Friday, December 25, 2009

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Well, what better day than today to not be able to sleep. Maybe the quiet time of the early morning will allow me to reflect on this past year and the many blessing Jesus has given to us.

It seems as though all we did in January, February, and March were doctor's appointments, doctor's appointments, and more doctor's appointments! We were consumed by my ever growing belly and the beautiful baby growing inside. Not to mention that we were busy with our oldest children and their activities as well.

This year was also a year for firsts! =)
We celebrated Garrett's birthday on April 9th. The day after his sleepover we started having contractions. At least Bella was considerate enough to wait until his friends had gone home. Then we went to the hospital and on Easter Sunday we had our first BIG first of the year. Arabella Grace weighing a small 5lbs 11ozs and being 18 inches long. We have been SO blessed by her!

I suppose the next first was Garrett graduating from fifth grade. That was an emotional day for me. My baby boy was now going to be in middle school and as I watched him walk across the stage to get his diploma I was holding my one month old baby in my arms. Yes, I was a but emotional.

Another big event that was a first and only was my surgery. How I had been waiting for four years to have this surgery. A total hysterectomy! WOO HOO! No more endometriosis pain and no more going to the doctor every three months for painful tests checking to see if the cancerous cells (cervical) had returned. After a five hour long procedure with my doctor and the GYN Oncologist it was all over. My doctor did say that I did have some bad spots on my cervix, however they hadn't turned into cancerous cells yet that they were pre-cancerous cells. PRAISE JESUS!

The summer turned into me hanging out around the house and trying to take it easy so I could rest and heal. Aaron also had the opportunity to play with his band. We had a lot of fun going to Cincy! I got to watch him play and then we went out on the town. It was also our first time we left Bella over night. It was difficult, but much needed and well worth it. I was also blessed with the wonderful opportunity of lia sophia to help supplement the 60% decrease we received in Aaron's pay. That hurt, but we knew that Jesus would provide for us.

Up next, back to school. =( Back to school meant several things. Back to work for me (and was that ever difficult...still is honestly), Bella going to the sitter for the first time, Garrett starting middle school, Skyla getting her braces off and starting seventh grade. Skyla also started playing volleyball this year. GO SKYLA! She is definitely active and we wish we could be at all of her games. We are cheering for you in Skyla. Besides, you know you play better when we aren't there. =)

So, life was busy for the next months. Bella had her first Halloween. That was a lot of fun. =) We were busy with family pictures on both sides, going to Painstville to visit the family, my sister moving back here, and lots of other things. Then we had our first Thanksgiving at our house with the almost the WHOLE family. Steve, Carol, and the kids couldn't make it because Steve was sick and so was Mike and Veronica. They were missed! Other than that we had both sides of my family and Aaron's family here. It was amazingly wonderful. We also surprised my mom and day with their Christmas gift...our big family picture. I never expected the response that we got, but it was AWESOME!

In December we were given our first teenager! Skyla turned thirteen on December 7th. Where has the time gone? Also, we took the whole family shopping for kids on the Angel Tree. It has been a rough year for us and we might not have been able to give as many presents as we wish we could, but there are kids that wouldn't have a Christmas if we didn't help. There are kids that still won't get any presents on Christmas. So we had the two oldest each get the name of a child their age so they could see how truly blessed they are. Then we went and served dinner at the Community Action Center to the people that we bought gifts for and their families. How AWESOME and rewarding it was to go as a family and sere others.

Now we are at Bella's first Christmas. Not only is it her first Christmas, but she just started full-on crawling (not army crawling) and her bottom two teeth have broken through the skin. WOW! What an amazing year we have had! All because a baby changes everything. I'm not speaking of Bella, although she has changed the dynamics of our family and we absolutely LOVE it! I am talking about baby Jesus. So on this Christmas Day let's not forget the most important present, gift, and first that we have. Let us remember that the first Christmas was when Jesus was born. Let us not forget that if weren't for Jesus we wouldn't have any of the gifts or blessings that we have in our lives. Jesus came into this world for us and I consider that the greatest gift of all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!!!!

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." -- Luke 2:11

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