2010, A Year In The Life....

JANUARY - we started 2010 out with a nice big storm, which is par for the course in our area.  The month was filled with a lot of cruise details as I was coordinating a group cruise for Heather’s 40^th birthday.  There were lots of details to work out and lots of info to send out to our fellow cruisers

FEBRUARY –  I spent a lot of time this month helping friends (and friends of friends) with cruise vacation planning.  In fact, I spent so much time that I decided that I would start a cruise blog to give me a spot to send people where they can read for themselves about what is available on each island and have most of the info they need to enjoy a fantastic trip!  Check it out at:  http://thegangwaygazette.blogspot.com/ .  I am working on finding a way to make this hobby into more of a small business since I love doing it!

MARCH – finally all of the cruise planning came together and ten intrepid cruisers headed out to San Juan, Puerto Rico on March 20^th for a 7-day southern Caribbean cruise to six islands.  Cousin Becky and my Mom & Dad had never cruised before and had a fantastic time.  Our fellow travelers were Heather (obviously necessary since we were celebrating her 40^th), Brian & Michelle Johnson and Steve & Carlene Budd.  We enjoyed lots of food, fun and family/friends.

APRIL – we were so excited to finally move into our new Gospel Hall building at the beginning of April.  Things were not quite completed but we moved in and found a way to deal with the unfinished items…and the lack of heat for a couple of weeks.  We were blessed in the process of getting all of the details worked out and the building completed.  We are so thankful for our wonderful new ‘digs’. 

Pretty much the entire Patterson clan headed to Sackville near the end of the month to take in Jonny’s percussion recital. 

Later in the month, he asked our niece, Kristen, to marry him☺.

MAY – In May, a bunch of friends became (un)professional estheticians when we gave facials, pedicures, and manicures to several of Bethany’s friends for her birthday celebration.  The girls all enjoyed the pampering!!  I attended brother-in-law, Richard’s, RCMP 20 year service award presentation with nephew, Dave and niece, Clara. 

We made a trip to Sackville to see our niece, Karissa, perform in the musical “Anything Goes” and also had a visit from Janet and Gary, who came up from Connecticut to visit and hosted a family lobster supper at the cottage. 

At the end of the month, a bunch of us headed to our first beach outing of the year to Parlee Beach to enjoy some beach volleyball.

JUNE – Our niece, Kayla, graduated from high school and we were disappointed that we couldn’t make it to her graduation since we had a business meeting that we were co-hosting in Moncton. 

My cousin, Amy, got married in Sydney at the end of the month.

JULY – the summer months are always packed with activity and tend to fly by!  At the beginning of the month, Dave and I headed to Connecticut to visit Janet, Gary and Katherine.  The highlight of the trip was going to the Cirque du Soleil show (OVO) in Hartford.  I have wanted to see a show for so long and it was even more amazing than I thought it would be!! 

I also had my first ‘major’ volunteer experience when I volunteered for the World Junior Track & Field Championships which were held in Moncton.  For about a week and a half, I worked the Welcome Desk at a downtown hotel and at the airport and then worked in scheduling for Security Access Control. 

Our nephew Kevin turned sixteen and we headed to PEI for a birthday party and the annual Cutcliffe family picnic at the end of the month.

AUGUST – we made several trips to the cottage this month.  We spent several days with Janet, Gary, Rich, Jen and the kids and had lots of fun adventures on the boat and out on the water with Big Mable. So much fun!! 

We enjoyed a baseball game with a bunch of friends and on the 21^st, we hosted a shower at the Hall in honor of Caroline (Cairns) and Graham Webb’s recent wedding. 

On the 28^th, we hosted an Open House at our new Hall building and had an amazing number of people show up to tour the facilities and enjoy a BBQ snack.

SEPTEMBER – September was an incredibly busy month.  We started Daily Vacation Bible School on Aug 30^th for an entire week.  Part way through the week, we picked up our niece, Kristen, at the airport.  She flew in to take care of last minute details for her wedding and stayed with us for a little over two weeks.  At the end of DVBS week, we headed to the cottage for our annual 'Recoup and Recover' weekend with Heather, Kristen, Brian and Michelle.  The fact that a tropical storm blew through didn’t dampen our spirits one bit!! 

We attended a couple of bridal showers for Kristen and then picked Jonny up at the airport on the 15^th. 

Now that the bride and groom were in the same city, it was full speed ahead for their wedding on the 18^th.  It was bittersweet to watch the little girl, who was born not long after Dave and I began dating, getting married and starting a new chapter in her life! 

We hosted a Youth Conference at the Hall on the last weekend in September and then I started a new part-time job teaching Mad Science (a science-based, after-school program) a few afternoons a week.

OCTOBER – Things settled down a bit in October.  On the 9^th, we headed to Oxford for the Annual Patterson Family Wood Chuck.  Putting wood in for Grandma and Grampa might as well be turned into a fun family day!!  I have fond memories of us and our cousins doing the exact same thing for Gram Swan way back in the day☺. 

We celebrated Thanksgiving with my family and then Dave’s family.  We have so much to be thankful for!!!

NOVEMBER – November was relatively peaceful and quiet.  We started Kid’s Club at the Hall on Monday nights for six weeks and had our first significant snowfall of the winter.

DECEMBER – As with most people, December is filled with tons of events and activities.  On the 4^th, Heather hosted a baby shower for Michelle who was due on the 25^th. 

That same day was our Sunday School Christmas Program and Dave’s birthday!  Heather and I took most of my nieces to see the Nutcracker ballet on the 10^th.  Annie, Sadie and Selina had never seen it because they stopped performing it in Moncton before they were old enough to go.  We had taken Karissa and Clara to see it several times when they were younger.  Heath’s roommates, Becca and Laura, joined us along with Gi and little Josée. 

The following morning was our Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange brunch which is always a wonderful time with great friends. 

On Christmas Eve, we headed to Heather’s to spend the evening with Mom, Dad, Rich, Jen and the kids which is something we’ve done for several years now. 

Christmas Day was spent with Mom & Dad and we celebrated with the Patterson clan at the cottage on the 27^th.

Brian and Michelle welcomed little Nolan into the world, exactly on time, on the 25^th!! 

We closed out the year with a New Year’s gathering at the Hall.  Another year past and it will be interesting to see what the new year brings!  I am so thankful to my heavenly Father for the blessings that He has given me and His care of our family throughout the year.  May God richly bless you all in the year to come!!