2013 in Review

2013 all in all was a really great year. I found a "job" I enjoy. The pay is lousy but my tiny co-worker is pretty awesome. I hadn't realized how much I missed having a reason to get dressed and leave the house (aside from running errands). We have welcomed two beautiful baby girls into our extended family. We've started a tradition with my best friends family that as long as we're in the same state for Thanksgiving we're going to pick a restaurant and have dinner together. And then we'll try to alternate hosting Christmas so long as we're not traveling. We went with his family on a reunion cruise to the Bahamas! We both worked out and dropped weight. I'm thrilled to say I am 25 lbs lighter than I was the day we got married. I've cooked more meals at home than ever before and tried out new foods and recipes, thanks in large part to Pinterest. We've began the process of buying a short sale home. We've been stretched both physically and personally. For all the good and wonderful things that have happened this year, the end of the year saw some of our closest friends going through very trying and tiring things. As I've mentioned before, our friends now 5 month old daughter Cambria was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma at her 4 month check-up. It was amazing her pediatrician even felt the tiny tumor in her tummy. You know it's only God when your oncologist and surgeon tell you how shocked they are considering they could barely even tell it was there when they were looking for it. You can read about their journey HERE. The day after celebrating Christmas with my best friends' family, she found out her mother has Stage 2 Breast Cancer. A possible double mastectomy (plus reconstruction) or lymph node surgery, followed by radiation and then 5 year estrogen therapy will be happening soon. So much to take in and while one would like time to examine and research the best course of action, this isn't something where you have all the time in the world. Please keep those families in your prayers. Even with the best possible outcomes this is such a stressful time for them. 

You wanna know something? These families are so amazing. They are looking at these diagnoses as a journey to become a part of their story. A chance for God to do something amazing in their lives. And they are right. This is in fact an opportunity to watch God work. Only God knows how these journey's will end. But what He is looking at, is how we go through our journey. 

SO Goodbye 2013 - Hello 2014! New Year, New Possibilities ahead!