Giving Thanks for a Wonderful Year
As 2009 came to a close, we spent some time as a family discussing the highlights. It really was a wonderful year! I feel so blessed for the many opportunities for family fun that we had in the past year.
In January Scott and I were able to go to a Steelers home AFC championship and watch them beat the Ravens and make it to the Super bowl. Shortly after we hosted a Super bowl party with our family and watched our beloved Steelers bring home a 6th Super bowl victory. What a way to start the year!
This past spring we took a family vacation to Texas. We had a wonderful time visiting family and spending time in God’s magnificent creation. 
Our son was able to play baseball this spring…a dream come true for him! We also got to go and see the Baltimore Orioles play twice at Camden Yards. 
Scott and I both turned 30 this year and we celebrated by treating ourselves to a weekend away in Washington DC. We both enjoyed the time away together.
We spent a good deal of time as a family this spring and summer swimming and fishing. Both were highlights for the kids.
During the summer we welcomed two new nephews into our extended family. My brother and his wife and Scott’s sister and her husband each had a baby boy this summer. We were able to visit with them both shortly after they were born and we are delighted to have them in our family! 
In the fall, we began homeschooling our son using a local tutorial. This was an answer to prayer, as a year ago, we were not certain what we’d be doing for kindergarten this fall. It has been a true blessing to our family and a 
delight for us all as we learn together.
Our oldest daughter finally got to participate in a sport of her own this fall…gymnastics…it is a perfect fit for her and I can’t begin to describe the joy I get in watching her out on the floor. My favorite is watching her on the bars!
My baby girl is hardly a baby as she is learning and growing and absorbing new things like a dry sponge…I have a hard time reminding myself she is only 2. She loves to sing and read books and keep up with her older siblings. We also learned this fall that she won’t be the baby for long! As we look to the new year the thing we are most anticipating is the arrival of baby number 4 this summer!
As the new year begins, I encourage you to take some time to look back and reflect on the past years blessings. Too often it is easy to focus on the urgency of today or the plans of tomorrow. But, there is much to be gained from looking back as well. For me as I look back this week, I am filled with immense gratitude.
