12/30/12
HAPPY NEW YEAR THE CAIN CLAN – 2012 IN RETROSPECT
I really wish I had written my annual missive on
12/12/12. But I didn’t…. 2012 was a year for which a few
pictures would be better than a thousand words…but I’ll hit a few of the
positive highlights.
The first few months of 2012 Al recuperated from his
12/21/11 total shoulder replacement surgery. I’m happy to report that went well, and he no longer has
pain. While he doesn’t have full
range of movement because he waited too long to get it repaired, he is able to
do everything he wants to do – including a lot most younger men wouldn’t
attempt.
April 6 he turned his little Farmall Cub tractor over on top
of himself and was pinned under it for about an hour…. Everyone who might have heard him was
gone, including me. Our
son-in-law, Tom, just happened to come home that afternoon – and it just
happened to be a nice day out, so he had his window open and heard Al’s yell
for help. Al was very
fortunate. You’ll have to get the
whole story directly from him….
Al and his chain saw have been very busy! An ice storm accounts for most of
that! Between ameliorating the
effects to our property here, he has done a lot of work at our 5 acres in
Graham – with the awareness of the need precipitated by one of our maple trees
getting hit by lightning, catching on fire, and creating a bit of excitement
for the neighbor! Most of
the time I join him when he heads to Graham. It’s been fun working on that project together. We made lots of piles, which we
burned one at a time as required once the burn ban was lifted – and in the
process had the joy of getting better acquainted with the neighbors there.
Kami and I took a 5-day trip to Oahu August 11–17; and Al
and I hiked up to Spray Park on our 42nd anniversary August 21. We didn’t take any long trips
this year. But – we progressed a
long way toward making the 5 acres at Graham park-like!
The biggest news for me
in 2012 was completing the written phase of my long-term children’s musical
project. A Letter from
G. O. D. has been in
print since October. I’ve been working on it for several years – and it is a
relief to have that phase of the project completed! I still have to do a simple CD so people can hear the
tunes – and complete editing the choreography – but the actual musical is done! Hooray! I couldn’t have
done the project without Kami’s computer expertise. We spent many hours editing and refining. Even before the final edits were
completed my friend Mary Beth directed it at Grace Foursquare Church in
Centralia in April. That was
a special joy!
Some of the other highlights of the year included various
family events, wonderful theatrical productions our grandkids performed in,
soccer and swim meets; the special visit of my niece and her family from Utah; involvement
in worship team music, being one of the storytellers for children’s worship and
being part of an amazing adult Sunday School class; and for Al – hunting,
woodworking and flint-knapping. (This year consumed way too much time in
politics for my liking! I’m still
recuperating!)
Remembering the good of the year diffuses other memories –
and is a reminder that whatever is good, pure, lovely and of good report is
what we are admonished to think about! We are very thankful for our kids and their families – our
greatest joys!
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013
from the aging-but-not-old-yet Cains!
Lola & Al; Lola
& Bud; Yo
& Pa
