Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Christmas 2013 -- More Like New Years

This Christmas letter is probably going to be photo-light compared to normal. I used to be an avid photographer. Used to be. Then I got an iPhone and turned into a lazy photographer. So if you check out our Christmas letters just to see how fast we're aging, I'm sorry. This year may disappoint, though I'll try my best to find a photo or two to share.

Thinking back on the year I don't have a lot to tell. It was another quiet year, which we mostly like, because quiet means that there was no great upheaval as in years past like suddenly needing to move, or suddenly being out of work. So mostly this quiet is a good thing. But it leaves me with very little to tell you since I'm pretty sure you're not interested in the little day-to-day things like how many times I took the dog out to go to the bathroom versus how many times she actually went (this is usually something like a 3:1 ratio).

I actually started writing this letter on the 17th or something, and you know what has happened since? Three days before Christmas we found out that I am pregnant! I still don't really know what to say beyond that. I'm not sure how much it's really settled in after so many years of hoping, praying, waiting, and of course, taking every pill under the sun. ;) We tried herbs and dietary changes and this past June started working with a specialist. In the end, while we do have some thoughts on what may have helped, we know that ultimately it was a matter of God's timing. His will, His timing is perfect, and while I will never be able to say the past doesn't hurt, or that because of the past I don't have additional anxieties about right now, I know that everything that happens in our lives happens for a reason. For now we both deeply covet your prayers on this point, that we would both find peace in the midst of a very nerve-wracking time! I feel very hopeful that we'll actually get to hold this little one in our arms, but know too that whatever happens, it is all a part of God's plan for us and try to keep in mind that while His plan does hurt at times, it is always for our ultimate good and His glory!

So there you have it. The biggest, most exciting part of our year happened at the last minute, but not late.


So wow, after leading with something like that, where do I go from here? I mean, it doesn't get any better than that! But what else happened this year? We almost bought a house. But that fell through. Oh well! C'est la vie! When the time is right, it'll happen. I'm not really interested in looking this year though, now that we're expecting. 

This cute little guy is from my last
litter of dwarf rabbits. He's sweet
but nobody seems to want him!
This spring I got a bunch of rabbits and currently have 6, 1 1/2 week old baby Lionhead Rabbits sitting in a cage in my living room with their mama. They're so CUTE! I hope to be breeding the larger rabbits to sell for people to start their own meat rabbit colonies this coming year, and continue to sell the dwarfs for pets! I love all my little critters which, at this particular point in time includes the two dogs (which barely count; they're more like family!), 7 adult rabbits and 6 babies, and 9 laying hens and 1 bantam hen. I spent the summer outdoors with my animals and in my garden, and that really sums things up. I had friends over as often as possible, but as busy as everyone is these days, it wasn't all that often!

David has been busy with work this year, as usual. Things are really picking up for him, and for that I praise the Lord! I think his business about doubled in 2013! That was a huge blessing. He continues his distributorship with LifeVantage, though that has really slowed down for the most part. But being a part of that company is still a blessing to us both physically and financially! Otherwise he spent a lot of time this year helping me with various animal-related projects. There was always a new cage to build or something to repair, it seemed! He's always so patient with my many requests and we usually end up (mostly) having fun while we work on things together, though I recall a few nest boxes being thrown together for rabbits in weather that made the process quite un-enjoyable! He has also taken up working out with his dad 3 days a week, which is nice because they get to spend some time together and stay healthy at the same time.

I think I'll end now since there really isn't a lot more to say. 2013 turned out to be quite a good year, and we hope and pray that you all enjoyed whatever blessings God bestowed upon your family in 2013 however great or small, and look forward to what He has in store for all of us in the coming year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!