Busy, busy,...quiet /Happy New Year)

So, it's been pretty busy around here for the past week or so and now it's so quiet. We had a very nice Christmas here at our house and then spent time with Gabe's family and then my family came to visit. Now, it seem so lonely because everyone has left. My Dad, Claudia and Gianna have been staying with us for the past 5 days (they're on an airplane heading back to CA as I write this) and it's been awesome. It's been so fun to watch Maddie interact with them and for them to really get to know her at age 2. I have to say that there's just something about spending time with your parents while they play with your children. Something special happens. You see your parents in a youthful light as they get down on the floor to do a puzzle with their granddaughter. I kept having the thought of how thankful I am. Thankful for God, for family, for health, for airplanes (so we can all see each other), for our dogs, for so many things. My dad got an email that he forwarded to me yesterday because I liked it so much, but one thing it said was "I'm too blessed to be stressed," and I think that should be my motto for 2009. There's too much good in life to be so worried, angry, irritable...you name it. We will be staying in tonight and just keeping quiet. 2008 has been quite a year in our household, but I'm choosing to see it as a great one. It's the year that Gabe got sober, that God became the center of our home, that Grace was born, that the girls got dedicated and that Gabe and I were baptized. To me, it's been amazing. Happy New Year.