HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Sorry we haven't posted in a while. Haven't really been doing too much, just enjoying our time at home. Christmas day went really well. I have to admit, I was a little overwhelmed and a bit stressed thinking about how the day would go with everyone coming over to our house. But no one seemed to mind that I didn't have time to decorate the way I normally would, or that I didn't have time to make the special treats I usually do, or that our kitchen renos are not complete, or that we ate off of paper plates because we don't have a dishwasher. We were all together though and I realized that was what mattered and I relaxed and joined the fun. A big Thank You to the Grandma's for all their hard work in preparing the meal and making the day so special. Our New Year's Eve was spent at home joined by a few family and friends; Grandma and Grandpa Wittmier, Sherry, Dallas and Hayley, Pete and Kelli and Jayson. A good time was had by all.

We will be heading back to Saskatoon in the morning. It is hard to believe that the time has gone by already. It was so great to be home but I think it will be really hard to leave in the morning. But it is what we need to do. Jayci still has work to do and she is anxious to do it. And she will do it!! I remember when Jayci was about 7 or 8, she called us out to the backyard and said "Watch this". She picked up the hoola hoop, grabbed the basketball, and she started to hoola as she played basketball.?!?!?! Like who would even think to do that??? She did! Then there was the hockey game(she was around 10 or 12) where she would get a break away, shoot, and miss the net. She would get the puck again, shoot, and....miss the net. Finally, her coach called her over and said "Jayci, aim for the post. I want you to hit the post!" So out she goes again, gets the puck, heads down the ice, aims, shoots and PING, hits the post!!!! And then a couple years ago, the provincial hockey team was heading to North Battleford for the second game of a best of two series and we were down 4 goals. Of course the parents were somewhat dreading the trip but the girls had hope. First period, they come out flying, and Jayci was on fire(sorry for bragging, wait, no I'm not). I think she got 3 or 4 out of the 5 goals that period alone, and after 1 period, we were up in the series by a goal, the girls were pumped. It was unbelievable. We ended up losing the series in overtime, due to the fact that with just minutes left in the 3rd period(we were leading series by 1) the ref thought it was alright for a NB player to grab the puck in her glove and THROW it into the net. I kid you not, but don't get me started. I was not a very good hockey mom after that happened. But my point is, Jayci is and always has been determined. Don't tell her she can't do something, because she will do it. Don't tell her the odds are against her, because she doesn't care. Obviously, this is the biggest hurdle she has ever come up against, but she will jump it. And she will do this because she BELIEVES! Cass and Ty are behind her 110% because they BELIEVE! The road may be long, but it is a new year, and we BELIEVE it is going to be a good year. God Bless!!

Love Shawn, Starla, Cassi, Jayci, Ty & Gizzy