Looking Back...

The year is nearly spent, and if there are things that we wanted to accomplish, it is too late to start now.  The year 2014 has been a good one for the Mickelson family in many ways.  We have traveled many journeys, lived life the way it unfolded before us, and have written new experiences on the pages of our lives.

Dean and I, along with our two sons, Billy and Eliot, traveled to Pagosa Springs in April.  It was a beautiful family time together.  We played together, we laughed together, and just spent quality time together.  In May, my sister, Chrisie, and I traveled to Phoenix to visit with our "baby" sister, Patti and her husband.  It was both a sad and a happy journey.  Patti's mental health is quickly fading away and to watch her struggle with words and thoughts, is soul-wrenching.

In October, Dean, Billy and I traveled to Salt Lake City, where we would rent a car and drive to Park City for a wonderful week's vacation.  The primary purpose of our trip, however, was The Davenport Family Reunion that Chrisie and I planned in Tooele.  Family members came from all over.  I had children come from California and Las Vegas and Provo/Orem; Chrisie had family come from southern Utah, Alaska, and all over Utah; Darell brought his wife, Joan and our "adopted" brother, Burdell Moody traveled from Arizona to be with us.  Cousins also came from all over Utah.  I believe this reunion was the highlight of our year.

We also ventured up the highway to see Dad a few times this past year.  He is all alone, since Mom's passing last year, and we try and visit as much as possible.  Dad is doing amazingly well.  He is always so glad to see us.  He bought a new car this year and it is fun to see him drive around in his little Toyota "Fit".

The world is in chaos, but we try not to get depressed so we don't watch the news.  We hear snippets now and then from friends, but OUR world is doing just fine and it is our world that keeps us moving forward.  We have God in our lives, and as we just celebrated the birth of our Savior, we also have His Son, Jesus Christ in our lives.

It has been a year of ups and downs, but we choose to remember the ups and learn from the downs.  We are thankful every day for good health, a warm hearth, food on our table and each other.  Both of us are growing a little older, but all things considered, I think perhaps a little wiser.  God has blessed us immensely and I shall not soon forget that.