2010: Finishing 'er Up

So many changes in our lives this last year and we are about to enter another year with some uncertainties as is common to all of us. We have had job changes, a location change, and friendship adjustments and additions.
As most of you know, we left St.Marys, PA around mid year. Tom was a census crew leader after finishing up at with his pastoral position there. We had a few months before he started his chaplaincy residency position here. It was a rough move for me, even though I looked forward to being nearer to our son and family and friends.
I knew I would need to make new friends, and thankfully, as this year comes to a close, I know I have made several.
It's nice to be back in Wisconsin and we had a better than average summer and fall, butwith winter upon us again, we are sorely tempted to move south and west when Tom completes his residency. But I cannot bear to think of starting afresh again, so I will table that thought for now.
After some time, we have found a couple of small groups to be in, some volunteer opportunities and of course, I have found a part time job with Weight Watchers, and am beginning to develop some fun friendships there. Tom has been enjoying his work as a chaplain and there seems to be a good spirit among his team. We also had some outgoing next door neighbors, who welcomed us enthusiastically. They have bought a home not far from here but we miss seeing them regularly. And then there's our sometimes calm/sometimes feisty Shih-tzu Sasha, who I teasingly say was my only friend besides Tom in the immediate area when we moved here. We have also been able to stay in touch with friends throughout Wisconsin, family not too far away, and keep communication going through facebook and some phone calls to and from PA.
So we have just about made it through another year. I have said before that even though we have made a number of moves and we don't understand the how's and why's of some of them, I have always sensed that we have been and are where we are supposed to be - and I am thankful for the friends whe have made at each place we have lived. Now, as the year 2010 ends, I can truthfully say that is true for us here in the La Crosse area too.