This is from Craig- he writes something at the end of every year...here's 2009-

This has been an incredible year in every aspect of my life, and I would like to take a few moments to share some of the ideas that I have come to learn and understand. I have come to appreciate each day that I have, and that each day I am hoping to learn, and in that, possibly teach others. It’s very humbling to see what a year can do to a person spirituality, emotionally, physically, mentally, etc.
Every moment is special, holds meaning and has a reason that it happened. I finally understand this and the only way I can explain it is with an art metaphor. Take a painting that is finished and displayed on the wall, and then imagine the life of that painting from a simple thought in the artist’s head to the finish product before your eyes. Each brush stroke, each color is important no matter how it looks on the canvas. There is a reason why it’s there, even though none of us may ever know that reason. Like life, a few brush strokes will be forgotten just as some memories fade with time, but in the end it does not take away from what it has become. The only difference is that we are always using each moment to paint our own painting and it won’t be completed. From the simple smile as you walk past a stranger to the handshake of a person you only met or to your best friend, each moment is a simple brush stroke that continues on even in death.
Be appreciative of everything that is around you. You never know if it will all be stripped away. I found that out the hard way, and thanks to that blessing, I am appreciative of everything that is around me, my family, my friends, and my faith. It was this time that I understood that in this life that I am not alone, even if the path we walk is a lonely one. But remember, no matter how lonely you feel, there is always someone there with a hand extended to help you. That hand that helps you up is powerful, yet gentle and compassionate, no matter how grim things may seem.
It seems that this piece has become a metaphor for my life. In the end, it feels content and complete, while in the same motion is missing an important piece. Before I end this, I would like to share an ideal that has helped me through everything that I have been through this year, and that is to simply laugh. Laughter, no matter who does it, makes the world a better place, and with it a positive energy that heals.

Putting away the decorations in the kitchen and moving things around...

I ordered new kitchen curtains today with my Christmas money and they should be in within the next two weeks...its cold and windy today...but some of the snow melted earlier when the sun was out...Steve is home from work today still sick and we will try to get him into the np tomorrow...they aren't open today...he got bad again last night but then was better this morning...he has no energy at all...and he didn't eat for 3 days...so we need to get him built back up so he can tackle the cold weather when he gets back to work...