “God’s refrigerator” had malfunctioned here in Wisconsin and the giant hunk of meat we’d left cooling in our garage had almost certainly spoiled.

An ear infection meant the star of our holidays had to make a late entrance.

Another got very sick a few days after arriving and ended up recuperating at our cabin. Thankfully he’s on the mend.

Our six-year old tossed his cookies all over his new stuffie. He’s also feeling much better now.

A handful of the Christmas gifts I’d ordered arrived late. The last one arrived yesterday.

While we had the full crew here in Wisconsin, we have not yet gotten the whole group together.

We haven’t found our stride in this home stretch of 2023.

But, we’re still moving forward, celebrating moments and laughing a whole lot.

Our time together is a gift not one of us takes for granted.

Time itself is a gift and we know that for sure.

So, we’re all looking forward to 2024, undaunted by the minor challenges we’ve faced this week and so very grateful for the opportunities that lie ahead.

Happy New Year to all of you! May 2024 bring you good health and lots of laughter and love!