Journeying into 2024

O Unchanging God, let us pass through this new year with faithful hearts, that we might in all things please your loving eyes. - Mozarabic Prayer from Prayers Ancient and Modern (1900)

Then let us again clasp hands as allies and 
fellow pilgrims journeying in faithful company 

toward those blessed ends to which our eternal hungers compel us. 

- Douglas McKelvey, Every Moment Holy Vol. III

I had to think hard about the title for this post. "Ringing in" the new year didn't sound quite right. It has been a year, with high highs and low lows, and a million normal Wernet moments in between. The image of journeying together out of the old year and into the new year seems to fit. 

There was talk of heading up north again for New Years Eve or inviting Nellie's friends over, but in the end I remembered that we have (had) exactly two more celebrations before Nellie is off on her own and insisted on a family party at home. I've grown rather attached to our traditions! And we had a lot of fun with games, football, appetizers, Back to the Future, dancing to Taylor Swift (select family members only), and sparklers, sparkling juice, poppers, and general revelry at midnight.

Annie set a pretty table for our "fancy" lunch

Showing off their "convertible shorts"

Annie destroyed us

Spoons and Back to the Future

Things started winding down toward midnight...

...then picked right back up!

Happy New Year!

To reflect on the year, I asked everyone for their highlight moments from 2023. It was challenging to pinpoint a moment, and it morphed into the most memorable and less fortunate moments.

Kevin, Eddie, and Mary: The trip to Florida/Disney World. When pressed for a specific part, they just said all of it. :)

Annie: Our first time in the ocean. When the lady from Muskegon brought Nellie her purse (!) this summer and I was wearing my bird-catching outfit. Signing loud to Taylor Swift and Zombies music with Robynne on our way to the restaurant in Muskegon. Going to the LSSU hockey game this fall!

Nellie: Doing the blob with Annie and Robynne at fishing camp. Performing at Ford Field when I almost fell off the podium and a guy came out to quickly fix it. When I was at Jocelyn's and the power went out in the big storm. Breakfast pasties!

DJ: When we were camping up by Papa John's and it started raining in the night, so Eddie and I moved into the camper to sleep. Watching the Lions clinch the division and watching U of M beat Ohio State.

For me, a highlight moment was walking into our rooms in Disney and seeing the "Welcome Wernets" message on the TVs - it felt pretty magical.  

Heading into 2024, I'm filled with gratitude for God's faithfulness to us through this past year and that we are on this journey together. I love these people so much, and want to love them even better in the new year!