January
- Celebrated Gma & Gpa's 65th Wedding Anniversary - WOWSER. It was a very nice simple affair. Dinner with the family Saturday night and church service and reception on Sunday. Their minister did a mini vow-renewal thing. Way cool!
- A few days before their big celebration, Gpa was officially diagnosed w/Dementia. We had suspected it for awhile, but you try telling an 85 year old that. Ha ha. All of us are doing well and it's nice knowing what's wrong with him, even though you know the end result isn't that great. IMO, he's led a terrific life, so while I will be sad when he is no longer here, I will have joy knowing that I was able to spend 30 years with him!
February
- Interviewed an awesome candidate for our Director of Music ministries position! She is originally from IL and is coming home! We had a phone interview and wanted to hire her right then and there. She shares our views as a church, has some different views of our own that will challenge our congregation. We met her at the end of the month and she was just as awesome in person as she was on the phone!
- Prepared to say goodbye to current Director of Music Ministries. God had a plan for him down in Orlando. His partner was given an awesome job @ Disney and as much as he wanted to try and commute from IL to FL, it just wasn't in the cards. We will miss him dearly, but we know it was the best decision for him!
March
- Became Sunday School Coordinator! Yes, i do have sucker written on my forehead! The program is small (but mighty) and I'm hoping that we can work to make it grow and pretty soon we'll be busting @ the seams! :-)
- Promotion Baby!! After being w/my company for almost 2 years, received a promotion to Senior CSR. More responsibilties, more headaches, and the best part...more money! I'm very excited about, really feel that I can continue to grow within this position and help others (co workers and customers alike) just as I was helped/taught.
April
- Celebrated a wonderful Easter with family and friends! The church service was amazing, filled with music and joy in the resurrection! You could really feel everyone's excitement! Had a wonderful dinner with parents, sister and her family, sister's inlaws, grandparents and nephews! Incorporated part of Greek Orthodox Easter as it was on the same day. Dh's family is Greek Orthodox and while he doesn't practice it, it was a nice way to remember his family. Had lamb, avgolemo (egg lemon soup) and baklava along with our other favorites!
- Surprised Mom @school for her 60th birthday! Showed up with flowers and a balloon, along with treats for her and the teachers! She enjoyed the surprise and really made her day.
- Surprised Mom AND Dad with double 60th birthday celebration! All of the family came to church, surprised them with a double birthday cake during coffee/fellowship hour and my sister and I had dinner back at their house. gma, gpa, and mom's sister came up along with a surprise visit from mom's brother. he lives in the same apartment complex that bill and I used to be in. normally, he goes back home on the weekends, but he was in town for the weekend. Gma told him to be there and indeed he was! That was a surprise to all of us!
- Made the decision to stay in our apartment for another year. Housing market/mortgage market isn't that great, so take this next year to our selves on track (we're doing better, just need to stay there) and try again next year.
Looking forward to next few months! BIL's birthday, cousins birthday, god-daughter's 1st birthday, nephew's 3rd birthday, a few new babies (not ours unfortunately), graduation parties, and cousin's wedding at the end of july!
Whew...i think that does it for now!