Happy New Year from the Gaos

 Dear Friends,

We want to thank you for being with us as we journeyed through 2013.  

I really mean that.  You were with us.  And we are grateful for that.  

You saw us be bold in 2013.

You saw us be beautiful.

You watched as we wandered the globe.  

(Some of you tracked our every step using Find Your Friends. It's all good.)

But, let's be honest.  You also saw us fall flat on our face in 2013.

You saw us struggle.

You saw us when we were afraid.

Some of you heard us yelling at each other.  

We're sorry about all the yelling.

(I just whispered that apology.  It felt appropriate.  In a too-little-too-late kind of way.)

Throughout the year, you were with us.  When we needed you, you showed up. 

When we called, you came.

You changed my tire at 6:30am.

You picked my kids up when I was stuck in traffic.

You helped me turn off my smoke alarm at midnight.

You healed my "sports" injury.

You showed up.

Via skype late at night.  

A quick text, first thing in the morning.  ("OMG it is freezing out there!  This is not why I moved to the South!!") 

The early morning coffee dates. ("Okay, how are we going to get through this week?")

The sweet cards and letters.

 The heartfelt conversations over drinks on my deck in the evening in the summertime. 

Sometimes what you did was smile at us, at a moment when we really needed to remember that there are good things in the world.  

The point is, you were there.  

We were never alone this year, and neither were you.  

We did 2013 together.  

And we love you for that.  

We can't wait to see what 2014 holds for us.  All of us.  Us.  You.  All of us.

Full speed ahead.  

Pedal to the metal.  

Let's go get this thing stuck.  

What do you say?

(It really is going absolutely perfectly.  I know you know that.)