Wrapping up a Year!

Well, this year is one that has it's moments I would just rather do with out. Though with out some of those times we as a family would not be who God is shaping and molding us to be. And I have many wonderful moments to remember of so many great times with my Family.

1. We had two great family vacations this year.
~The first trip being the big Marner Family traveling to Indiana for the Swartzendruber Family Reunion. I love getting together with this side of the family, Ruth's Sisters and Brothers are a hoot to be around, and their Families are just a blessing to visit with. Jon's extended family, both sides are incredible you can't help to want to be surrounded by them!
~Our family trip to Kansas City. As mentioned before, this is one of my favorite cities to travel to. We had so much fun at the Zoo there, and had a lot of fun. Though we did learn that we should just stick to our usually places for food when traveling with kids!

2. THIRD DAY, SWITCHFOOT, JARS OF CLAY concert at the Starlight Theater in Kansas City. A weekend to just Jon and I. My parents had the kids, how awesome was that! Though we chose to come back early from our trip for Bailee and Paige's birthday party! Are we not just the best Aunt & Uncle to do that. I sometimes wish I was a bit more selfish and stayed down in KC, but family time is very important to us, and I am thankful for that. Back to the Concert though ... Best One Ever! I mean it, they all rocked ... and it was so awesome to Praise God and sing my favorite songs at the top of my lungs without anyone around me able to hear my voice! Oh, wait that is like every day when I am driving with no kids, or sometimes even with the kids! :)

3. Forgiving Jon! This is very recent, and I won't go into details, that is for Jon. Wow, I never new what it felt like to physically forgive someone. When your burden is so heavy that you feel as though there is no way to let go of it. Few of you may be able to relate, or maybe you are still there with your baggage, maybe you are adding to yours as I did mine. STOP! I mean it, let reality hit ... it will hurt but the other side is such a blessing. Granted it took almost a year of God working my heart, hitting rock bottom with bitterness in October to right before Thanksgiving ... but what a transformation within me and Jon! Our marriage has been so much deeper and better and wonderful the past two weeks that I just cannot explain. But everything has it's timing, and even though it took me a long time, I am so thankful for what I had to go through to get to here. I sometimes look back and wish I had someone to help me though it all, so if you are there where I was ... I will be happy to pray for you, with you and be there too! Remember, things aren't perfect, but we are working towards something like it. I know there will be hiccups, and I know there will be blessings too!

4. Emily's 5th Birthday ... I drove my self crazy with this one. The kids get a "big" party for their 5th, and Emily really had a big one. She invited all her pre-school class mates and a few extra friends. Our basement was full, and I learned a few things. Three hours can last longer than you know, I appreciated her preschool teacher more for the three hours she had these kids four days a week! You can buy Jack's frozen Pizza for the kids next time! We got Pizza Hut Pizza's, like 4 pepperoni and 2 cheese, spent about $75.00 on them and threw a lot of half eaten pizza away! Plus I will remember kids other than mine like cheese pizza. That was the first thing gone, and I was like WHAT is going on. By the end of the party ... I did think I wish the kids had more time to just be kids and play.

5. Camden's 7th Birthday ... If you ask him, he did not get a birthday party. I was a big talker that he could have one or three friends (even number thing) over for an afternoon and we could go to the pool and to McDonald's or something like that. Yeah, summer got away from me and it did not happen. Bad MOM! He did get to celebrate with us and our families, we did not forget it.

6. 10th Anniversary. Should have been more momentous, but it wasn't! Though I am thankful today for all 10 years, so it is on my list!

7. Jon's 36th Birthday ... I have a tough time with Jon's birthday it is in August and that just brings about memories of his cancer. I should be over it as he is Cancer free now, but I think this year just kind of went by. We celebrated early with his family, which was abnormal ... we are always late with those celebrations. Sorry, we passed it by!

8. I TURNED 30! And I did not hide like I usually do on birthdays ... I was happy to turn 30. Granted these days with my "illness" (if you can call it that) I would like to go back to 29 to know what normal felt like again! I would have liked a big party, it would have been fun ... but we cannot always get what we want.

9. Eva turned 3, if you ask her she is still two though. She had a great birthday! and it seemed to last forever in a way. Like yesterday, she finally opened her present from Uncle Scott, Aunt Brandi & Mason. Pink Lego's ... she is loving them too. It was just one of those times it was hard to get everyone together to celebrate. But she did have her own birthday party at McDonald's play land with three of her day care buddies. I got "best Mom ever" ranking that day for that trip from Eva.


10. Christmas 2008! Even though I was sad not having my own parents to be with us on Christmas, I did end up enjoying this year. We had a quite day with Ray & Ruth and family. It was so relaxing to just enjoy each other. I can only hope that we can continue to have more relaxing time with family on Christmas each year. We also enjoyed spending the day after Christmas with my side of the family (really its family friends, but they are like family). It was so much fun to see Leon interact and "play" with my kids ... not sure if I always missed those moments or if this was a first. It was just a perfect time, we could all enjoy each other and did not feel pushed at all. We could all enjoy each other, granted the kids had their moments, but best time ever I think they had at this gathering! This Friday we get to have Christmas with my parents, and I have two words PRIME RIB! YUM ... and I get to spend time with them too.

11. Another great thing to happen this year was a new coffee shop opened up in town called Great Awakenings! ... yes I did say in town, as in Kalona. She makes the best Carmel Macciotto ... good bye Starbucks. I crave coffee in Kalona now. So it has been nice to indulge every now and then!

12. Going to Aunt Cheryl's has become another blessing this past year. The girls go to Aunt Cheryl's while I work ... and this has been so great. She is right in town, and what better way to get to know your Aunt for the girls, and my Sister-In-Law for me. Plus they spend time with Uncle Jeff, and Amber & Brittney! So that is great ... the girls love it there. Days that I have the kids home, makes me very thankful to have Cheryl around ... I can get so much more done when I have just me in my office!

Well, I think I will end there. I am recalling many other great things to happen this year, but I must get other things done. Take care ... I will try to ad some photos later.