It's 2007... Happy New Year!!

Well, a little late, but Happy New Year!!!

We are hoping that however you were celebrating was fun, exciting, and kept you safe. Our "new year" ring in was pretty uneventful. I had to work (more about that later), Greg and Belly rang in the new year watching the ball drop on TV.






Wondering what we resolved this year? Wondering why I chose that pig image up there? Yeah, it's all tied together. I know-genius, you say. Well, the only resolution I plan to share with everyone is that we resolve to fatten up our piggy bank this year. Greg's looking at another promotion in just the next month or so, thats a nice little raise that should start adding some fat to the bacon. I figured I shouldn't share any of my other resolutions since I just tend to break them anyway. If I make it till the end of the year on my other goals, then I will share them. :)

Belly resolves to grow just enough to move from a car seat to a booster seat this year. She isn't quite tall or heavy enough and all her little friends are growing faster and getting new seats. Jealousy is definitely a motivating factor. Belly also resolves to learn how to write her name this year and maybe even start reading.

Lastly, as we ring in the new year, I wanted to send a message to everyone to be safe this year. Yeah, I know, safe schmafe. Act responsibly, don't drink and drive, we have all heard the lectures. A recent call I took cemented for me all the reasons to be careful and cherish time with your family and friends. I don't normally care to share stories at work with anyone other than Greg and a few select friends but this particular story just seemed worth sharing.

On the 30th a man and his family were driving on Interstate 84 (an East-West corridor through Northern Oregon). There was an accident at the far eastern end of Multnomah county about 5 miles east of Multnomah falls. He had pulled over as a good samaritan to check on the driver of the smashed up vehicle. While he was walking towards the accident another car came out of nowhere and nearly hit the good samaritan. The man, trying to avoid being hit, jumped out of the way. Unfortunately for him, he jumped over a highway barrier and fell 60 feet to his death right in front of his family. Needless to say, his wife and child were distraught at watching their husband and father plunge over a barrier. Several hours later the man was rope rescued but it was too late and the fall too far. He didn't survive, but the drunk driver with a suspended license and a bunch of open containers from the original accident did. I did not (thankfully) have to take the call from the man's wife. I was the link to start police from our county out to the accident on the request of the Oregon State Patrol. Being a part of calls like this, incidents like this, really drive home the point to me that even though we are responsible, random things really do happen in a split second that can change our lives forever. I hope that everyone will take a minute to think about if this were us in that good samaritan's shoes or the shoes of his family. Please be especially careful this year, take your time, pay attention to the surroundings of you and your family, and never allow anyone to drink and drive. May God keep you safe this year.