The holidays are over and a new exciting year is here.

The Eckel family has had a great few weeks.  It was so nice to have Daddy with us and his undivided attention for the last couple of weeks.  No work or school to worry or stress about!  Christmas in Detroit was cold, but filled with the warmth of love from Gma and Papa, Uncle Jim and (Aunt) Liz, Grandma Honey, and of course cousin Ben!  We were busy with outings to various places such as Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum, gatherings at Liz's house and the Kleinsmiths, lunch with Gege, Sara Beth, and Maggie, dinner at the Rhapsody, breakfast at Tina's.  Many good times were shared by Ben and Rylan and there was always a lot of playing going on.  It was so great to see the Gumps and Grandma Honey as well!  Thank you to all of you for making our Christmas so great!

We returned home on Tuesday the 28th to a house filled with even more presents.  It took us a couple of more days to open all of those!  We were all overwhelmed by the generosity of so many people that went out of there way to spoil us all rotten!  Thank you just doesn't express the appreciation and love we feel for each and every one of our family and friends.

Then, of course, my need for order and organization set in, on top of the overwhelming nesting urge that takes place during this part of pregnancy.  I think I spent about four days cleaning out closets, toys, rooms, throwing away and giving away.  We did the same thing last year and it always feels like a great way to start the new year!  The nice thing about this year was that I now have my cleaning ladies back, so after four days of cleaning out, I did not actually have to spend another 2 days cleaning :).

Happy 2011 to you all!   May we all find and thank God for all of the blessings that fill our lives each and every day.  It will be a year of change for us, and I personally will be looking to Him to help me through the many changes and challenges that will present themselves.