a christmas letter to my friends and family

It’s that time of year again for presents, parties and peppermint mochas. Yes, it’s Christmas time. I was lame and did not send out any cards this year, so to kinda make up for it, I will do a newsletter-type recap of this past year. If you are especially bummed that you did not receive a card from me, next time I see you I will give you whatever the cost of a postage stamp is to make up for it.

2012 has been a very up-and-down year. I am still working for Kroger in their benefits office; helping Kroger employees across the country understand their medical benefits. As of November I have been a full time employee for one year, meaning I have now had one job for more than a year for the first time since college.

I am living with my roommates Stephanie and Heather, aka Debbie and Ethyl, in our house in northeast Portland. This is also the first time in a long time that I have lived in one place for more than one year. The house we rent has issues, but we love it despite the headaches and have fallen into a comfortable living arrangement.

This year I also did something that I never thought I’d do in a million years…I ran in my first 5k! In September my friend Nicole, her son Tanner and I participated in The Color Run, which at every kilometer the race staff throw different colors of powder at you so by the end of the race you are a whole mess of rainbow colors. I actually didn’t run much of it as I fell out of a training routine during the summer, but I am proud of the fact that I still did it and I look forward to doing another 5k sometime next year.

I am still singing with the Portland Intergenerational Women's Choir and am now filling the position of music librarian, which means I make sure everyone gets the music they need and turns it in when we are done with it. I love my choir. I can be having a really awful Monday and ready to just go home and go to bed, but after choir practice, my energy, outlook, spirit and heart are lifted. I have made so many wonderful friends and love making connections with the women in the choir. This past year we sang at the Coffee Creek Women's Prison which was an incredible experience for our choir and for the ladies in the prison as well. Choir is a big part of my life and will be a part of it as long as there are songs to be sung.

The Momma is doing well. She’s still at Kaiser working in the pharmacy and so close to retirement that she can almost touch it. In November she did something that she hadn’t done in years…she went on vacation to Disneyland! I couldn’t go with her due to my work schedule, but she had a blast with her friends Debi and Patti and Debi’s family. I am still a little bitter that I couldn’t go, but it will pass.
In September, The Momma and traveled to College Place, WA for (Great Aunt for The Momma and Great-Great Aunt for me) Geneva’s 90th birthday party. I was so happy that I could be there for her big day and I was also ecstatic to see family that I had not seen in years and have some long-overdue catch-up time.

As many of you know from knowing me and/or from reading this blog, my Grammy, Dorothy Balsley, passed away this past June. The Momma and I took her ashes to the graves of her sons Douglas in Lewiston, ID and my Uncle Craig in Sandy, OR just like she wanted. I know that she is no longer in any pain and she is at peace, but still…I miss her every single day. The Momma and I are still trying to sell her house and once that is done then all of her affairs will be closed. That will be a big relief for both of us.

So that is it for me and 2012. I look forward to 2013 and will be activily pursuing happiness and peace. May your 2012 holidays be merry and bright and 2013 be full of joy for you and your families.

Love, jenna