Our Year in Review 2017

2017 has been a year of grieving, a process that I've never truly felt like this before.  It broke our hearts that our son, Noah, had to experience death for the first time and twice in a four month span. But through it all, God was prevalent and His Glory and Hope showed through.  My father passed away at home at the end of September (2016) and I had the honor of giving his eulogy. It was a beautiful service with over 200 people attending.

In February we had to do it all over again for my beautiful Nana.  God blessed us with one more Thanksgiving with her after my father's passing.   It was her favorite holiday.  She would wake up at 5am every Thanksgiving to start her famous turkey.  It was her pride.  She knew she was the best.  And she was.  


We began the year with tears and hope.  Jeff reached a major stepping stone,  landing a job as a Clinical Supervisor   He does God's work everyday, as he supervises an intensive program that is aimed to serve the severely mentally ill and the homeless of Los Angeles.  He does so with perseverance and care.  I'm so proud of my husband.  When he graduated with his Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy, he came up with a five-year plan and with God's blessing he has  achieved every milestone he set out to accomplish.

Summer came as a welcomed respite and a chance to start anew. Noah had a fun time with his cousins and his friend, Noah G.  Noah went to two VBS camps with Noah G and had a blast learning about God.  We have been going to our Church, CCV San Dimas, for almost two years now and the growth I have seen in Noah in his faith has been such a blessing. Noah, Dylan, and Noah G. participated in the Glendora summer tradition of DIRT CAMP.  Yes, it's exactly as it sounds.  Kids get to be kids, hiking up mountains, playing in streams, looking for frogs and lizards, and running around; they can get as dirty as they want!!!

This past summer we went on vacation to San Francisco.  It was Noah's first airplane ride so he picked where he wanted to go.  He played it safe and smart and picked an hour flight for his first plane ride.  It was fun for all of us.  Although Jeff and I spent our early 20's together in the Bay Area, we never really did the tourist thing.  This time we got to be tourists with Noah.  It was so much fun.  We traveled on the famous Trolley Cars, visited Alcatraz, Pier 39, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury,  China Town, Little Italy and the California Academy of Sciences.  

Noah and I had the opportunity to go see DanTDM on Tour.  Don't feel bad, if it wasn't for the fact I have an 8yr old I would have no idea who this kid was either LOL!! I'm going to toot my own horn and say that Noah and I waited for over an hour after the show, just so Noah could meet Dan.  Seeing Noah's face made it all worth it.  

Noah began 3rd grade in August.  We can't believe we have a Third Grader now!!! Well, the school did a Captain Underpants move and split up all his friends to different classrooms.  Smart move for the teachers and they still get to meet up during recess and lunch.  Plus, it gives Noah the opportunity to make new friends to add to the group.  Noah is excited for school and says he's going to join the Air Force.  

We are now facing another holiday season without two very important people in our family.  But what loss has taught us this year is that family and community are so important.  The most important times we spent this year was just being together with family.  Whether celebrating holidays, milestones or just spending time together, we enjoy the blessing of each other's company.

Our 2017 Video

Nana's Farewell