Happy New Year to all of our family and friends…with the new year upon us, we thought it would be a good time to let you know what’s up with us. Hard to believe we’re already a third of the way through winter—the weather has been downright balmy here, with New Year’s Day temps in the mid-50s. Winter comes to visit this week with highs in the 20s, but we haven’t seen snow since that freak storm in October.
Let’s start this update with everyone’s favorite character, Miss Sophie, who is just seven weeks away from her second birthday (how is THAT possible?). She’s learning lots of new words and getting lots of teeth and generally charming the pants of all who meet her. It’s been lots of fun watching her learn new things and we look forward to her many upcoming discoveries.
Amy’s new job is going well, though her quieter gig in suburbia hasn’t turned out as quiet as she expected. But, as always, she has handled everything with her trademark grace and good humor. She’s still on the board of the Westfield Welcome Club, and will likely continue her post into the next term. As for the summer, she has applied to once again spend it in Warwick, NY, at the Kutz Camp as the Inclusion Coordinator for the Mitzvah Corps program working with kids on the autism spectrum. We still are working together on the two youth groups (6th-8th grades and 9th-12th grades) at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield. We continue to enjoy this work, and hope that we are making a significant contribution to the community.
As for Jeffrey, 2011 was a great year overall. On the sweat level, this was my best running year ever, completing more than 900 miles, 50 miles farther than my previous best. Though I won’t be putting my running shoes away, I can say with great certainty that 902 miles will be a record that will be cherished but unbroken.
On the work front, things are going superbly at KPMG, where I am well into my fourth year there. Many challenges and opportunities, and I am very blessed to be able to work with such smart, passionate people. We are making lots of good things happen, and, even more importantly, I am learning much each and every day.
I’m also proud to report that the leadership of the Kutz Camp (where I have served as participant, staff, faculty, and alumni event co-chair, and where Amy and I met in 2004) has tapped me to serve as Vice-Chair, Marketing and Recruitment, of the Camp Committee. It’s both a tremendous honor and a wonderful opportunity to give back a fraction of what I have been given by the many incredible people I have encountered there. As with Amy, I am hoping to be back there for Summer 2012, serving again as faculty and staff husband. Thanks to Melissa, Mike, Kelly, Lisa and others for all of their great work in creating such a warm and inspiring environment.
Finally, several of our friends have gotten married or engaged recently (Abbye and Shawn, Lisa and John, Beth and Sam, and Lisa and Dave)…congrats to all of you, and we wish you many years of the joy and love that Amy and I have been so fortunate to find and/or make. Also, best wishes to Brielle and Vincent on the birth of their first child, and Edye and Dave on the birth of their twin girls.
