Dear Family and Friends,
Merry Christmas (late) and Happy New Year! (Frohe Weinacht und Frohes Neues Jahr!) I had the privilege of spending the Christmas holidays in Germany and Switzerland this year with my parents and other dear friends, and so I send you these late seasons' greetings just hours after arriving home.
After all the health challenges I had in 2015, I feel grateful each day for how quiet and uneventful (in a good way!) 2016 has been. And so as the year comes to a close, I’d like to share a list of some of the many things that I have been grateful for this year:
January:
Amazing doctors who healed me from pneumonia and patiently helped me find asthma medications that have actually worked!
Visiting our cousins’ cabin in Idaho where I always feel peace and quiet out in the snow and warmth inside with my family
 |
| Cross country skiing with Christina (sister) |
 |
| Beautiful view of Henry's Fork of the Snake River from inside the cabin |
February:
An entire month of good health for the first time that I can remember
March:
Birthday kite flying with my family
 |
| Rhys (nephew) helping me master proper kite-flying techniques |
 |
| Family members flying their own kites |
 |
| Best way to spend a birthday!! |
Visiting my family in Austin -- for free! (work trip that was paid for by my office)
 |
| Dave (brother), Otto (nephew), Simon (nephew), Karin (sis-in-law), Sofie (niece), and Moses (friend) |
Enjoying late winter hikes and dog sitting in Pinebrook (Park City) and remembering my friend (and former colleague) Emily
 |
| Views from the Pinebrook trails |
 |
| Rosie (L) and Bailey (R - RIP) |
 |
| Emily's Bench |
April:
An amazing week in NYC with my sister-in-law and niece and other family and friends
 |
| Breakfast in Brooklyn! Phoebe (niece), Mary (sis-in-law), and Susannah |
 |
| Our Brooklyn brownstone! Susannah and Phoebe |
 |
| Waffles with Phoebe all day and night! |
 |
| Boating in Central Park! Mary and Susannah |
 |
| Top of World Trade Center 1. Susannah and Phoebe |
 |
| Yum Yums! Our favorite restaurant on Broadway! |
June:
The beauty of flowers and remembering our families who have passed on
July:
The freedom to color my hair!
 |
| It's kind of unintentionally patriotic, just in time for Independence Day! |
The many opportunities I had all summer to dog sit for my friend (I’m especially grateful for this time because one of these beautiful dogs unexpectedly died this past November)
 |
| Rosie and Bailey (RIP) |
August:
A wonderful family reunion and subsequent Thomas women retreat
 |
| Brunch in my backyard |
 |
| Brunch in my backyard |
 |
| Thomas women retreat - Stewart Falls! Rebecca, Erin, Christina, Amanda, Paula, Susannah, and Mary in front |
 |
| Thomas women retreat - Foundry Grill at Sundance. Mary, Rebecca, Susannah, Celeste, Amanda, Paula, and Christina |
Seeing Josh Groban AND Sarah McLachlan together in concert! 2 dreams come true!!
 |
| ANGEL |
September:
Seeing my parents finally fulfill a dream of serving an LDS mission together in Germany (though it was really hard to say goodbye)
 |
| Departure day! |
Getting to know and dog sitting a new puppy friend
 |
| Cooper! (with a wounded paw) |
Visiting Star Valley, Wyoming for the first time and enjoying its natural beauty
October:
Getting a new roof on my house and a new fence around my yard
Dressing up as JOY (from Disney's Inside/Out) for Halloween with my newly blue-d hair
November:
Spending a lovely Thanksgiving in Indiana with my sister and her family and my cousins and their families
 |
| Jill H (cousin), missionaries, Nancy H.B. and her kids (cousins), and Erin (sister) |
December:
Celebrating the Christmas holidays in Europe with my parents and our dear friends in Switzerland and Germany.
 |
| Dad and I in Frankfurt, Ger. |
 |
| Mom and I in Frankfurt, Ger. (Christmas market) |
 |
| St. Peter Zurich with the Fraumuenster (green steeple) in the very background. |
 |
| Susannah, Erich Schnider, Mom, Irene Hummel, and Dad. Zurich, Switz. |
 |
| Me! with the Grossmuenster in the background. Zurich, Switz. |
 |
| The best creche ever, found at a convent in Switzerland. |
 |
| I'm talking with teachers at one of the two schools I visited as the special American guest. Bauma, Switz. |
 |
| Esther and I (with cat Moriz) in Villa Flora, Haetzingen, Switz. |
 |
| With the Henning-Dziallas family at Christmas (I'm behind the camera) |
 |
| With the Henning-Dziallas family at Christmas (Dad is behind the camera) |
 |
| Frankfurt am Main |
 |
| Hanging out in Roman ruins, Saalburg Archaeological Park, Ger. |
 |
| Hanging out in Roman ruins, Saalburg Archaeological Park, Ger. |
Jesus Christ whose birth, life, Atonement, and Resurrection made all things possible
And most of all, I am thankful for all of you and for your love and friendship that mean so much to me.
 |
| Saalburg Archaeological Park, Ger. |
As the sun sets on 2016, I wish you all peace and love in 2017!
Love,
Susannah
