Saying good-bye to 2014

Awe, 2014 you have been a busy life-changing year, filled with ups and downs.

This year..
-Makayla played in Stuart Little at Amarillo Little Theater
- my mom and I took a mother daughter cruise
-we took our first major family vacation, a cruise!
-James and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary with a trip to OKC
-James' mom and John moved to Amarillo
-Makayla went to youth camp for the first time
-James Henry started kindergarten
-both my brothers visited us this year
-James received a much deserved promotion
-we purchased two brand new vehicles
-Christopher and James took a hunting trip to La
-James received his purple belt in Jiu Jitsu
-we took weekend trips to ABQ and Dallas
-the kids went to Shreveport for a week
-James Henry and Christopher made advancements in their Jiu Jitsu belts
-Makayla entered her 2nd year in Amarillo Youth Choir

That is a long list of blessings and it doesn't cover everything, but this year bought changes for us too. First, my dad had a major health set back and spent over a month in ICU and 2 months in the hospital recovering. James and I spent a lot of time back and forth between home and the hospital. We were blessed with meals and help from our church family. My mom and my brothers also came at different times to step in and help out. Though it was a very trying time God really showed us how blessed we were and he helped guide us through the storm.

The biggest change to our lives this year was when we became foster parents! We had two kiddos
 (a baby and preschooler who were siblings)  for a bit during the summer. They were able to be placed with a grandmother. We took a short break and a little over four months ago we bought a beautiful baby boy home from the hospital. Foster care has completely changed our lives. It has opened our eyes and hearts to a cause we knew so little about before. No matter what the future holds, we will always be involved in some way and be an advocate for foster care and adoption.
We have gained new friendships because of foster care. Our social workers who have become our family. Our church family has showered us (literally) with support. People are always praying for us.
Our little world we lived in before doesn't seem so little anymore. For years I have prayed and felt lost trying to find a place to serve God and I can finally say I have found it.

This year has been filled with struggles and joy, storms and rainbows. We praise God for everything he has given us and we look forward to serving him in 2015 and watching his plan for our lives unfold.