Allie's Way

As I toasted 2013 in I thought of all the changes that would really take place this year for my family.  As your children grow it is hard sometimes to really prepare for “big changes” that take place in their lives and how that makes it “big changes” for your life.  I am excited about their new adventures and excited about Derwin and I starting new adventures but the changes are just sometimes emotional and tears well up in my eyes.  As I counted down the seconds last night I kept telling Jesse this is the last 40 secs, 25 secs, 15 secs that you are a high school student.  She will graduate in June and begin her adventure in Tampa, Fl.  I am excited for her but wow that is so far away from home.  I am thankful everyday that Uncle Richard and Aunt Beverly, Kelly and Paul, and Kyle and Christie live so close to her.  I am not sure I could really let her go without so many family members so close to her.  This move will leave Derwin and I empty nesters.  We are really excited about this and making our To Do list of things we want to do together without having any children to really worry about.  Entering this new phase is really exciting for us.  Hannah does not want to be left out this coming year as she will move into her own apartment in April and stay in Chapel Hill this summer to work and go to summer school with plans to graduate December 2013 from Carolina.  We are so proud of her.  She is a double major in English and History.  Her plans are to work the spring of 2014 and enter graduate school by the fall of 2014.  I can’t believe she will be really on her own and living alone.  She is excited about this new adventure in her life.  I guess I can not mention Hannah without mentioning Aldo.  They are still very serious and making big plans for their future.  We shall see how their futures work out together.  I know they are very committed to each other.  The question is left what will this year bring Derwin and I?  The answer remains to be revealed.  

The Christmas break has been busy but fun.  The girls from work all gathered the last day to send Cindy off on a new career direction.  We will miss her but we get to keep Susie!  Here is her arrival at the gathering 

Although Susie is one who will always keep up smiling the girls will all miss Cindy.  Here is the gang picture minus Brenda of our Lunch Bunch.  I Love these girls!

I will close this post with just a quick Christmas Day memory like all the ones in the past.  The girls on the couch with their “stuff” and Jesus’s Birthday Cake a long tradition that the girls never let us go without even at their ages of 18 and 21.

May God bless everyone this coming year and may we find him in our lives in everything we do.  I am blessed and look forward to what God has in store for my family and I this coming year.  Happy New Year!