2016 - A Year In Review

This past year, I was somewhat diligent about not updating the blog. Two kids in school, even for part of the day, a few days a week, makes less time for dedicated fun. The time we do have, it's far easier and quicker to send a few photos to friends via text or a quick update on Facebook or Instagram to catalog our life.

I admit, I don't update Facebook for others. I use it for myself as a quick way to document our lives, to cherish the itty bitty moments that are precious to us, to cherish the every day adventures that are passing far too quickly. It's an online scrapbook to me.

This blog is a bit more personal than a photo and a few sentences. It is the details behind the single snapshot. The blog helps explain the reason behind our actions and has been a part of our family even before we were blessed with kids. Having said that...here goes our 2016 summary.

2016 was full of uncertainty for our family. We've been itching for change and feeling uncomfortable being too comfortable. There has to be more to life than living for a paycheck and paying the bills. Add in some anxiety, two small children, lots of demands and obligations, well it made decision making more difficult. But, we tried to make decisions anyway.

We've had it on our heart for MANY years to be involved in ministry have more purpose with our jobs/our family, but we had absolutely no idea how to do that, as neither T.J. or I are very extroverted. I had been involved in volunteering at church and school for quite sometime, actually every moment a child was in school, I was volunteering,  but it just didn't seem to be enough to occasionally serve others, we wanted to do it more often, make it more a part of our life each and every day.

It was on our heart to help start a church, from the ground up, even though it terrified us. So,  when someone we knew announced they were moving to start a church, we began prayerfully considering moving to join them. We met with them several times over the course of a few months, and in May, T.J. and I ventured South to scope out the city and pray about the future of our family. I am always up for adventure and change, and it's no secret I have always wanted to live away from my hometown. I went into this trip confident that we were moving and merely going as a formality to confirm it.

We prayed. A lot. We prayed to be in unison with our thinking, as this journey would be intended to bring us closer and not divide us. Landing at the airport, I was giddy with excitement. Fireworks went off in the distance as we landed, and it all just felt magical. Especially as the car rental company upgraded us to a convertible at no cost. It felt like God's hand was all over this trip. We prayed to slow our thinking and open our eyes. We prayed to see the situation, good and bad, known and unknown, to either be blown away or our emotions knocked down to blah. We prayed for a distinct role in this new organization that would match our skills, so we could be authentic and hit the ground running.

However, it became clear that my desire for our family was not God's plan, at least not there. At least not now.  I cried. I got mad at God. I grieved. It had all made sense...until it didn't. Back to square 1. We spent a lot of the summer kind of going through the motions, numb and unsure of what to do next.

Anxiety continued to rear it's ugly head and decided to stick around for the year.  But, we learned a lot along the way and are making great progress in healing.  We did make the much needed decision to take Elli out of her old school and start a new private school. I'm still very happy with this decision,  and have seen my baby girl regain the confidence and happiness that she had been missing in her old school. She's rocking good grades and we have seen such character growth in her.

Maya started her second year of preschool, and I am slowly adjusting to the idea that my girls are growing up. I suppose I had better get used to the idea given both will be in school all day next year. Luckily, Maya is still off school two days a week, which allows us to still get much needed quality/lazy time. 

Vacations are still a crucial part of our family time, so we made it a priority. You can read more about those here. 

The girls both took up fall soccer. Elliana showed such growth and athleticism on the field, and truly LOVED the sport. She scored her first goal and was so humble she barely acknowledged us cheering like crazy people from the sidelines. 

Maya loved the first game, and all of the practices, but actual games freaked her out. She gave great logic as to her reasons for not liking games : 

1. I don't like to play outside, only inside, because I was born inside. It's not my fault. 
2. Each week the other team changes their uniform color. It's weird. 
3. People just keep running to me. Why can't we walk? 
4. It's just not fun. Practice is fun. 

A few more highlights of 2016....

The tooth fairy came for the first time and visited 4 times in 2016

Maya began reading! 

 We jumped onto the American Girl doll bandwagon, one that I had tried to avoid, but now am so glad I embraced. These girls and their dolls, are just too stinking cute. Though, I was unaware of the additional time getting the dolls AND the children ready to go somewhere.

Overall, 2016 was a great year. We still don't know what the future holds for our family, but we are learning to embrace the unknown and find peace in knowing that God's plan for our family is so much more than we can hope for. 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

End of Summer

Again, summer has come and gone. The second half of summer flew by even faster than the first. And so, as promised, here are a few photo highlights.

Sparkler fun on Fourth of July

Monsters, Inc. artwork fun

Family Movie Night - Frozen under the Stars

Community Outreach - packing meals for South Africa

A little sewing project for a friend

Zoo Day with friends

gymnastics fun!

Coney Island

lunch date with cousins

Swimming fun 

Family hiking at Clifty Falls State Park

Potty Training Reward - Build a Bear! 

Summer Days

Today marks the first day of July and the official half way mark of summer vacation. It's hard to believe that already 1.5 months have flown by since Elliana's last day of school. It's even more hard to fathom the amount of fun and adventure we have cram packed into such a short amount of time. Listed below are just a few of our highlights thus far: 

 Sprinkler Fun

Oh, to have such joy over a sprinkler! LOVE their love for life!

 Creation Museum Petting Zoo and Botanical Gardens

GO Cincinnati Outreach Project - cleaning and organizing toys at a foster care 

      and planting flowers at the foster care home as well 

Hiking at Big Bone Lick State Park (on more than one occasion) 

 Findlay Market shopping with cousins and grandparents

Gymnastics!!! Both girls are enrolled and loving it! 

Weekend getaway to visit the Sutton Family in Chicago and get some much needed cousin playing time!

Strawberry picking and eating fresh from the plants!

Elliana's Dance Recital - 8 months of hard work!

 Day trip to visit College Roommates and play date with our kiddos

Baseball Game

 Splash Grounds and lunch with Daddy

Traveled to Maryland for a beautiful wedding, play time with cousins and a lovely new addition to the family! 

Enjoying the streets of Annapolis

Cutest Ring Bearer and Flower Girl EVER! 

My brother and new sister-in-law! So exciting and beautiful! 

Eager to welcome our newest family member! 

 Enjoyed a lovely tea party birthday! 

Rode a horse named "Dude"

Went hiking again....we really like to hike. 

 Annual Anderson Ferry Boat Ride to get ice cream with friends. LOVE this yearly tradition and watching our friends grow together!

Maya said good-bye to diapers!!!! Whoo-hoo!

It's hard to believe that 6 short months ago when we were snowed in day after day, I was worried about how I would fill the long unstructured summer days. Turns out, I seem to thrive on it. I am loving the ability to call up friends and plan pool days and not juggle around school schedules. I love that we can go to the pool and the movies and the park, all in one day. I love that we can sit and cuddle for hours on end with no where to go except wherever we want to go.

Our summer still has a lot of time left. Our summer bucket list still has a lot of items not yet done, and room to add new unplanned ones.

I feel like I should have a more poetic way to wrap up such an adventure packed entry, but one word just keeps repeating in my head. Gratitude. I am overwhelmed with gratitude at our many blessings. And so I must say Thank you. Thank you Lord for each and every experience we are blessed with, both good and bad for they are what make us "us". Thank you for this family, our friends and the ability for me to stay home with these precious kiddos each and every day. Thank you for a husband who keeps me grounded yet lifts me up each and every day. A man who still finds beauty in me when I skip a shower or hang out in yoga pants day after day (without ever actually attending any yoga classes). Thank you Lord for the adventures you still have planned for us, that we are not yet aware of. I pray that we have ears to hear you and courage to follow whatever you ask of us.