Needless to say, I won’t be mailing out Christmas cards this year. Not that I don’t love you. I do. I just don’t have time. Oh, yes I do. I just don’t want to. Sorry. This will have to do.

Well, 2005 was a tough one. Lots of growing pains. And shrinking pains. Mom surprised us and went from life to Life, and after helping us say goodbye to Mom, Grandma Frieden went too. And the rest of us sort of had to expand and shrink … like those bridges up north that have the big teeth down the center so they don’t crack when it freezes. There was a lot of freezing, and heating up, and our bridge held strong.

We somehow managed to get all seven kids plus three spouses together several times this year after we said goodbye (for now) to Mom and Grandma in the Spring. We trooped off together in May to Georgia to celebrate Daniel’s high school graduation; and then Joe & I got to spend some quality time with Joe’s family up at the ranch; and then half of my brothers and sisters and Dad spent the summer with Joe & I; all the kids and spouses (except me… but not sure they noticed… ha) got together in Minnesota in July; then the Frieden 7 plus 3 got together again with just about everyone as we “celebrated” my 30th and Rob & KFree’s almost new little one together in Illinois with a perfect October bonfire; back to a Livingston celebration with the Gulley clan for Thanksgiving; another Frieden 7 family event in Georgia for Christmas; and then Joe & Michelle & I rang in 2006 together in London. Whew.

In short, despite the thousands of physical miles that separate us; we drew close this year and found comfort in each other. I suppose we always have; and always will.

I want to say I hated 2005 … to pull up the covers and stay in bed until it was over… to cry until there were no tears left in Texas. But I didn’t. We didn’t. They say that God will meet you where you are. I know He does. Because God put you, my family and my friends, and the physically recognizable presence of his mercy right in my face… all year long. There was no time for despair. There was no reason to mope or pout. You were strong when I wasn’t. Maybe sometimes I was strong when someone else needed it… even though I didn’t think I could. There was no time to be lonely, because He was always with me. And I could feel Him there. And often I could see Him in you.

So, 2005, I don’t hate you. Not that much, anyway.

Love,
Andi