Reflections

Happy New Year!  I took this outside West Yellowstone, Montana on December 30 while Jason was driving.

Memories of 2012, compiled by everybody during FHE last night:

-saying goodbye to Jason's dad, Grandpa Bear, in March.
-selling our home in Texas.
-being homeless for five months.
-all the wildlife we saw while staying in Big Sky for a month...2 bears, a moose, a fox, a mouse, bighorn sheep.
-buying a new home in Montana.
-Jacob earning his Arrow of Light.
-spending the summer in California.
-Jason graduating from residency.
-Jason passing his dermatology boards.
-Blaser reunion in Idaho.
-presidential election (which I'd like to forget).
-new missionary ages announced by President Monson.
-Christiana becoming potty-trained.
-welcoming our new elf.
-going to Disneyland with cousins and my sister.
-Jacob getting into skateboarding and golf.
-Jimmy learning new tricks in math.
-Jacob learning a new way to do division.
-new school.
-new job.
-Jacob playing the flute.

Driving we've accomplished:

In March - San Antonio, Texas to Rexburg, Idaho to Simi Valley, California to San Antonio, Texas.
In the summer - San Antonio, Texas to Simi Valley, California to Bozeman, Montana.
In November (Jason) - San Antonio, Texas to Bozeman, Montana to Salt Lake City, Utah to Bozeman, Montana.
At Christmas - Bozeman, Montana to St. George, Utah to Bozeman, Montana.
TOTAL HIGHWAY MILES COMBINED: 10,262
Fun Fact #1 ... 10,000 miles is 40% of the distance around the Earth's equator.
Fun Fact #2 ... From London UK to Sydney, Australia, or Los Angeles to Cape Town, South Africa is about 10,000 miles.

Gospel lesson from all this madness:

2012 was not our favorite year.  But Heavenly Father blessed us with safety.  He watched over us.  He helped us.  Sometimes it takes looking back to see the Lord's hand, His tender mercies towards us.  He was there.  We recognize it and we are grateful.