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1:04 PM New Year's Eve Day. A year ago everyone was worried about Y2K. It all seems very funny now. I had to open my "Y2K" water a couple weeks ago when the power was out for several hours. I heated water on my gas stove and sent it upstairs for our tenants' morning tea. Later I sent up pancakes. When we put in the appliances for the tenants, we had asked if they wanted a gas or electric stove. They voted for electric. I was glad mine is gas!
End-of-Year Report

We're healthy and happy. That's all that really needs to be said. We lost a good friend last year. We seldom see his wife. This couple has always been the type who never call you, you have to contact them. Unfortunately, our life has been hectic, and unless she comes to church, we don't think to call her. She did join us for dinner at the Dollhouse at the end of the summer. I've had lunch with her, and she has joined us a couple times for lunch after church. She hasn't been in church lately, so I'll have to remember to contact her this week.

During this last year, my job has increased greatly. Because the site manager has some heavy duty personal problems just now, she misses a lot of work. If she worked anywhere else, her job would be in jeopardy. When she isn't there, the daily site managing falls to me, as the other assistant manager is very busy elsewhere. So I've had many problems to solve that are really out of my realm. I'm learning on the job.

And, we are missing an education manager. They have interviewed several times, but can't find the right person to take on this largest content area. So I'm picking up the slack there, also. I enjoy all these new duties, but they do keep me running. We have had some difficult conflicts in the education department that have fallen to me to mediate. I'm glad to help, but I do get stressed sometimes. I had promised myself that no job would ever do that to me again, and here I am in the thick of it.

DB's job has also changed, and he is working far too many hours. It's kind of funny that the two oldsters in their respective jobs are picking up the slack for all the young people! Both of us, however, are work horses, and have always been so. DB is doing the job of two people, literally, as they can't find anyone who will take the second position. So he drags in here 7, 8 o'clock at night for dinner. And I'm zonked from my day and want dinner out of the way early. But we manage. This has been a good several days off for him. He has finally beaten the bronchitis, and has had some good rest.

The best part of the year, for me, was the visit from our Mexican and our SF grandsons, and the days with Lyra and Lydia. This was followed, in November, by the wonderful time with two of our three children and their families at the ski resort. The restful weekends at Pretty Bay with our new circle of friends was a highlight, also.

This past year brought Mr. and Mrs. Priest and Maggie into our lives. What a difference this young family has made in our stodgy old church. We have many more young families than in my memory. We have glorious, rich in ceremony and tradition, worship services. Lay people are taking on responsibility for ministry and all these changes have begun a revival of spirit and faith. Hallelujah!

I am in limbo with my journey towards Holy Orders. That's been a little discouraging. I am learning to be patient. However, I keep thinking that my 66th birthday is looming around the corner, and I need to get at it if I am every to be of service in the priesthood! The bishop keeps telling me that it will come, but somedays I'm not so sure. The silence from the committee that is to interview me makes me think they have decided I am too old and don't know how to break it to me. I keep the faith and keep working at my spiritual life. And try to stay open to whatever it is God wants of me.

Sunday School was fun today; I don't know if we accomplished the objectives of the lessons, but I enjoyed hearing these high school boys talk about power, both personal and political, and their views on global issues like capitalism vs communism, and what they think God wants for his people. Good minds in these teenagers. And they make me laugh, with them, a lot. That's so good for me!

It's snowing...again. The sun came out right after church for 20 minutes or so. DB is watching football, what else? And I'm going to get out of these church clothes and into my comfy sweats and go read. It's been a great year. And more great things to come. So I'm willing to say goodbye to the old and welcome in the new.

Life is good. Thank you, Lord. Amen

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