Happy New Year. What an interesting year 2011 turned out to be. Here are a few of the highlights:
- January – Started the year at Gulf Shores. Of course the Legislature showed up immediately thereafter!
- February – Took the folks to McHenry so Dad could sleep in his childhood room and to the Coast to see Celtic Woman and eat at Mary Mahoneys.
- April – SINE DIE happened on time! So did, more importantly, Easter!
- May – Were on Orlando in May for SAPPHIRE. I worked. Steve played at Universal and Sea World; Moved Steve’s Mom to personal care at The Orchard. Fortunately she adjusted well. She had fallen several times. Thankfully nothing ever was broken!
- June, closed the deal on a huge project – biggest of my career (scary).
- July – new Fiscal Year, election season in full swing, project kicked off PLUS Phillip and I were sitting in Yankee Stadium on July 9 when Derrick Jeter got his 3000th hit. Took in another Yankees game, saw The Lion King, toured New York Harbor to see Lady Liberty and saw Ground Zero. Great trip. Steve and I also zipped down to Orange Beach in July for a long weekend. He spent his time at the Blue Angels museum in Pensacola. I managed to spend two days down by the water under an umbrella reading and relaxing.
- August – I was with co-workers for a week that took us to Burlington, VT and then over the NH White Mountains to Portland, ME. Was a productive and beautiful trip.
- September and we were in Montana for a week with Bonnie Burnham at Glacier National Park. Spectacular!
- October – were in Texas for the clinching game of the ALCS (how cool is that!)
- November – we hosted Thanksgiving for Steve’s Mom and my entire family. I made a trek to Wiggins for the 115th Anniversary of FBC Wiggins.
- December – Carols, Christmas, great family time, and back to Gulf Shores (probably will not be here this same time next year).
There, of course, was time with Phillip and JoEllen, other family time, M Braves and the Governor’s Cup at Trustmark Park, spoiling Lucy and Buster – the usual things. AND it was a clean bill of health year for ALL of us! TYL!
2012 is a quasi blank page – there are projected big family milestones: my parents will celebrate 60 years in August, Ivery and Jimmy 35 years in November, and Judy and Bob 25 years in September (it will be our 23rd in July). Chris will graduate from Georgia Tech. Steve will retire for the second (and he says final) time from the FDIC.
It will be a transition year at work – new administrations always bring that. The “big project” continues with a targeted “go live” date of ONE YEAR from today (1/1/2013) so it will be a super intense year work wise. FBCJ is in transition, also, with the preparation and prayerful search for a new pastor underway and with LLG now, today, in the status of interim MoM as he assumes his new role as a professor at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.
There are decisions to be made. Some we know about. Many we do not. Key is that we do not try to force our limits, fears, wants on God. Jeremiah had it right and it needs to apply to all of us as we move into 2012:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
If God orchestrated our salvation through the events at the manger, cross, and empty tomb, He is capable of taking care of what will end up on the canvas of 2012.
Emmanuel. God with us. I believe.
Happy New Year
Cille Litchfield 