2008

I don't even think I realized it until I started to think about this post, but 2008 was a hard year for us. There were some really great things that happened, but the lows were lower than "normal" lows. There were times where we wondered what God was doing, what He was trying to teach us, and to this day, some of those questions are still unanswered. But, we keep trusting and keep on keepin' on. So, as I turn the pages of my calendar, here are the highlights of the year. Ok, you may be bored, but this is my record keeping.

January

• I determined to read the Bible through in one year. And, I have one day left!! This is something that I'd never done, and was very excited!!
• Savannah got RSV. This involved an ambulance ride to the hospital, but thankfully, didn't require a hospital stay

February

• Our friends, the Bodes, left Texas for Washington. This was a low point for especially Emily and me.
• Emily and Savannah went back to Urgent Care with Pink Eye and Ear Infections.
• My parent's dog, Shatzie, had to be put down. We got her when we first moved to NC. She was 14 years old.
• I got bronchitis that lingered into March and turned into pneumonia.

March

• Emily got bronchitis and Savannah got another ear infection.
• Yay for an "up-point"--My BFF Melanie and her two girls came to visit....oh wait, they all got stomach flu while they were here...oh well, I tried.

April

• Started on a good note!! My mom and dad came to visit for 2 weeks!!
• Brian and I got to go to the NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway.
• Oh look, Savannah got another ear infection.
• This is the month we started looking for another schooling option for Emily. This was a hard decision for us. We decided to homeschool, and haven't looked back!

May

• Took Emily to an allergy specialist and it was determined that she is allergic to everything. Seriously, I'm not kidding. Every tree, grass, flower...yadda yadda
• I'm sick of typing it, but Vannah got another ear infection.
• The Homeschool Book Fair was a HUGE highlight of the year!!! Not only was it SO much fun, but it gave me the feeling that I really could do this homeschooling thing.
• Savannah got really sick and ended up in the hospital with Rotovirus. She was in for 2 days.

June

• I have to add a "whole" summer thing. We spent SO much time at the pool and it was SO much fun. Emily and Savannah loved it, and I got so tan. :)
• Oh look! On June 19th, I have written "Savannah's skin clear"! Hm. Wonder what caused that?
• We got the news in late June that Brian didn't pass his Tech Sgt test. I have to admit, I responded NOT well. This was one of those times that I didn't know what the Lord was trying to do. I still don't, but He's given us peace about it.

July

• Started very nice as my dad came on July 2 to pick up Emily to spend a few extra weeks at their house.
• We had the best 4th of July ever!!! It was so fun and relaxing! We had yummy food and watched the fireworks from our back yard!
• WOW!! July was a GOOD month!!!! We left on the 29th to go see my parents!

August

• We spent the first two weeks in NC with my parents! We went to the beach and had so much fun with them (as usual)
• My mom went to the dr for a routine check that ended in months of hospitalization. Mom had Triple by-pass on August 21st.
• Wow, no one was sick three months in a row!

September

• My baby girl turned 2 this month. I have no idea where the time goes.
• My mom came home from the hospital on Sept 11th.
• Brian didn't pass his PT test and thus started months of salads and 2 hour work outs.
• My mom went back into the hospital on the 22nd.
• AUGH! I almost made it...Vannah got another ear infection at the end of September.

October

• Sarah and I drove home....3,200 miles....with 4 kids....it was a BLAST! Really, it was!

November

• Girls got ear infections and pneumonia.
• Our friend, Chris Bode, came to see us....ok, not really, but he saw us while he was in town on business.
• I started having heart palpitations....still don't know what's wrong.

December

• Girls got the stomach bug...thankfully, just 24 hours.
• Brian passed his PT test!! He lost 35 pounds and 6 1/2 inches off his waist!!

Ok, so that was LONG, but I promise you I tried to add all the good things and bad things. It was a ROUGH year!!! I learned in this year that I need Christ. I started the year with, "Sigh, I need to read my Bible so I don't get behind in my schedule." and ended with, "I NEED to read my Bible NOW!" My quiet time became my place of rest, reproof, and encouragement. My mom's illness brought me to my knees over and over again. Our illnesses (13 in all) brought me to my knees several times. Not only did I wonder what the Lord was trying to teach us, but we suffered through the "Are ya'll sick again?" and the fear that people were going to think we were staying out of church "just because". God taught us that that is a pride issue and we have to take care of our family FIRST and then everything else.

I am glad this year is over and am looking forward to 2009. It's not going to start out very fun, with Brian leaving at the beginning, but I have big hopes that God is going to do wondrous things!!!