GOLD in the CLOUDS : looking back, moving forward.........

looking back at 2012 at some memorable events and some ordinary days..................

we'll begin with my self on a trail in a town to the west of my home............

.........I'm looking back along a flat lollipop trail loop my friend Carla and I hiked one bitterly cold but sunny Saturday morning ......

the Flats loop trail
Schenectady County, NYS
January 2012

January and just a dusting of snow.....about the only snow we received in Eastern New York State all 2012 winter made for good flat hiking weather!

Claire and I visit Courtney at Frost Hall

Gordon College

February brought a spontaneous trip to the college to surprise our oldest daughter.....we went with a friend and her son....a very special day away..............

Claire's art work won a spot!
National Museum of Dance
Saratoga Springs, NY
March 2012

...........our ballerina entered a pointe shoe exhibit art contest with girls and young adults from all over the USA! Her creation won a spot in the exhibit..........what a special March day we had touring the museum and seeing all the winners' art work.

Claire and Courtney
Easter Sunday Morning
April 2012

......Happy Resurrection Day! Courtney surprised us with a weekend visit in April to help us celebrate Easter......and spring!

May bringing with it new life and all things green and fresh...........a busy month of hiking, planting, biking, working, beginning to wrap up the school year, a mini-vacation..........and many spiritual battles as we faced some disturbing news from our former church body.........something that strengthened our faith as a couple, yet brought much turmoil in the beginning...... and God showed us that He is the Source of all Peace and Comfort and He will be the One who judges and merits out grace for us so we can hopefully merit it out to others......this month also renewed for us that we are in the right church for us now and it made us more appreciative of the leaders we now have who represent Jesus well.......a month of thanksgiving for His blessings............

Indian Paintbrush wildflowers
at the Butterfly Inn
Eastern Adirondacks

June brought the end of the school year and an anniversary trip for Dave and I to a little bed and breakfast inn in the Schroon Lake (Adirondacks) region........we enjoyed hiking Treadway Mountain, exploring the village of Schroon Lake, eating amazing soft-serve ice cream and frozen yogurt, going out to dinners, and just relaxing in the mountain air.............22 years of marriage and still friends for eternity

Claire with cousin Emma, and school friend Suzanna
Moreau Lake State Park
Glens Falls, NY

Small Group Beach BBQ
Sacandaga State Park
Northville, NY

Courtney and friend Amylia
Kayaking on Great Sacandaga Resevoir
Sacandaga State Park

Fishbrook Pond trail
Black Mountain Region
Eastern Lake George/ADKS

Youth Group Girls Party
l-r. Laura, Marissa, Rebekah, CLAIRE, Meredith, Dani, Nicole
Backyard BBQ/Bonfire Bash

............a small group Beach Barbeque Bash, hiking with my good friend Melissa in the deep woods of the eastern Adirondacks, kayaking, swimming, backyard parties.........all of our favorite things to do in July

and...with July came repainting the dining room and then an injured back for me! The family was great at helping me out but it put a damper on the August plans of hiking every weekend, swimming and biking. So August basically brought a low-key trip to the beach house....our very last summer vacation on Buzzards Bay due to some extended family issues and the possibility of the beach house being sold........

but August also had its blessings....a new chiropractor for me who actually targeted the lower back issue/sciatica with much relief and pain-free fitness routines, some more beach days, friends and family times, and a trip back to Gordon College to move Courtney back in to her dorm.

at the symphony
Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Claire, our friend Lynne, Courtney
Deck Dinner

Dinner in Gloucester, MA

Schroon Lake Sunset

SEPTEMBER....a time of back to school, bonfires on weekend evenings, small group studies and ballet classes beginning again and trips to Vermont for leaf-peeping and early Christmas shopping.........a favorite time of year for me..........

Manchester, Vermont

October arrived with beautiful leaves, crisp, cool evenings, a back that was much improved, church sermons that were inspiring and thought-provoking and the sudden death of my mother who had not been ill....a shock..... but we celebrated her life and the comfort of knowing she is now with the Lord brought us much peace.

to read her memorial, please click here.

November.....the autumn colors begin to fade, the skies begin to get greyer, earlier, and Thanksgiving is upon us before we know it..........

Claire with her cousin Debi dressed as a pilgrim woman
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

December! A time of birthday celebrations, family visits, baking, shopping, cleaning, and celebrating the birth of the most precious Gift of all....our Savior and Redeemer......