Good Bye 2009....Welcome 2010!

Wow..........can anyone believe where 2009 has gone? For our family this year had a few 'big' events so I know it seemed to whiz by even quicker than normal. It never fails to amaze me how life did not seem to fly by this quickly before we had kids. Something about living your life through someone else's eyes and heart, makes things so different.


As I sit here on the eve of 2010, I feel the need to recap 2009 so that I can (for a short second) appreciate all of the goodness God brought us in 2009 and look forward (eternally) to all of the greatness that will come in the future years.


1. Probably our biggest momentous occasion of 2009 was Justin accepting a job transfer with his company closer to our hometowns - Victoria TX. We had always planned on moving before Kate got in Kindergarten in 2010 so this was something that we definitely were 'aiming' for, but the trigger seemed to get pulled much quicker than I expected but it was definitely God's plan and a plan that has worked out wonderfully. I still have to pinch myself to believe that we are 'here' and not 'there anymore'. With that job transfer came a whole slew of events: putting the house up for sale, selling the house in 4 days, looking for a place to live in Victoria, finding Kate and Wesley a school (see 2 below), getting my virtual work schedule approved, coordinating the moving, settling in to our new rent house and looking for something a little more permanent (see 3 below).



2. With God walking besides us once again, we had a few short weeks to find Kate and Wesley a school. And we didn't just want a school that they were be in for a few months then transition out of in a few months when school started. We wanted a 'home'...a 'family'. And that is what we've found. Faith Academy has been the most amazing experience for our family. Kate has learned so much about our walk with Christ and how important his presence in her heart is. Even Wesley (at his young age) is experiencing the same importance of Christ in his heart. We have been truly blessed. As a mom who grew up going to church for the purpose of 'going to church' and 'making my family happy', I feel very strongly about what I want Christ to mean in my kids' lives. I want them to not only be believers but I want them to be passionate missionaries. I want them to not only walk the walk but deliver kindness and love and respect to others because of their deep connection with Christ.



3. We purchased our future home site! We learned a lot from our first house purchase in 2002. We learned a lot of positive things and a lot of things to 'watch out for next time'. Knowing that we wanted our next home(2010) to be the final place we lived and the place we raised our children and the place our children came home to when they were in college and were married, we set out to purchase our 'perfect' place. Something big enough to grow with us but not too much to maintain. And we think we found the perfect place. 2.5 Acres in Post Oak Estates. Beautiful trees, super quiet, technically 'in the country' but literally right off of HWY 59 and only 5 mins from town. Perfect.



4. Wesley turned 2! Wesley turned 2 just a short month after we moved to Victoria. What a better reason to have a party?!?! And we did....fun fun fun with all our family! Wesley turning 2 was very different than when Kate turned 2. Most likely because Wesley is our last baby...so I watch things more closely because I know that I will never have that opportunity again. Also, Wesley has shown me what it is like being a second child with an older sibling (I was an only child...I never got to have anyone follow me around like Wesley does to Kate). But he also is picks up on things so much quicker than what Kate did because he has her to imitate. By the time he hit two he was sprinting, saying his ABC's, talking in conversations with us and (of course) saying the cutest cutest things. Some of his favorite phrases are 'Mommy, are you serious?'. 'Don't laugh at me..that's not nice'. He can sing entire songs like 'Jesus loves me', 'Grand Old Flag', 'It's All about the Baby' and on and on....he is so animated. Maybe future class clown?

5. Kate started school!



6. Kate turned the big 5! She celebrated in style at her favorite party place. A bounce place. This time for the first time in years, she was surrounded by friends AND family. Because we live so close, all of her favorite people were there. Of course we missed our friends far away (nadia, maya, kyle, avery, ryan and riley and logan).



7. Celebrated all our Holidays much closer to family and friends. We still made a few trips (Christmas Day to Grandma's in Schulenburg and day after Christmas to Beeville) but the trips were so much shorter. An hour in each direction. Which meant we got to party like champs but then return home to sleep in our OWN BEDS! woo hoo! And Santa listened to everyone..we must have all been very good. I got my vacuum cleaner and waffle maker. Justin got his Wii and pots and pans (and some clothes he so desparately needed). Kate got a lot of animals-most of them make some noise of some sort! Wesley got a lot of tools and cars and balls.



8. Signed a contract to get our new house built. And how amazing that our dream house is going to be built by Justin's best friend and best man in our wedding? God has amazing ways of working things out. After getting a few very 'lavish' (insert my true thoughts - COMPLETELY OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE bids) from local builders, Justin and I thought our dreams of building on our land were going to have to be delayed for several years. We even started looking at keeping our land for an investment and just building a house in town. Then Justin decided to call Daryn who (ironically) just started his own construction business. He had worked for a larger company for years and wanted more flexibility and just recently left the company to start one of his own. We didn't approach him originally b/c he lives in Houston and we weren't sure if he'd be up for the challenge but he was. So we have been working through all the paperwork (red tap that the new mortgage industry has shaped up to be) and we should start breaking ground in mid January....thank God!



9. Justin and I celebrated 9 years of marriage yesterday (12/30). We were a beautiful couple when we first met in 1995. We were even more precious when we married in 2000. And now that we just passed our 9 year mark....whew...we are quite the display of love and happiness. Is it always blissful...heck no! Is it always nostaligic? NO But is there a day that goes by that I would want any other life? NO WAY! God has plans for us all. I went through a lot during my youth. I experienced loss in ways that I would never want anyone to have to imagine. But all of that seems to just be a very small part of my past. When I think of my past it really begins that special day in May 1995 when Justin and I met on a school trip. We talked all the way home. We had a special connection. We still share that connection today. It is what makes us special. To me, our connection and love will be the greatest gift we pass on to our children. I want it to be the love they build their lives around and the love they expect from their future partners. Only the best. Love you Justin!



10. Ok...so I couldn't quite find 10 big events. But that is ok. I am exhuasted just thinking back through these 9! Here's to a great 2010.

Love to you all!