Happy 2012

2011 is gone, and 2012 has arrived. I don't have anything against any particular year and I feel the same about 2011. There were many highs and lows over the year and many things that changed us. Here are some of 2011's monumental happenings:

January 2011: Gabe and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary.
February 2011: We learned that David had Stage 4 cancer an began praying and preparing ourselves to accept whatever the Lord had in store for us.
March 2011: Spent Spring Break in Bristol. Tate got his hair trimmed for the first time. Connor started baseball.
April 2011: Connor's baseball season was in full swing and he was loving it. Gabe turned 35 and was received  in full communion of the Catholic Church. I was confirmed at the same mass.
May 2011: Kindergarten came to a close for Connor. It was sad to say goodbye to his wonderful teacher, and yet we knew the year ahead would be just as wonderful.
June 2011: Tate turned 2! I can't quite express how much I love that little stinker. He steals my heart. I can't remember what our family ever did without him.
July 2011: Gabe was home to do some fireworks for the kids. We made homemade ice cream on the 4th and celebrated living in this great nation.
August 2011: Connor started first grade. He's such an intelligent boy! He loves to read, study things and learn. I hope he continues to feel this way about school and learning.
September 2011: Gabe and I ran the Warrior Dash together. It was fun and challenging and I was proud of us for doing it! Can't wait to do it again in 2012.
October 2011: Connor turned 7. It's hard to believe our honeymoon surprise has already turned 7. He is such a tenderhearted, caring boy. He's full of energy and enthusiasm and I wish I could just bottle it all up and save it. Oh how we love our first born!
November 2011: A very emotional month for us. On November 15th David lost his battle with cancer. His funeral was on November 18th, which was the 6th anniversary of Barbara's death. Talk to your parents. Tell them how much you love them. My heart is so heavy knowing that Gabe won't ever hug his biological parents again or hear their voices. Try to treasure those moments because they don't last forever.
December 2011: Advent brought such healing to us. As we were working through our grief we were preparing our hearts for Jesus. We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas program by Connor's entire school. We were blessed with a joyous Christmas and Santa spoiled the kids!

It's easy to dwell on the negatives that happen over the course of a year. The things that break. The repairs that cost money. The stresses. The heartaches. But in the midst of all of it their is joy, laughter and love. Praying you are able to always see the joy, laughter and love in your life in the midst of the trials.