2016

It is a new year. Last year, or the end of 2014 rather, I spent a lot of time preparing for the new year; planning my resolutions spanning from fitness, to family, to faith. This year, however was somewhat the opposite. While in years past I've not had time to plan and state that the new year "snuck up on me" this year came without a lot of planning on my part but I was ready for it none the less. I have been writing "2016" on my checks since day 1, I haven't set high expectations but realistic ones: 1. 10 minutes of daily prayer a day 2. as a couple, Adam and I want this to be God's year. We're ready to totally give everything over to him. 3. Trying to be more present in my role as wife and mother and less focused on others' lives (AKA less Facebook) The nice thing about the resolutions is that they are either very measurable (1) or completely relative (2 & 3) which allows me to start each day with a clean slate. I'm very much looking forward to our year ahead. It will be our first full year living in our new home. It will be our first year having a dog. The girls are getting older and more manageable and I'm hoping to do more than "survive motherhood". We are in a relatively stable place financially and have built a foundation in church and with our friends. We are getting comfortable in our role as a family and have established our place in relation to extended family. We're blessed to have my dad retired and my mom well enough so that they can spend time weekly with our girls. That is truly one blessing I will always be grateful for I'm sure, that my parents have shared such an intimate part of the girls' childhood memories. Colette is our little pistol. She is testing the limits on everything but she amazes me every day. She may be VERY hard to understand but she is talking so much and is so intelligent. Today she kept asking for "more puzzles" because she was accomplishing them so quickly. Adam and I laugh embarrassed that we have to confess that we treat our children like little gods. It is so hard not to! God help us to form them rather than worship them. Maelyn's vocabulary on the other hand is limited to "da" and "eh" and "ah" which somehow mean like fifty different things. I'm just glad she is finally walking. She is so sweet, what with giving kisses and hugs all the time, and she is very good at snuggling, but she has gotten a disobedient side to her and has began smacking as well so we need to work on that. Hopefully by the end of 2016 Colette will be potty trained, we will understand what both of our girls are saying to us, and as a family we will have grown in love of each other and the Lord.