2013: A Very Good Year!

Lots of ‘looking-back’ stories at this time of year.
During 2013, two major events happened in our family, and we just happen to have the photos to show:
— On May 29, our grand-niece, Amelie (a.k.a., La niña), was born in Havana, Cuba.

Our nephew was not able to get permission to attend his wife in the delivery room, because of medical regulations there. Everything went well, and his wall-to-wall grin was visible, even in the text of his e-mail! La niña was baptized earlier this month, and all three are doing fine in Havana right now.
However, we have a problem: Madre has been unable to get an emigration visa; they want to live / work and raise their family here in Halifax. They are currently in their third round of extensive paperwork, and a positive decision is expected in the next few months.
(Of course, La niña already has her Canadian passport in her hand and is eager to travel right now!)
— During the summer, we joined the extended family / clan in Springhill, to take part in the baptism ceremony of our great grand-niece, Rayden (a.k.a., Ray-ray), living from Woodstock, Ontario.

The beautiful event for the bright, outgoing, two-year-old featured lots of support by everyone attending.
Later that afternoon, she took her celebration casual walk down the street, accompanied by her ‘security detail’ (a.k.a., “Uncle Dickie” and “Uncle Mikey”)!
— We have had a busy year. Before we retired, some folks often told us that, ’Why do you want to retire? You won’t like it: you’ll be bored, you’ll have nothing to do.’ Ha! Don’t believe it, for a moment.
We didn’t miss a beat, and jumped right in: We’ve been thoroughly and happily involved in volunteer activities which sometimes find us busier than when we worked in our classrooms!
Advice alert, advice alert: for 2014 (and beyond):
If you are retired, or even working full-time, you owe it to yourself to take a look around your community, visit an individual or group in need, introduce yourself and offer your skills.
Happy New Year!