A very Long year end.(really it's long)

Oh what a beautiful morning, Oh what an eventful ‘07 , I’ve got a glorious feeing, Great things will happen this year.
Happy New Year to all of us.
It’s about 7deg. outside today. The grass is covered is snow, the sky is clear and so are the roads. No one is hurrying anywhere today. We’ve all slept in and music is playing and it’s just a great feeling all around. I actually feel pretty good today from my knee surgery. Yesterday and Sunday were a little rough and painful but I think I just did too much. But with the help of Kim I did get Christmas decorations taken down Monday, and tomorrow maybe I’ll re-clean and re-decorate. But for now the house is a little less crowded and it just feels fresh uncluttered and open.
We did have a fun year staring with Grandma (MOM) being at her own home in her own routine and having survived her hip surgery and re-hab from the year before. And the excitement of Mom getting her first great-grandchild, Elliot.
When Mom and Dad Hardcastle arrived home safe and sound from their London Mission. We all remember there was a time we thought that would not happen with Don getting so sick. But they have always been such great examples of doing the Lords work. Staying and finishing their mission showed again of their love for the Lord. They also became grandparents of #12 with the birth of Audrey Kate to Ryan and Brooke.
I have always worried and wondered how life as an in-law would be and so this year I found out. I now have 2 great in-laws. Justin and Jessica. The weddings were so much fun, very stressful, but so much fun. Haley and James wedding caused no stress for me at all.. It’s a great feeling to see your kids find someone they are happy with and now they are begining to start their own lives. Something you always want for them. You pray they will be happy and responsible, faithful, active, good citizens, productive and that the things you have taught them will have been the right things. I now look so forward to the times we have together and the new activities to share.
Jodi had a wonderful experience of traveling, alone, this year. She was so excited to go to Spain and all the other countries she and Casey got to see. I really didn’t worry too much about her going alone, because I know she is smart and after she arrived she would have a good traveling companion. I know this is a part of her life she will never forget.
Jodi, Matt and Gordon all got new jobs they are happy with.
Jodi is a lot of fun to have around and share her excitement of soon be getting her own place and saving, saving and saving her money, collecting household items she’ll need and trying to sneak mine way. I have to always be on the look out for missing items. The things I want to give her she doesn’t want.
Matt completed his first semester of School this year at WSU, and he did well. His grades we good and he has been a great student and very dedicated and responsible. I honestly didn’t know how well he’d do, only because he wasn’t the best High School student but I have been very impressed and pound of what he has done. I am saddened by his inactivity in church. I thought he had a testimony, and I still pray that deep down he knows the Gospel is true and will ultimately make him happy if he lives the principles, but he has to find out for himself. I will just do all I can to love him as I do all my children, and pray for him.

We had to say good-by to Uncle Bevan this year. That was hard for so many different reasons. Many of us thought he gave up to soon and didn’t have the will or endurance to try any harder, but we all know we have our free-agency and we wouldn’t want it any other way. Paul was so tough and just never stopped being the care giver and planner. I will always be grateful for his example. Bevan brought fun and interesting things into our lives. His love for art and travel and being there for mom when every one else was gone. I am glad he was a part of my children and our lives, and for the memories we all share of him.

Our family also had the sad time of putting Charlie down. Everyone knows I would always say that I would not miss him, but I miss that he is gone. He had gotten so sick and not fun to have around, but he was a part of the family and it did change things a little.

I am so very grateful for the way things turned out for Kim and his back infection. We were facing some serious descisions when surgery was given as the only option, and that scared both of us. Not just the fact that he would have been laid up for 6 months but that the Dr. didn’t know what he’d find when he got in there. It was such a blessing when he was already starting to heal on his own and everything changed. Now he, Jodi and Matt are just as good at home-care as I am.
I still serve in the Relief Society Presidency and some how between my great enrichment leader and committee we keep coming up with new ideas. I will serve as long as needed and I am no longer going to draw attention to how long I’ve been in. I love getting to know each new sister, we have 3-8 each month, and I love who I serve with. I am the one who is blessed by my association with them.
Sally and I have had fun doing the little craft fairs and showing our talents and sharing our ideas. I am very grateful that I have had the opportunity to start my little business and put my creative energy to good use.
Life is a blessing and I know I am loved. I just hope and pray that I can be of service everyday to someone who is of need. And if this can be done, then next year it won’t be hard at all to have Christ in Christmas, because I will have Christ in my life every day.