Charles Year in Review/Preview

As 2018 winds down in just a couple short hours, I was inspired by others' recaps to reminisce about how God has blessed us this year and look ahead to 2019. 

Jon and I haven't had any milestones to speak of. At midnight, we'll celebrate 7 years since he proposed. The banality and beauty of making a living, raising kids, and doing life together have not been lost on us. We feel the hard work of it all, and we recognize God's grace and favor in our sweet family. One of the highlights for me this year, was hosting 2 online marriage small groups through Christian Veterinary Mission, for other couples striving to love each other like Christ loves each of us. In 2019, I'm looking forward to making fools of ourselves together in a church volleyball league. We rarely make time to do things for our marriage, or our fitness, so it will be fun to sweat and laugh side by side.

Angie's halfway through her third year at Portland Christian School, which means she's 1.5 years from graduating high school! As a sophomore, she received the Triple Threat award for playing a sport all three seasons. This year, she tried something new and traded in soccer for volleyball, and she took the winter season off, a welcome reprieve for us from dragging the boys to indoor sporting events (holding still in bleachers is not their jam.) She's decided to focus more on tennis with the hope of maybe playing in college. Through her high school she visited a few local universities and really became enamored with one. So, we're talking a lot about the future, although it terrifies her, and trying to narrow down what options are wisest, and what direction God might have set out for her.

In the meantime, she also joined the school choir, which has been a treat for all of us. I really had no idea she could sing. I had actually noticed a lovely voice near me during church worship on more than one occasion, but always thought it was a stranger nearby. I'm so glad someone else was less dense than me and recognized Angie's talent.

In the biggest recent news, for Angie, and really the whole family, Angie worked hard to complete her written test, drive for 60+ hours, and last week pass her driving test to receive her restricted driver's license! It has already meant more freedom for her, and for all of us! 

Isaiah is just a few weeks shy of 4 years old. 2 and 3 have been hard years, as is to be expected. No one says the toddler years are smooth. But, as 4 began to approach, and Isaiah's OCD behaviors, meltdowns, and utter ridiculousness seemed to be increasing instead of decreasing, I was getting a bit concerned that 4 wouldn't be the gamechanger we were hoping for. But just a couple weeks ago, the crazy started to subside. The tantrums are more avoidable, the compulsiveness is less extreme, and the boys are even playing nice, hugging, and sharing sometimes! There is hope for 2019!

In other news, we began reading over the summer, and he's doing really well. He can't hold still for more than 3 seconds strung together, but if you can keep a basic book in front of his face as it moves, he can read it. 

Isaiah, literally a kid in a candy store!

Paul is as goofy and full of life as ever. Praise the Lord, he isn't nearly as full of allergies as he used to be though. We're trying to introduce him to all the wonderful foods that eggs and milk have to offer, but having been off dairy for so long we're struggling to convince him of the greatness of pizza, lasagna, and cheese. Hopefully he'll come to his senses in 2019!

Other than decreasing his allergen counts in 2018, Paulie's greatest accomplishment was learning to use the potty. He's not 100% yet, but he's had some accident-free days and even a couple dry diaper nights, so we're well on our way.

Just like everyone else, we have big plans for January. Tomorrow, I start a daily devotional group with other veterinary moms, called 365 One-Minute Christian Challenges. I'm also looking forward to joining a women's Bible Study Fellowship group in the coming weeks. The same week we start our volleyball league, I have two meetings to learn more about Classical Conversations, a homeschool model we hope to implement in the fall. Then, my normal work wildness ensues, with 25+ days of travel between mid-January and mid-March. So, all prayers appreciated for the homefront as I abandon it yet again.

Our crazy crew in 2018!

I don't have any huge goals for the new year, but I am resolving to assign blame less and give credit more. How much more lovely would the world, and our home be, if we rarely pointed a finger in accusation, but regularly lifted each other up for being kind? Cheers to a kinder more Christ-like 2019!