Another Year Older

Over the years what our birthdays mean to us seems to change. When we are young we are all excited. Then we start getting older, and another birthday is a reminder that we aren't as indestructible as we once thought. Then the years come where you are just ecstatic to make another year.

I am writing this the morning of my 39th birthday before everyone gets up and I have to head to work. The reality is that it still feels weird celebrating my birthday after losing my Dad on the same day in 2009.

The funnier thing is that I never have really thought about it feeling weird until a colleague at work asked me this week what it was like for me to want to celebrate my birthday while remembering it was the day I lost my Dad.

Well on one side I am still reflective and sad somewhat today, but then I think how pissed my Dad would be at me using him as an excuse not to be happy to be alive.  Then I also realize how sad it has to be for the rest of my family especially my Mom, but then you see how excited my wife and girls are to help me celebrate. Really how can anyone be sad when your kids are so happy for you. Even if all of the flip flopping gives me motion sickness the reality is that I am blessed to be here still with my family. I still have the chance to screw up, but I also still have the chance to do some good in this world.

 So I am choosing to do my best to not dwell on the years that I am missing with him, but instead focus on the years that I did have with him. Many kids never even had the chance to have years with their Dad, and I had 34 great ones.

I am also going to choose to really notice the blessings and the time that God is giving me to do the best I can with this life. Every day is a gift and we all take that for granted somewhat, but every day you get to wake up is a day you get to make a difference.

Here are a few pics that the great Kayla Hartzog took of those that remind me daily of how I have been blessed.

Finishing out 2013

Looking back on 2013 there was a lot that I could talk about not going right, but that isn't what someone named Keebler should do. The good and bad in our lives always really serves the same purpose, and that is making us into who and what we are. I won't lie and say this past year hasn't been a struggle, but it helped remind me that you have to look for the good in every moment of every day. The good in our lives is always there, but yes it is hard to find somedays. We want the good to be something big everyday, but the reality is that the good somedays can be as small as the smile of a child. It can also be as big as an evening with friends celebrating the end of a year that constantly reminded me to never give up.

So here are a few pics from our Feuerzangenbowle New Years Celebration.

I am sure you could tell by the above title the evening had to include Jurgen

Our mid evening concert 

The chef at work

A boiling pot of festiveness

A little more conversation while the concoction settles

There is only one way to melt a sugar cone into the mix

Nearly ready for consumption

Susan learning hand signals from Jerred 

Susan finally got it down
These were the only ones that could be pictured here:)

We were so glad to end the year with some old friends and some new friends. No matter what this next year holds for us we are very glad and blessed just to be here to enjoy it. All of us in the Keebler clan wish you all the best for 2014!

Happy New Year!!

Keebler