A Bittersweet beginning to 2010

On a more serious note, the beginning of this year was bittersweet. Within 24 hours I heard the news of both the passing of my Aunt MaryAnn and the birth of my nephew, Brenan. I returned to Ontario for a short, but very meaningful, trip. It was very sad to see our aunt pass away at such a young age, and leaving behind a young family that I had the great fortune of growing up alongside. Words can’t describe many of the emotions and difficulties that now rise up for my uncle and cousins, but we continue to pray that God will sustain them. Witnessing both death and new life in such a short time span is a strange combination of emotions to encounter – joy and sorrow don’t often come as a package deal. But it was beautiful to be able to hold a 5lb bundle of joy, and to feel his hiccups shake his whole body! Brenan was an eager one to come out – he arrived a month early, but thankfully both mother and child are healthy. Now Rich and Tara have the tough decision of how to divide up their 12 months maternity/paternity leave :)