Reflecting on 2010...
After taking a break from blogging, to enjoy Christmas, I'm back! I hope everyone had a great December, filled with the love of family and friends!
I had a GREAT extended Christmas Season, beginning with a multi-day baking marathon, with Blake's girlfriend, Faith, and ending with a trip to the mountains with extended family! (Links to Christmas photo albums are at the end of the blog.)
Ed and I had a quiet New Year's Eve at home, relaxing and watching ballgames! Today, I followed the Southern Tradition of fixing black-eyed peas and greens with Pot Likker, which are supposed to represent "luck and money" for the coming year!
As we start this new year, I thank God for family, friends, and freedom. I encourage everyone to remember our service members, especially those who are serving away from from home. I am extremely grateful to live in the United States, where we are free to worship God, and enjoy the many fruits of this "land of opportunity!"
I'm praying for New Year's blessings of good health and happiness for all my family and friends--including my "online friends!" In the words of Dickens' Tiny Tim, "God Bless Us Everyone!"
My long-time, online friend, Kim, did a "year in review" on her blog, which caused me to reflect on my blessings in the past year. I thought I'd "borrow a page" from Kim, and do the same on my blog! I couldn't include everything, but I hit A LOT of highlights! LOL! I hope you'll reflect on your own blessings, as you take a photographic tour of mine!
REVIEW OF 2010:
What a year! Some of our many blessings, in pictures:
January
Brittany went with her sorority sisters, and other BAMA friends, to Pasadena, California, to the Rose Bowl, to watch the Crimson Tide, win the National Championship!
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| Brittany and Caroline |
February
We lost Frank Hill, our dear friend of almost 40 years, who was also my dance partner. He fought a valiant 9 month battle against cancer. Frank's gentle spirit, and his Christian faith, were an inspiration to everyone who knew him. Frank showed us how to live and die with grace and class. I'm grateful to have known him.
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| Frank Wells Hill |
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| Showcase Dance for my 55th birthday in 2008 |
We went to Brittany's sorority (∆∆∆) Parent's Weekend in Tuscaloosa, AL.
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| Mother-Daughter Pansy Breakfast |
March
I was able to go to Asheville, N.C., to watch friends, Sue and Jim, in their first dance competition, and see my Sea Island Dance Instructor, Audrey Woods.
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| Jim and Sue |
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| Jamie and Cathy, Sylva, NC |
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| The team gathers at the end of the first day of spring practice, with Georgia's Gold-domed state capitol building in the background. |
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| Blake with his Mama |
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| Ed and Blake |
We had an impromptu egg and cookie decorating party!
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| Some of our "masterpieces!" |
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| Assorted Decorated Eggs |
Easter Lunch with the Easter Bunny!
Fishing in the pond!
Spectacular sunrise during "Mountain Time" with my friend Sally.
"Senior Honor's" weekend with Brittany, in Tuscaloosa.
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| On Campus at The University of Alabama |
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| ∆∆∆ Party |
Georgia State University's Spring Scrimmage.
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| GSU's first ever Spring Scrimmage in the Georgia Dome. (Brittany and Jamie are rockin' Panther tattoos.) |
May
May was a full month! Brittany was graduated from the University of Alabama, Summa Cum Laude! Ed, Faith and I took a fun-filled cruise out of Jacksonville, Florida, to the Bahamas, and our nephew, Jonathan, got married.
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| Graduation Day-The University of Alabama |
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| Ed and me, parasailing! |
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| Ready for deepwater dolphin swim. |
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| Propelled by a dolphin! |
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| Jonathan and Stephanie are married! |
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| My Nephew Jonathan's Maternal Relatives! |
Our nephew Eric came home from Afghanistan!
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| Happy wife, Lynne, and Eric's mother, Barbara, welcome Eric home! |
Ed celebrated his 60th birthday and Father's Day the same weekend! Ed is in great health! He faithfully runs three miles every other day, and enjoys hunting with friends, and staying active with our kids!
Ziplining at North Georgia Canopy Tours:
July
We broke with our tradition of church barbeque and fireworks in Peachtree city, for fireworks at the beach!
Blake turned 20, and celebrated with a cookout at home, with friends.
Ed, Faith, and I, spent a weekend in the mountains. We took "the kids" to their first drive-in movie! (And our first drive in movie in a LONG time!)
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| Trout fishing in a mountain stream. |
Brittany started Law School at Emory University, and I was blessed to be with my friend, Joy, for the birth of her baby, Aiden.
September
9-02-10--Blake took the field for the first kickoff of Georgia State University's first ever football game! The Panthers won their Inaugural Game against Shorter, and ended their Season with a winning record.
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| Blake, #18, taking the field. |
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| Some of Blake's fans! |
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| Taking a photo for our Christmas letter! |
I enjoyed a wonderful 9th annual "Beach Chick's Weekend" in Fernandina Beach, Florida, with childhood friends of 50+ years. This is where my blog photo was taken.
October
I had two stories published in a hard-backed gift edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul!
We watched Blake play football for Georgia State every weekend in October, with Brittany, Faith, and other family and friends! (Ed went to every game this season; I missed two out of town games.)
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| Faith and Blake |
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| Blake, Jamie, Peggy Ryan, and Ed |
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| Yurapan and I co-chaired a covered dish church luncheon for 900! |
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| Church Luncheon: After the initial rush--8 food lines! |
November
Brittany competed in the Georgia Hunter Jumper Association Finals.
Blake (#18) played with the GSU Panthers against The University of Alabama in Bryant Denny stadium.
We celebrated Thanksgiving early at Ed's work, served the homeless and disadvantaged at Landmark Christian School on Thanksgiving morning, ate lunch out, got a Christmas tree, and had a traditional Thanksgiving evening meal!
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| Green Oil Thanksgiving |
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| Thanksgiving |
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| Blake and Tricia enjoying a Lunch Buffet |
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| Tricia and Ed playing with saws! |
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| Our Tree |
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| Tricia's Tree |
Brittany was a bridesmaid in her friend Katelyn's wedding.
I celebrated my birthday for at least a week!
We had a joy-filled CHRISTmas with family and friends! (Links to Christmas photo albums below.) Our annual "Family and Friends Dinner" to celebrate Jesus' Birthday!
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| Christmas Morning. My family (with my Mother) in our matching pajamas! |
We thank God for a WONDERFUL 2010, and look forward to a GREAT 2011!
LINKS TO ADDITIONAL CHRISTMAS PHOTOS:
Christmas Tea:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=252680&id=714557238&l=484452d491
Christmas Eve:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=253122&id=714557238&l=feadb5c0c3
Christmas Day:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=253602&id=714557238&l=038b35bf63
Cousins' Christmas:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=255693&id=714557238&l=91a9ecbe35
Great job, Jamie! Great pics!
ReplyDeleteHi, I found you via the Redheaded Riter. I've enjoyed visting your blog and reading the highlights of your past year. You have a lovely family.
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