Happy New Year!
Naturally, being the political beings we are, our optimism was kicked in the butt a bit in the 2016 election, but we rally and move on. We anticipate 2017 will be invigorating, challenging and surprising in more ways than we can imagine. Here we go…may it be a good year!
Thistle is parked in the drive and we are tucked away this cold January in our snug home. Travel plans are a bit out there in the distance so we tend to the home fires -- washing windows, gardening, waxing floors and regrouping after the holidays which, by the way, were wonderful.
Yessi's mom and niece visited for three weeks, departing, just this morning, with us hungrily wishing for more. Knowing the next visit to the U.S. will be well into the future makes parting very tender and sad, especially with the little girls growing so fast. Celin, just short of 5, will be very changed in a year, two years… Naturally we want her to remain just like she is, as well as her older sister, Elin who did not come to America on this trip because of school commitments. We have not seen Elin since we were in China last November, so she is already a year older since last seen. Sometimes wanting time to stand still is tempting.
In snapshot views, here's the visit.
Langley shopping, and winning $1,000…
Finding, painting and hiding "Whidbey Island Rocks"…
Celebrations with friends and family…
Christmas Eve and Christmas morning…
Snow play on the island…
Snow play at the pass…
Ebey's hike…
The last hurrah, Seattle…
And last but much, much too soon, SeaTac…
~~~
"You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you."
~ Frederick Buechner
