Summary

Well, I had this clever idea to do the decade in pictures, but I am not blogger-savvy enough to post ten photos in one post. Let's see if I can write a sentence for each year of my decade in Portland:
1. 2000: I rang in the new year/new decade off the grid in Newton County, Arkansas, and shortly thereafter flew back to Portland to finish my first year of graduate school and find an amazing group of friends with whom I had and continue to have righteous, though increasingly less riotous, adventures.
2. 2001: The the low point of five months of unemployment was sandwiched between a road trip to California/plane trip to Mexico post-graduation with my friend Shauneen and finally being offered my first MSW job right before flying home to AR for my holiday visit!
3. 2002: I started my new job and hooked up with my Just a Friend who wears funny socks and likes to cook and deer hunt. Wonder where this will lead me. (oops, that's two sentences).
4. 2003: I found a better job, kept the same good friends, and took Dave with me to Arkansas where he sampled pickled pigs feet.
5. 2004: Took trips to Thailand and England with Dave! (okay, starting to write sentence fragments).
6. 2005: Attended Kathryn's wedding, celebrated Carolyn's engagement, helped nurse Dave back to health after a gnarly car accident.
7. 2006: A ring! a wedding!
8. 2007: Back to Thailand, and on to a string of prenatal appointments!
9. 2008: Anneke Grace
10. 2009: Anneke, private practice, Brian and Ashleigh move, Mexico, always good friends and wonderful family.

Births: Sidney, Juliette, Anneke, Vaughn

I read over this and get agita over who and what I left out. but that's what you get when you try to sum up a decade in such a fashion.

Santa 2009

On Christmas eve we arrived at Macy's at 9:00 a.m. to see Santa. Anneke had a great time except for the 60 seconds we tried to get a good Santa picture. What you see below is the result. We think it is a pretty good Santa picture.



For those of you keeping track, you can compare this to the picture from last year.

Busy Busy

OMG. I cannot believe how much we crammed into Anneke's first week. What were we thinking? This makes me think I must stay pathologically busy. Seriously. It makes me tired just reading this.

Earth's crammed with heaven

My poor husband. He was worried about me when he read the last post. Sorry, Dave. Thanks to you it doesn't take long for me to look around and see all the Good Stuff.

"We are saying thank you and waving, dark though it is"

Here is our new Nativity scene, purchased in Mexico. I love it. It's a perfect souvenir of a perfect vacation. This photo is out-of-focus because I didn't want to dig out the flash or tripod. I arranged it on the mantlepiece and took a step back and was struck by how hopefully, and expectantly, the little figures are gazing on baby Jesus. For the first time I reflected on people's desire for a messiah, a savior. The older I get the more I understand it. During Advent these past few years I find myself reflecting on darkness; I read the paper every day, and...I don't even want to go into it. Bad Stuff has been happening in spades. More than usual? Probably not--I'm not sure, but it's been in my awareness more than usual. Such is the price of parenthood.

And I look at this scene of these grownups: a couple of teen parents, three monarchs, and some shepherds, all crowded around this poor, newborn baby. Here they are bringing heavy, hopeful hearts to this little being who just needs to eat, sleep, and get to know his mom and dad. Forget theology and what you personally believe: what does it say about humanity that this story is so important to us? Right now, to me, it points to a yearning for hope and salvation amidst terrible darkness. Right now I look at this motley group and think, yeah, I'm right there with you.

and here is my Advent wreath. I was very amused at my very-lapsed Catholic friend who reflexively recoiled when I told him I was using all white candles because I couldn't find the elegant royal blue candles I usually use. Said friend was like, but what about the purple and pink candles? Said friend's wife was like, "did you look at Michael's?!" No. I finally decided four wrong-colored candles is better than nothing. But I had not even thought of Michael's and now feel compelled to make a trip. Because that's what Christmas is all about, right?

Akumal Vacation Pics

Caroline may have other pictures that she might choose to publish, but here is what I choose from the three billion pictures that came back on our flash cards.

Upon our arrival, we discover we have fast internet, and for the fun of it we try Skyping with Caroline's parents. Pretty fun, but still a silly thing to do on vacation.



Anneke loved putting on goggles:



She loved eating...


...and the beach


...and "steps:"



We had to feed the crocodiles...



We swam in cenotes:


We had a successful quest for cochinita pibil (notice the pig head on the left)


And we saw the Mexican revolution parade:



We did not let Anneke drive the car:

But we did let her ride a horse:

Sometimes we had a hard time

But most of the time we loved it.

Vacation, so far

Greetings from Mexico! I'll post photos when we get home, but will share some highlights in the meantime:

1. snorkeling right outside our door. I saw two turtles this morning, and Dave keeps finding this squid hangout on the edge of the reef.
   
2. what must be God's own swimming hole, Cenote Azul, near where we're staying. Clear water and hundreds of big and little fish. We were there among several Mexican families, all enjoying a cool swim on a beautiful day.
   
3. Arriving in Tulum pueblo just in time for the Revolution Day parade.
4. Akumal pueblo, where all of the Mexicans live and travel across the road to work in the hotels and condos of Akumal playa (yes, I find this disconcerting). It's run-down and not much to look at, but we've had wonderful food there and experienced nothing but hospitality thanks to our little cultural ambassador.
   
5. Were Anneke to weigh in, she would say, "ocean!" "pool!" "beach!" and "hamaca!" (hammock!). I completely agree.