Monday, December 31, 2012

End of the Year Reflections

We always end our year by taking down the Christmas decorations, getting ready for a fresh new year.  Kimberly enjoyed the sparkly lights so much I let her explore them for a few minutes.

As I think back on this year, I find myself longing for 2007 again.  Odd, I know.  That was when I only worked a few days a week, my Dad was alive, we had a great home school routine that included a wonderful home school support group, we were active in our church and had just adopted Dante, who was an absolutely adorable baby. 

And now...it all seems so different. Life is not bad, and I am thankful for everything we do have, but I miss the year 2007.  (well, the first 10 months of it)  So much has changed in the years since then, and I am still trying to keep up.

Of course, in 2007 we did not have our spunky Sunny (2009),  or the incredible blessing of our little Leif (2010), or our absolutely adorable Kimberly (2011).

This past year-- 2012-- just seemed so busy, yet not with home school events or church involvement...just busy.  Somehow I have started working five nights a week instead of two or three...and the rising costs of life necessitate that.  I am still home with my children all day so I have no complaints, just a bit tired! The teens have no interest in youth group, I have found that my triplets do not fit in at group activities, and Church involvement is just not possible where we are at right now. My oldest has graduated, gone to Basic Training to become and Army Reservist, and will be leaving for college in 2 weeks.  Again, I can't complain about his success (and ours as parents!), but I miss the boy of 2007 that is now a young man.   It was also in 2012 -- just in October -- that we realized we needed to hire an advocate to help us get the most appropriate education for Dante.  This is going to be a long road, but our Dante is worth everything we can do for him.

I do look forward to the new year, and the the comings and goings it will bring for us. 
God is good, all the time.