Finnegan Family Christmas Update 2014

2014 was a year of great blessing for the Finnegan Family.  Let me share some of the most important of those Blessings with you!  

On April 4, we added our first grandson to the family.  Ezra was born to dad Tim, mom Nikki, and big sister Emma.  His mom was pretty much on bedrest from December through April (bless her heart!) and Grandma Chris got to spend a lot of time in Arizona helping out, which she loved.  And then, at full term, Ezra entered a healthy, happy, smiling boy.  He is a joy to behold!

Tim continues to work at Raytheon,and is a team lead on his new project. Emma turned 4 this fall, and they are beginning to think about school for next year.  How is that possible?!  Nikki has her hands full, and does a great job as a full-time mom and wife.  We are very grateful for this family!

And on June 16th, our youngest granddaughter was born.  Carys joined Dad Ben, mom Elsa, and big sister Ada. She is a content, sweet little thing. 

Grandma Chris had the privilege of being around for the birth of Carys, too, and Grandpa Dave returned just a week later while Ben had hernia surgery.  But that was not the end of their summer excitement!  In July, Elsa stepped off a curb carrying Carys in her car seat and the diaper bag, and broke both the bones going into her ankle.  So Grandma Chris and Grandpa Dave returned to help out again, this time while Elsa had surgery.  Elsa was a real trooper!  She pulled off major surgery while nursing a newborn and caring for a toddler, and made it look easy.

Ben continues to teach Latin at the Peoria, AZ campus of the Basis charter school, and serves as department head for foreign language, and head coach of the flag football team. Elsa manages her home of sweet girls like a pro.  What a blessing this family is to us!

Dave's mom, Marilyn, continues going strong at 88.  Despite a stroke this summer which ended her driving career, she still gets around, using the transit system in town, and with Chris and other friends.  She attends the Silver Sneakers class twice a week at the YMCA, and walks for about 90 minutes twice a week with a friend.  She has almost no remaining side-effects of the stroke.  God has been very gracious to us.

Chris' parents. Jack and Shirley Hanson, are also doing well, and enjoying a period of good health.  They recently went with us to Tucson for Thanksgiving, and we had a great time all together there.

Dave continues as a staff member at Los Alamos National Lab, helping to keep the world safe for democracy, as I like to say.  He also continues to serve as an elder at Bryce Ave PCA, and has gotten pretty handy at making child-sized furniture and toys, fixing cars and appliances, and giving lots of support to his needy wife.  I don't know what I would have done without him for the last 34 years.

 And I am in an amazing place of remission from all diseases.  No cancer, and able to come off of the post-breast cancer drug.  Autoimmune disease in the eyes at bay, and the continuing treatments being tolerated well.  Feeling well, and having energy again. I was able to have cataract surgery last month, and now look forward to new glasses and being able to see again, too! I never thought I would feel this way again.  God has blessed me beyond all telling! 

So 2014 has been an amazing year of watching God at work among us.  We are so very grateful for His presence to cheer and to guide and to heal.  May we continue to be grateful for His blessings in 2015.  And may you, too, dear friend and gentle reader, experience his presence in this season and always.

This group gathered at the Phoenix zoo on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and it was a blessing to be together!  From left to right: Chris and Dave, Tim holding Ezra, Donna Johnson (Elsa's mom), Elsa holding Carys, Nikki, Chris Johnson (Elsa's dad) Elsa's twin sister Bethany, her husband Erle, and Emma on Erle's shoulders, Ada on Ben's shoulders, Shirley and Jack Hanson.