A Look Back at 2009…

This has been a really good year for our family.  We have had many ups and downs, but mostly ups, and for that I am grateful!

This year we adjusted to having 4 children.  It was a very easy adjustment and almost seamless.  Ethan came along and just fit right in.  We had some scares in the beginning when he wasn’t gaining weight properly, but after that was resolved, things were really easy!  Having the other three children be old enough to help out has made things so much easier.  When I had the first three children it seemed like they were all little at once! After all, my oldest was 3 turning 4 when I had my third.  This time I really felt like I enjoyed my newborn, cuddled him more, and enjoyed every minute with him. I had my little helpers each day and it wasn’t overwhelming.  I am so blessed!

This year we also had John home with us for school instead of going to preschool outside the home.  That has been a great experience.  John is now four, almost five, and has always been my most challenging child.  He is full of energy, as well as being strong willed.  We are working on channelling that will for good and are confident he will use that spirit one day to do great things.  Having him home has meant “a little” less running around each day, and more time to focus on school as a family.  Just before Christmas I also decided to “promote” John to kindergarten.  We figure that it would only benefit him to get a full year and half out of kindergarten.  He is very bright and was ready to move on little bit with schooling.  The majority of his “work” is still fun, playing and exploring, but I did  start him on the Explode the Code Primer books...the other kids did these in kindergarten.  He was very excited about them and is doing great!  His handwriting skills are excellent, and when he is focused on work, he works hard!  I look forward to seeing him blossom over the next year!

Another highlight of 2009 also was our huge yard sale for World Vision!  We are so humbled to have been a part of that amazing day.  God worked mightily that day, and having the children see that God blessed our endeavors was a great lesson!

This past year Luke also became immensely interested in Legos.  He went to robotics camp over the summer, and has been asking for new Lego sets ever since.  He received several for Christmas and has already finished some.  He also received a power functions set to apply some of his robotics.  We have formed a Lego team for the Junior First Lego League with another homeschooling family and he is very excited about it!  It is so good to see Luke using that brilliant mind God gave him!

A big moment for Grace this year was her solo at church.  She sings in the church choir, and one week was asked to sing a song during service by herself.  At first I though she would be just singing the intro and the band would be joining her in the rest, but that morning we realized she would do the whole thing herself.  The way she sang, with poise and grace was true worship.  She was never nervous, and never prideful.  Just excited to sing for the Lord, with true childlike faith!

Our biggest highlight this year was our family’s trip to Plymouth.  God was so good to us on that trip.  From start to finish it was amazing!  Definitely our favorite memory this year!

I pray that whatever 2010 holds for us, we always keep God first, and remain confident in His plans for our lives.