Ringing in the new year...saying goodby to the old year...

2013 was a year we will never forget. It was a year of major ups and downs. In January 2013, we started the new year praying God would lead us to an end to our business of 7 years. We knew it was time to move on, time to make a change and we started the year hopeful that God would lead us to the answer. And He did. It was/is a major change in our family. Financially, it is much different...in both good and bad ways. Our income in less...but so are the expenses. We were blessed in late 2012 for Hubs to start working with a great company that has continued to this day. They are wonderful and we feel amazingly blessed for Hubs to be working with them.

Month by month, things have changed. We've adjusted to our new 'norm'...which means we are doing things that have brought our family closer even though it took awhile to realize it. We've had to cut our budget and adjust financially. But that also means that we are eating home more and staying in more. We are being creative about our time out and being more aware of what we are spending. We sold 2 vehicles and are currently driving 2 vehicles that are completely paid for. We've paid down debts a little at a time. I am learning to shop more frugal and be more aware of things that I purchase.

All in all...while it has been hard at times...I am choosing to find the joy in it all. We are happy! We are healthy! Spending more time home has brought us closer to one another. Hubs new job, while not as flexible, brings more consistency into our family...something we needed although I don't think we realized it. Being able to spend Christmas and New Year's with Hubs home with us...not stressing about what he needed to do, was amazing this year. That is something we haven't had in many many years. Not going out all the time and not treating the kids to everything they want has allowed them to be more thankful than they once were. Trust me...they still get a lot, but not a toy each and every time we go to the store.

In August we updated our homestudy for another adoption. Given the fact that Hubs recently changed jobs, I know people thought we were crazy. And that is totally ok. But if those people could feel the pull we felt...the heart God have given us...the absolute push, to put our YES on the table again...well, they wouldn't think we were crazy at all. See, when God tells you to do something...you do it. You don't question it. This was one of those times!! We said yes to having an open door to adoption. We are currently on our Faith Journey of adoption.

We've watch Hulk continue to grow into the amazing young man he is. The last couple of years we watched as he has struggled academically in school. His frustrations were breaking his spirit and that broke this Mommy's heart. But this year...oh this year...has been AMAZING!! I have no idea what made it click. Maturity, teacher, curriculum...all of the above? Who knows?! What I have seen, is a confident young man who is bringing home lots of As and Bs. I have seen a young man whose compassionate heart has blown me away time and time again.

We have watch Bug as she has grown from a baby girl to a big girl. She keeps us laughing every day. I've watched her grow in gymnastics and heard her sweet voice talk time and time again about wanting to be a cheerleader or gymnasts when she grows up. I've heard her sweet prayers as she asked God to give her another brother or sister. I've listened as she's started asking the difficult adoption questions, and watched as her heart absorbs the reality of the story she has known her whole life.

I've talked with many families this year. I've talked about adoption, being a multi-racial family, different types of relationships in adoption. I've listened, and talked and cried with many of these families. I've watched as several of these same families started the adoption process and welcomed their new children home this year. Being a tiny itty bitty part of that has been amazing. I've watched as close friends have opened their hearts to adoption and welcomed their babies home...and I've loved snuggling with those amazing bundles of God's beauty. Hubs and I sat and talked with a mom a few months ago about adoption for her unborn baby. Our hearts broke for her, we felt immediately connected to her and I was blown away at her courage and strength. That few hours changed our lives. We left feeling like we had known each other forever. Our prayers continue daily for this sweet mom and for all moms considering adoption for their children.

So what am I looking forward to this year?
Oh so much!
I would love to learn to coupon more and do freezer meals and more crock pot, easy meals.
I would love to find a better schedule to keep my house cleaner (yea..I hear all of you laughing!! bahaha!).
I would love to find a better balance between family and the studio.
I would love to work closer with adoptions, whether in counseling or creating profiles again, or education...or maybe something else. This has been my prayer for years but I feel like this is the year!

I'm excited to see where this adoption journey will lead. We could be so very close to our next child and possibly so incredibly far away. Only God knows at this point where that journey will lead. He has asked us to be faithful and follow Him...and we are! In more ways than one!

In all honesty, I have no idea what this year will bring. We will continue to be faithful and trust Him. So from our family to yours...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!