The Story Isn’t Always Pictured
One of the coolest things about having a smartphone is scrolling through the photo roll at calendar’s end and reflecting on the memorable moments of the outgoing 12 months, and determining whether or not those moments amount to a year worthy of mention.

A brief sifting through 2025’s photos reminds me that the year has had more than its share of family highlights: our daughter’s continued development into an incredible person, her boyfriend’s increasing presence in our lives, the welcoming of a new family member, our unforgettable 12-day Alberta vacation, and special visits with family and friends.

Then there were highlights that aren’t pictured: namely the announcement of another family member coming in 2026. Also not pictured were two relative lowlights; a pair of accidents that made life trying at times for Kim: a wrist injury early in the year, sustained via an awkward fall on ice during an otherwise wonderful day in Elora. My photos only show the beauty of the picturesque town on a snowy day. Then there was the fractured jaw at the start of summer, sustained via a freakish trip on the sidewalk during a morning jog. That incident nearly derailed our Alberta trip and caused Kim weeks of facial discomfort plus a few trips to the dentist.

Sometimes life’s lows render the highs nearly null and void. This was certainly the case this year. A photo or two may have been snapped for perpetuity but in truth none were needed because we will never forget what happened. In the first case, we knew what was coming months ahead of time and had ample time to prepare ourselves emotionally. In the second case, we had little time and place to prepare for a heartbreaking loss. Continue reading →