Ringing in the New Year with Snot and A Thought!

Hello Everyone!!!

I know it has been a while and I’ve been asked by so many why I took some time off! I have been soaking up every second of my babies being babies! We have had the best holiday season. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, we have been living in every moment!

So as we ring in the new year, we are at home just the five of us. At this point, we could all share Kleenex because we all have colds. Hopefully those go away quickly because I am knee deep in snot and snot suckers are not particularly a favorite of my past time.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the past year and also about the year that is about to start. I am starting a new workout program that is hopefully going to get me back to feeling more like myself! I’m hoping that if I give myself 110% then I am more likely to be able to give everyone else the same if not more.

Excited about that on the horizon, I am also excited to see where this year takes me in my faith. Since losing our pastor, it took a long time but we are finally getting our new pastor and he starts this coming weekend.

I’ve had the ability to sing more during the Christmas season and I look forward to continuing that through this year. I want to make more time to pray. I want to make more time to spend with God. I need to get back to doing that religiously. It wasn’t something that I meant to slack on it just kind of happened along with everything else.

Knowing that tomorrow is never a guarantee, I need to start being better about my relationship with God. I know that when that is at it’s best, I am at my best. That will also help me to be the best wife and mother.

I’m not normally one for resolutions. I don’t like the sentiment of feeling like a failure if I don’t fulfill them. That’s why, instead of making outward resolutions, I’ve made promises to myself and to my family.

My job is never done and the most important job that I have is to be sure my babies know God and have every piece of knowledge about him at their fingertips. So this new year, I am going to work on that, too.

Right before Christmas, there was a moment where I started thinking about how different this year is from last. My babies could feel the spirit of Christmas all around them. They could also touch it. By it, I mean the ornaments on the tree. I can’t tell you how many times I redecorated it. That aside, they loved on their Little People manger scene and carried baby Jesus around with them everywhere.

Then I started thinking that in four very short months, they were going to turn two. Emotionally, I can’t handle that. I know that every stage is different and I will find something to love about it, I just hate to think that this year is already over. That is also another reason I took to being offline and being present in my family.

It already happens fast enough. I didn’t need to spend the end of the year, on my computer. It made everything even more special to us. Every moment meant something. I have watched them go through different stages and last week, right after Christmas the boys had to have a routine procedure done.

I experienced them going under anesthesia. I watched as the showed strength in that hospital. They showed courage when they were taken away from us individually. They showed even more strength coming out of the anesthesia. Coming home that same day and being back on their feet the next morning.

I watched their sister, who would have absolutely no idea what was really going on, know instantly that she needed to be gentle with them. I watched her show compassion for something that she truly didn’t understand. I watched them show love for one another as they all went through that together. Brooke was just in a more removed way.

As scary as that all was for me, watching my tiny little babes show these attributes that most adults can’t muster up, I was proud. I was proud that I was a part of making them that way. The love they have for each other. The strength and courage they have to be who they are and do what they need to do. The compassion and empathy that they have no idea they are showing. It all just amazed me.

So here I sit, New Years Eve, no alcohol, the babes are in bed. Bryan’s watching a movie. All is calm. All is right. (Yes, I know that’s a Christmas song.) But nothing is more fitting. It’s peaceful. Peaceful knowing that the future is going to come and I will get to watch them grow even more.

So even with everyone as sick as they are, we’re moving forward and we’re doing it together. Here’s to 2018 and the memories we’ve made and here’s to 2019 and the memories to come. Bumps, bruises, and all. (Including the snot). Happy New Year Everyone!