2013: a year in review

What a year.

I've struggled with this post for a few weeks. I said I wouldn't be posting and I am not. But, I had to come back and edit a bit of this. I just couldn't post, including or excluding certain information.

Truth is, I am thankful we are on the last hours of 2013. I can't seem to classify this year. It hasn't been "good" and it hasn't been "bad." It has been triumphant, hard, draining, joyful, changing, and trying. I have traded up my dreams of Ishmael for God's unforeseeable Isaac plans. I have watched my parents touch the last days with their parents and not slip into "until eternity" just yet. I have welcomed a fearfully and wonderfully made nephew into my arms and celebrated the arrival of a precious angel nephew to Jesus' arms. I sat two feet from someone as the words "anaplastic hemangiopericytoma" changed their life. I stepped down from full time work and a full time pay check to relieve myself from stress and remind myself that I still love doing this. I took on the full responsibility of the education of a tenth grader. I welcomed my family back to this state and this time zone. I danced in the song of my Father in the bright noonday and wept in His arms in the early morning darkness. I have hurt. I have danced. I have laughed. I have cried. I have grown. I have come to know one thing when everything else seems so unknown. My God is GOOD.

Come along with me on a journey through the past pages, praise Him with me for the joys He brought, and sing with gladness that the victory is His!

- The call was in and they were moving home!
- My job was wearing me out emotionally and physically. Waited on the Father.

-The Bean turned 12 and entered the last stage before teen hood!
- I landed in Nashville for the last time to drive them home!
- I turned 23 and my parents surprised me with a weekend in DC! We stayed in a hotel, ate some awesome food, toured our nation's history, and had a wonderful time all being together!

 

- Pocket change celebrated their first anniversary and the discovery that sweet p was on his way!
- The Bubs turned 4 and my aunt heart cried a little as a tall verbal little boy enjoyed his transformer day!
- My job began to wear on me in every dimension.

The Bub's big 4!

- Baby pudge made me an aunt for the third time.
- The same week my mom had a birthday.
- and guy and girl became guy and girl.
- job hit the climax and I made a huge decision to stop.
- co-planned and co-hosted a childhood friend's wedding shower.
- I opened my closet blog in hopes to post through the items in my closet. 

My baby pudge on his BIRTHday!

Childhood Friends

 

- sweet baby p was welcomed to heaven as we celebrated the short time we got to know him.

- we celebrated mother's day and my sister's birthday.

- we came to know our angel baby as sweet little Enoch.

- Madalee graduated from highschool!

- Sped off west to celebrate my cousin's college graduation.

For everyone of my angel nephews I have written a poem. This is Enoch's.

St. Louis for this girl's graduation!

 

- tried a girl's conference with some awesome ladies and got sent home because of a power outage. =/

- celebrated one of my teenagers birthdays in traditional latino style, quince!

- attended our annual homeschool convention.

- last day of work full time and cut my hours by a lot for the summer. Best adult decision this year.

- volunteered at King's Fest with Pocket change.

  

- God directed guy and girl in separate directions. 

- celebrated the Poc's second birthday.

- spent some extra time with my sister and the nephews. 

- took the second chance to attend the girl's conference and enjoyed a wonderful time with the Father. 

- co-planned and co-hosted a baby shower for a childhood friend. 

 

- Enjoyed the last few days of summer.
- Experienced some scary days with my grandparents.
- Celebrated mom and dad's 31 years as Mr. and Mrs.
- Started back to work more full time than the summer but less full time than before!
- Face reality, fears, and emotions as guy was taken to the ER.

- Extensive brain surgery.
- Grandparents getting better.
- Therapy.
- Fighting myself and wrestling with my God about what I was doing in the situation.
- healing.
- family vacation.
- started homeschooling.

- recovery.
- facing reality.
- fundraising.
- apple picking.
- Madalee's 19th birthday.
- second brain surgery.
- God's call on my heart.

- SCC concert with the family.
- radiation for his head and my heart.
- Meg's *whisper* 30th birthday festivities!
- Thanksgiving.
- Gettysburg.
- co-planned and co-hosted a bridal shower for a childhood friend.

volunteering for Show Hope for the second time!

being a volunteer has awesome perks! That is Jason Grey

Gettyburg

- radiation continued.
- my heart began healing.
- Childhood friend's wedding.
- Bethlehem Walk.
- Christmas lights in our PJ's.
- Girls' Christmas concert.
- Behold the Lamb of God concert.
- Christmas.

This girl got married!

Bethlehem Walk

Show Hope volunteer for the third time!

I can honestly stand before you today and say that if I was asked to repeat the last six months I would cry. But as Stephanie Fast puts it, "There is not a thing in my life I would be better without." In the new year I have plans to post about it. For now, celebrate the things the Lord has done, is doing, and has yet to do! I am.

This is the day that the Lord has made. I am rejoicing and glad in it! Psalm 118:24
Happy New Year!