goodbye 2012, it's been good to know ya...

 We enjoyed another Foster Family Christmas this past weekend.  It was another reason for us to celebrate family, reflect on our history as Foster's, and to encourage the next generation to continue these traditions.

Caroline Foster, our matriarch, 100 years young

My Great-aunt Caroline still corrects our grammar and reminds us of our manners.  She is a real lady and we all love her and respect her immensely.

We gather at our favorite eatery, Bill's, for lunch, then head over to Aunt Caroline's house for gifts and fun.  Although my great aunt no longer lives there, it has stayed in the family and we continue to gather there for all the family festivities.  This is the part of the day the little kids can't seem to wait for, it's like Santa coming all over again.

So in the mean time, we appease them with a rousing game of Apples to Apples...

some history sharing and story telling...

and some innocent wonder as they listen to the Christmas story read from the Gospel of Luke.

But you can only keep them at bay for so long ...

We had elves visit us to help with the present distribution, but it seemed the big kids had the most fun this year....

Tol and Phillip enjoyed their Slinky's....

Rita got a bicycle bell for her scooter...

Cousin George got the best prize of all, a talking and singing Christmas tree.  It was the best and he loved it.  Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Okay, now who is going to clean up this big mess...

Oh who cares, it is all worth it.  We were missing a few family members this year, so the day was somewhat bitter sweet.  Cousin Steve was in the hospital after suffering a heart attack, he has always been our Santa for Christmas' past.  His girls and their families were with him this year.  Baby Sadie Jane, our newest and youngest family member, is still in the hospital and of course her mom and dad were with her.  My aunt Rannie, who died in August, always enjoyed these family get togethers and we missed her laughter and the joy she brought to the party.

I didn't plan on this post being a reflection of our 2012 year, like everyone's we had some good days and some bad days.  It was better than 2011 when I think back to Emily's trials, but every year has its own trials for us to get through, that's life isn't it.  We didn't experience a hurricane like our friends did in LaPlace, we were not affected by the wildfires like our neighbors to the west, but we did experience some losses.  It was my faith in God and the strength He gives me that helps me realize that no matter what comes to us, it is all a gift for which I am to be grateful.  These gifts help me to learn and grow.  I am so thankful for another year in which to Love and Serve Him.  I wish you all a Blessed 2013 and Happy Times to come.