I can hear someone asking me the question already – "What did you do for New Year’s Eve?" My answer? I had dinner with an extension of my family, came home, watched a movie with my wife and wrote this blog. I can see the thought running through the person’s head already, "How boring!"

Then I look back at 2009. Indulge me for a moment if you would.

July 9, 2008, I woke up thinking my house was on fire because Dorothy was running into our bedroom yelling, "JEFF!!! JEFF!!!" Now I’m pretty used to her yelling on a regular basis whenever she sees a bug, but this yell was different. It turns out that she had just taken a pregnancy test and found out she was pregnant with our first child. After ten years of marriage and no grandkids on either side, this was the news story of the year in our families. "I had written you two off!" Dorothy’s grandmother exclaimed when Dorothy told her the news. March 19, 2009 at 6:45 a.m., we welcomed Lily Grace Turner into our lives forever. 2009 was the first year I was a dad.

On July 5, 2005, I gave away a piece of myself. Literally. Steve received one of my kidneys following two surgeries at MGH. His daughter Jeannie was married in November, 2007. Steve was there to walk her down the aisle and dance a first dance with her. I tear up just thinking of those moments. Not because of what I did, but because of what God did through me. On July 5, 2009 we both celebrated four years of good health. It was Steve’s family with whom we had dinner tonight.

My last day of my "real" job was April 18, 2008. Since then, I’ve shot 74 weddings, countless portrait sessions, and everything else in between. 2009 was my first full year of self-employment. My utilities are still on and the mortgage is current. I even have food in the fridge. I know I wouldn’t have made it through the year without an amazing family, particularly my incredibly loving wife, a great business team (George and Alana), and many others who were there for me throughout the year. Thank you!

It’s now the last day of 2009. Ryan Seacrest is hosting "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rocking Eve" in Times Square. The ball is about to drop. Lily is in bed asleep. So is her mom. I’m sitting downstairs typing this blog knowing that the two people I love the most in the world are only a few steps away. Thank you Lord for a year of blessings I don’t deserve!

"Boring" New Year’s Eve…I’ll take it!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

 

 Dorothy and Lily – their first time face-to-face

 

 

 Jeannie dancing with Steve

 

George and Alana – still don’t know why they put up with me…

 

 

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