Recap 2010

Our year started off with a quiet yet beautifully timed 'bang' when Kyren was taken off of breathing aids for the first time in his short little life, and proved himself ready to come home-- without anything but his own little skin. . . and some vitamins. We will never forget the morning of January 5, 2010-- and we will cherish it always as a special date.
The remaining months of winter were spent mostly inside at home, or out playing in the snow-- getting used to life as a family of 4, and getting creative with how to spend so much time indoors with a toddler and a 'newborn'. but mostly we were just daily grateful that we were home. together. healthy and whole.
Gramma Bernie went home to be with Jesus three days after my 31st birthday, and snowstorms across the country made it tough for family to get here. We celebrated her life with those who could make it here, and began a new season of life without her.
At the end of March, Baby William made his early debut-- as much of a surprise as his cousin's was only 6 months prior. We prayed him through the spring with much hope and rejoiced when he too was able to come home around his due date, with minimal complications.
Warmer weather brought more freedom to our family in terms of getting out and enjoying a little more of the world. I took several blogging breaks throughout these months, to enjoy my kids, catch up on sleep, and just live without it all on record.
Christian turned 2 in style with a firetruck birthday cake and his own Harley.
We made it through back to back stomach bugs in late spring/early summer and got well just in time for a little trip to Chicago, just me and the boys, to visit SKWW in their new home. Our crazy interrupted itinerary and the germs we brought with us from both plane rides were all worth it for the fun time we had there.
July brought a few heat waves that made even sitting by the pool miserable, and we all thanked God for air-conditioning on a daily basis. Both boys really enjoyed the times we were in the water, and those times were plentiful throughout the summer.
August brought a visit from Maddy and our annual trek to the Lake, where we got MORE willa/wyatt time -- and made a ton of memories as our first time together as an extended family.
September took Christian out of his comfort zone and into the world of preschool (or DAY school, as he will quickly correct you), where he flourished almost immediately, and couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised by it!
We celebrated Kyren's Miraculous first birthday with a small bash at Allison Wonderland with a few of his closest fans. What an amazing year he had-- and what a sweet time of reflecting on the miraculous ways he overcame the odds.
October brought SKWW east for the first time, to meet the great grands, and pack in some pumpkin-picking/hay-riding memories.
November filled us with thankfulness for all we've been given and (and spared from) this year. We celebrated with the Janes family -- and got to meet Baby William for the first time. It was a precious time of picture-taking for the little boys who've been through so much and come so far!
December flew by the fastest of all, with our first mild cold of the season, and preparations for Christmas-- which was all we could have dreamed it would be-- healthy, happy and harmonious-- ending with some dancing and instrument playing by all round the tree at Gramsy/Poppy's.
And now the new year is upon us-- and we are thankful once again for the many MANY ways we experienced God's grace, mercy, blessing, and peace throughout what could have been such a very different and hard year.
We don't know what these next 12 months may hold, but we do know that in everything, God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. (romans 8:28)
We live, not for hope that this world will somehow grow more peaceful or this life easier or more comfortable, but for that which is to come, and that which is unchanging, unfading, and eternally secure. Our peace of mind is found not in our current circumstances, though we naturally desire easy ones again this year, but in Jesus Christ Himself, who IS our hope amidst life's shifting seasons.
May we all be reminded of that as the year unfolds-- and may we encourage one another all the more as we see the Day approaching...(Hebrews 10:24-25)
Happy New Year!