Spontaneity and Relaxation: Ringing in 2011 Lewis- Style

New Years Eve plans for us were as follows:

Stay home.  The end.

Childcare was not secured and everyone knows you can’t get babysitters at the last minute on New Years Eve. So we thought.  My dad heard we were not doing anything and asked us to a double date with he and my mom. Shannon got the phone call and  excitedly told me about the invite to dinner and a movie. I looked at him and said “ that all sounds good but there is NO WAY we will find a sitter at 4:00 New Years Eve”. He was ever so hopeful as he picked up his phone.  Lo and behold his second call landed one of our preferred sitters. I couldn’t believe it.

The double date with the parents was delightful! None of us are quite sure why we have never done this before? We do know we will be doing it again in the future. My parents are people I rarely get to be around without the little people. After the movie we went to a friends house  and spent the hour between 10 and 11-ish with some of our dearest friends. We made crepes which have turned out to be an annual thing- does two years in a row count as annual? We all thought so!

New Years day started with a full breakfast cooked by Shannon at 10:30. We are normally one- item breakfasters so four items on the breakfast menu was quite a treat. We packed all the day- at- the -park -necessities and embarked on the adventure.  The destination was the new park on the island: Frederica Park. It is incredibly relaxing and peaceful. The entire makeup of the facility is wooden and has a rustic feel.  My parents along with sis and bro- in- law joined our day at the park. It was hilarious to hear the boys saying things like “lets go up the mountain,” or “I love this park with mountains.”  It truly reminded me of the mountains and didn’t feel coastal. It was a nice change.

Shannon didn’t have sunglasses and he asked me for a rubberband. I went to the car and found these sunglasses that were being given out from the parade and the bandana was on my head.  I gave it to him and those items combined achieved this signature look.  ha!

One of my favorite parts were the labyrinths for adults in the trails and their  was even one for the kids in their playground.  We left the park incredibly calm and chill. The last stop was my parents home where we ate an early New  Years Dinner. My mom is quite the expert at cooking a traditional New Years dinner! We were headed home at 6:30 and the boys were in bed at 7:15. Shannon and I enjoyed a nice , quiet evening of reflection.

We are so overcome with thankfulness for all the goodness the Lord has bestowed. While at the same time we have had some crazy things happen this year. Situations  that didn’t make any sense, but still we were able to see how the Lord has softened our hearts, drawn us closer, knitted friends in very dear ways. We are especially thankful for the ability to really walk life together with so many incredible Godly people who we call friends.  Then there is my wonderful family and all of their support. So all in all the Lord is ever faithful to grace us with his presence each and every day. Oh what a joy to walk with him daily.

The Lord is continuing to speak to me about the journey of restoring our hearts through thankfulness. It will be quite a journey. Happy New Year!