Our Year

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I need look back at my blog so I can actually remember what we did in 2015. It leaves me feeling so successful and optimistic that I should make it a daily habit. I can't believe we actually went camping 3 times. How did pack and unpack and clean that camper 3 times? I must be super-human. See...thoughts like those are what I need to have circulating through my mind repeatedly.

Here is what I feel like happened (in my negative/sinful nature self) in 2015:

- I got fatter and pregnant (yes, that is a pregnancy announcement). Yes, I know how it happened. No, we don’t need any new hobbies. We like that hobby ALOT! (Yes, people actually say these things to me).

- We were VERY busy and didn't spend enough time together as a family.

- I didn't have as much self-discipline, joy and faith as I long to have.

- My house was trashed, we lived in filth and I didn't get a cleaning lady in the budget (obviously).

- I was too tired and crabby and I wished I had more energy and was illuminated with a saintly glow.

That is the Devil and how he comes to steal, kill and destroy. That is not the truth. As I look back at this year in pictures I realized the year was filled with JOY. We had fun and some amazing memories. We spent great time together. We smiled and laughed ALOT. We learned and grew in our faith even if we aren't perfect. We challenged each other and ourselves to love God and others better. We had a lot of victories and yes...some struggles too.

Here is what actually happened in 2015 and I am amazed. Only in Christ could we have survived and accomplished all this:

 I helped the kids make these crazy things even though there was a million small beads and I had a million other things to do. 

 We built forts and made messes. 

I shared a birthday with my favorite twin... "sweetness" as she has been named by her siblings.

We actually made it out of the house with all five kiddos to bowl. 

I wrapped big kids up like babies and took pictures of them while they fake cried. I didn’t say no all the time.

We made it through FIRST GRADE and onto second grade and another one into Kindergarten.

Abba got to take a dance class and she was beautiful and sweet and so much fun to watch.

Kids loved each other and fought over who could hold and snuggle the baby.

We had birthday parties and the kids loved it and I didn't die from exhaustion.

We went drove to Chicago, went to Legoland, had a picnic, sweated more then publicly appropriate, found $200 on our son (whoops... had to have a conversation about the money on the counter and how it wasn't his!).

We went to the rodeo and got dirty with cousins and friends. Justin showed of his mad athletic skills. I mastered my tick removing skills.

It is hard to believe this happened...and easy to remember how hard we laughed. 7 couples, 15 kids and a completed... FIRST EVER "Most Amazing Couple" tournament. 

This guy...just made each day...each moment... A PARTY!

The boys were in a play directed their famous Aunt Maria and chosen for some very intense and moving roles.

The garden was fruitful and NOT as overtaken with weeds as I remember.

 We camped and visited with good friends. We roasted too many smores. We learned acorns explode when submerged in a fire. We played board games, colored, got clothes and bedding dirtier then I ever thought possible, and enjoyed being together.

We got to go on a boat whenever we wanted and enjoy a beautiful Michigan summer. I even tubed with my sister and lived to tell about it. I am not as old and feeble as I think.  .

This dirty little cutie turned 3 and got sweeter and more irreplaceable each moment.

There were many occasions Justin thought he might have a heart attack, but then took one for the team, rallied and came back from it. We all survived the walk out to the pier Honey!

Nana helped us make caramel apples.

The kids and I raked and blew our whole lawn in one week. They were  leaf-blowing machines. I am going to keep all those hard workers. It was like a mini lawn care business...with less pay and more treats.

The boys wanted to sleep together and it melted my heart. I made Justin come look and we stared lovingly at them. It wasn't weird...

We had ninja battles and tea parties with friends. 

Justin cut our tree down without a shirt on... oh yeah! We loved the warm weather, the sexy man and the cute helpers!

Christmas was a success! We snuggled and ate and slept in and loved on each other.

Mom Thought: Thank you Lord for your gentle reminders. We continue on in this race only by your grace. I AM a failure without you. With your grace and blessings there are many moments of joy. Help me to remember!