It was a crazy, snowy, busy, snowy, beautiful, and snowy year. Here are some photo highlights…
Winter
Grand Rapids had the distinction of being the fourth snowiest city in America last winter, clocking it at 116 inches for the season. It was nice getting reacquainted with our front steps in April.
Running
I logged 785 miles in 2014, some of them in the aforementioned snow. Mostly just running around the neighborhood, but there were also a few scenic runs, including the Manitou Incline (assuming we use the word “run” in the loosest sense) and the 8-mile loop around Mackinac Island.
Haiti
In March, I traveled to Haiti to visit a World Vision ADP (area development program). There I saw Haiti’s future…a future where children are valued, protected, and empowered by the community.
Ways my wife is awesome…
Because she left encouraging notes like this in my office this year…
The preschooler
Somehow our firstborn became a preschooler in 2014. We’re trying not to blink.
The newbie
In 2014, we welcomed our son Oliver James into the world. He has brought more joy and light into our family than we ever could have imagined.
Oliver came a few days early. As it happened, I was brewing with a buddy the day before he was born. I decided to name our red rye ale in honor of Oliver’s first documented smile…
We had Oliver baptized on All Saints Day. And yes, bowties ARE cool.
Pure Michigan
As a family, we got to explore some of northern Michigan’s beauty this fall. (It was an amazing fall in our part of the world.)
And finally…
Winter strikes again
We rounded out the year with the snowiest November in Grand Rapids’ history. At least one person in our household was happy about the return of snow…
Happy new year!
Ben Irwin 
Looks like a hard year to beat!
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