How I Celebtrated 2011

For the last few years I have joined several other bloggers that pick a "word for the year" to be a focus for the coming new year.  My word last year was "celebrate".  I have to admit that much of the year I forgot about my word and yet as I look through all of my 2011 photos,  I certainly did celebrate many things.  I share them below if you wish to look but first of all I want to say a couple things.

Thank you very much for your faithful visits and your caring comments.  On the average,  my stat counter showed 100 of you popping in for a few minutes most days.  I appreciate that you come here.

One of my visitors named Linda left me such a kind and encouraging comment a couple days ago that I feel it's necessary to publicly say thank you.  So, Linda, thank you for your faithful visits and for taking the time to write a very sweet note.

There are several blogs that are sharing some things from this past year that I thought were really cool.  Here's some links in case you want to see them yourself:

From Joan B - Joan's favorite posts from her blog in 2011.

From Cristina - Some of Cristina's cards from other blogs.

From Mariana - A video of her favorite cards from 2011.

From Sue K - Some of her favorite creations from 2011

From Janelle - A Review of 2011.

And here are a few photos from my year of celebration.  Come back tomorrow and I'll share what my new "word" for 2012 is.

In January on the 16th, John and I always celebrate the first time we saw each other face to face.  We grill a steak, serve it with green salad and baked potato and a glass of wine - and this year I remembered to have our photo taken before we ate.

February we had a very special celebration.  John's 90th birthday.  We had an open house for him and friends and family helped us celebrate.  John received over 100 birthday cards - thanks to those of you that sent them.

On March 1st we celebrated our 9th Wedding Anniversary.  I also celebrated being able to spend the day with one of my online friends - Jovi.  She drove up from southern Illinois where she and her family were visiting just so we could share the day having fun.

In April we celebrated our Lord's Resurrection on Easter Sunday.  I celebrated a 5k walk with my step-daughter and granddaughter.

In May, John and I celebrated Memorial Day.  John's name is on a brick at a little Military Memorial in our city.

 In May we also visited my nephew in Iowa to celebrate Mother's Day.  On the way home we toured the Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum.

In June we celebrated Father's Day by meeting my step-daughter and granddaughter in Pontiac, IL and having lunch.

In June we also celebrated being able to hook up with my friend Janelle and her husband Ken.  We had lunch and toured the Abraham Lincoln Museum.

In July we, of course, celebrated the Fourth of July.  But, I also celebrated meeting some very special people at a Copic Certification Class I attended in Chicago.  Debbie Olson was our Instructor.

Lori Craig helped Debbie.  Both were such sweet, lovely gals.

And a special surprise was that I also met my friend, Michele Boyer.  Neither of us knew we'd be at this class.  We had lunch together.

In August, we celebrated from afar, the wedding of my grand nephew.

In August we also celebrated our city's annual Arts and Balloon Festival.  A new activity this year was sidewalk chalk art.  I am thinking about entering this in 2012.

In September we celebrated my birthday and we also celebrated a wonderful little trip to the town in Indiana where John grew up.  We stayed in a beautiful bed and breakfast and enjoyed two days with John's son who joined us.  We also remembered 9-1-1 and watched some very touching events on TV.

October's celebration was another trip to Iowa to watch my nephew in a play.  On the way home we toured the town of Amana and ate delicious food in a German restaurant there.

In November my nephew from Iowa joined us to celebrate Thanksgiving.

 In November, I also celebrated Veteran's Day with my favorite Vet!

And in December, we, of course, celebrated the Birth of our Savior.  The final photo is of John and I at Pike Place Market in Seattle taken just last week, looking out over the sound.  It's been a blessed year.  I am very thankful for each and every celebration - large or small.  I hope you, too, can reflect back on 2011 and see many blessings.  Thank you for visiting.  Stay safe tonight and I'll see you back here next year!





Blessing from Yesterday:  Having a wonderful pedicure with my two daughters.