~A New Year~

I can't believe 2011 is already over! I guess it's true, time goes faster the older you get! I must be getting really old cause that year FLEW by! 2011 wasn't filled with any major events, but a TON of little heart warming, testimony building, relationship strengthening moments. Ok wait, there was one MAJOR event... the birth of our sweet Sterling- which I do consider a miracle! The whole experience of the pregnancy & his birth strengthened our family- From thinking he wouldn't live for the first several months, to the relief in finding out he was ok, to his amazing arrival united Anthon & I in a way that I didn't know was possible... & it made us appreciate our children SOOOO much more (& our merciful Heavenly Father)!! I know that the birth of a new baby changes every family, but the addition of Sterling completely changed our family dynamic, absolutely for the better! Every time I look at him I realize there is something extra special about that little boy, and he was given as an extra special gift to our family. Basically, the one major event made us notice/appreciate all the other little things that happened throughout the year a lot more,  and shifted our priorities a great deal. Some of the more significant "little things" that stand out when I think back over 2011 are Anthon getting his insulin pump, Roman getting potty trained, & our family trip to Mexico- all of which were such wonderful blessings for our family! I'd like to keep our focus on the same priorities throughout 2012! They are simple: Family, salvation, & education... who can ask for anything more??

To ring in the new year, we had my brother Peter & his wife Kelly over to play games & hang out- it was a simple evening at home, but that's about all we require these days, & it was a BLAST! Then today, we all took our kids on a picnic, then went for a hike, and then got foot massages (the last 2 were in hopes of inducing Kelly's labor ;)... she's due in 2 weeks & is sufficiently miserable)! 

Here is everyone feeding the ducks at the park after our picnic



Here we are on the trail. Hiking has kind of become a New Year family tradition for us & we really enjoy doing it!
PS- Roman spilled water all over himself... that's why he's shirtless, not because we're totally white trash ;)

Even though I have a feeling that 2012 is going to be a challenging year- with school (if last semester was any indication of how school will be this year, it's going to be extremely challenging!), transitioning from working to both of us being full time students, mandatory changes in insurance coverage that now offer high deductibles and less coverage (thanks Chase), Sterling's hypospadius correction surgery (under the new insurance plan, mind you), & all the other normal bumps on the road of life- I know it will be extremely rewarding!! We're committed/ united to the Lord & each other, so...

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"

-Romans 8:31

May each of your 2012's be just as promising!