I used to send these Christmas letters instead of a card each year. Then, the invention of the blog made it easier to post online (mostly because I could write as much as I want...which will not come as a surprise to any of my co-workers who are always trying to edit my writing down, haha). The fact that I haven't written anything since last Christmas means you may want to get comfy and settle in before taking this on. I thought about breaking it up into smaller blog entries, but since they'd all be dated today anyways...what's the point?
Last year ended with a trip to Florida to visit Lee's mom and dad. The weather wasn't amazing but it was better than Cape and we were able to make an ocean visit to finish out the year when we took a detour to Miami to see a Dolphins game. We got back to Missouri just in time to start the new year from home.
January through May was pretty non-eventful around here. For those of you who think we do nothing but travel, you'll be shocked to know, we went nowhere at all for the first 5 months of the year. Pretty tough...since travel is such a huge source of energy for us...but it's the way it worked out. Trust me, I tried to make up for it the rest of the year;) So in our non-travel months, a few important milestones took place. Nicolas got his first round of braces off; I got braces (Invisalign) for the first time in my life to correct a bite problem that was causing trouble; I also had to move from readers to bifocals (having had perfect vision my whole life, this was a real eye opener for me...getting old stinks); and Nicolas finished the 5th grade.
So I almost forgot a tiny trip for Nicolas' birthday (you all know if I don't get a plane, I don't count it as travel!). We did end up scoring some tickets to the NCAA Elite Eight game in Indy. Got to see KY vs Michigan - and we ended up at the same hotel as the Michigan team. Pretty exciting stuff...
He also got to celebrate his birthday with a few friends at SkyZone because school was out ON his actual birthday;)
Once school was out, I was ready to get my travel on! The first week of June, Nicolas and I, along with his friend Brayden, flew down to Miami. I finally found the car I wanted and that's where it was, so we just decided to make a trip out of it. We flew in on Saturday...I went Monday for a test drive...signed the papers Tuesday and Lee flew down Tuesday night to finish out the week with us and drive home with us. We got home just in time for Nicolas to enjoy some rec baseball...where he made the All-Star team for 2014...played lots of golf...and was able to spend lots of time with friends this summer.
Then the first week of July, Lee, Nicolas and I flew down to Playa del Carmen, Mexico for a week to visit Lee's sister and brother-in-law. We had a great week! Nicolas experienced his first scuba dive and we also had our first experience in one of the little boutique hotels in Playa before checking in to our all-inclusive resort to finish up the trip.
We no more than got home and we sent Nicolas off for his very first camp experience. He was gone Monday-Friday to Xtreme camp at Blue Mountain through La Croix. It was an amazing week for him and he came home ready to pack up and go back, having already picked which cabin and bed he wanted next year, haha! While he was away, Lee and I were miserable, going to a Cardinal game, eating lots of sushi and even spent a few days at Lake of the Ozarks with friends. Just miserable. While he was at camp, we also celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary. Wow...time flies.
As the summer came to a close and we got ready for 6th grade to start,
Nicolas' golf game was only getting better and better. He played as much as he possibly could. With me. With Lee. With friends. Whoever would go. This year, he beat Lee for the first time, in an 18-hole round of golf. When we were reminiscing about our year and talking about the highlights that should make the Christmas letter, Lee says, "Nicolas beat me in golf for the first time." Nicolas replies, "nuh-uh! I beat you all the time!" Ummm...yeah, this is what happens when you "let" kids win. They can't truly celebrate when they legitimately win, haha!
In September, Lee and I actually took a trip to celebrate our anniversary. We just couldn't fathom being out of the country the first time Nicolas was at camp, so we put it off. My mom and dad came and stayed with Nicolas, while we headed back to Cancun. We had an amazing time, as usual. After 19 years, we are still best friends and we actually like to hang out together. We so look forward to being out of the country because you are actually away from it all. Technology is beginning to catch up with us though. We are now able to FaceTime and see Nicolas every single day we are gone...which means, you know who, is also checking in at Beef's regularly. #stalker
October had no plans in store, but something popped up rather suddenly. After Xtreme Camp, Nicolas came home telling us he wanted to go on a mission trip. Thinking he wasn't really old enough, I pretty much just shut it down. The first few weeks in August, there was something in the bulletin at church about a trip to New Life Children's Home in Guatemala...and he would point out that he wanted to go. Each time, I simply told him he was too young and we'd go in the future. Well right at the deadline to go on the trip (literally the day before), I found out that there were two 11 year olds going on the trip and that they had room for us to go. It was a 24 hour whirlwind - Lee and I had to struggle with whether or not he was ready - with "who are we to decide if God can use him on a mission trip?" - with how do we pull off getting him out of school for a week - with how do we pull off me getting off work after I would just be getting back from Mexico??? And in the end, you guessed it, God worked out all the details. Everything came together as if we were planning to be going all along.
I can't even begin to tell you about that trip in this little (OK, so I realize it's not so little) blog post...but it was truly one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. Watching Nicolas in Guatemala - in a country that speaks next to ZERO English - jump right in and play with and develop relationships with the kids living there - well it's just beyond words. I was proud and humbled at the same time. I was grateful and broken-hearted. I was made aware of some horrible tragic things that these kids have gone through and watching the difference NLCH was making in their lives. It changed me. I left a little bit of myself there when I left. And I believe Nicolas did too. We are already planning our return in October 2015 and this time we are taking Lee with us! I can't wait to see what God can do through our family if we just allow him to use us...
Nicolas and I got back just in time for the big thing going on with my job this year - La Croix launched a second campus! Not just any second campus - a second campus in the town I grew up. That's right - a La Croix campus in Benton, MO! The launch went great and we're about 6 weeks in and the impact it is making on that small community is already evident. It's awesome!
This year, Lee's parents finally went from snowbirding in Florida to actually moving down there permanently. So, for Thanksgiving, we headed down to visit and see their new place. Thanksgiving with 60 degree weather and flip flops is really my style. As if you didn't know that already;)We'll spend Christmas Eve with my family in Benton, after attending worship at the Benton campus of La Croix!
Last but not least - we have started the build out on a second Beef'O'Brady's location. It will be in Perryville, MO and will likely open sometime in February-March 2015.
Life is busy...but it's so good. God continually amazes us with blessings we often forget to count. But the ones we are continually grateful for are good health, an amazing family, awesome jobs, loyal friends and a community we love being a part of.
We hope that you find all these things and more in 2015!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Hillman House to yours!
Love,
Angel
(This is where I would normally promise to blog more frequently next year...but let's just say...if it happens...we'll all be surprised together!)
