A Bitter Sweet Year

What a year it has been!!

It has been one long roller-coaster of a ride...& to be honest, 
I'm glad it's coming to an end & we can start a new year afresh!

I'm thankful each year offers new beginnings! 

I'll spare you the all the details of my 2014 because I could fill a book.

But in short, we found out I was pregnant in January & were as thrilled as could be!

There was a small scare but miraculously that vanished & I continued to have a healthy pregnancy.

Those 9 months seemed to go so terribly slow!!

It was a very uncomfortable, worrisome, stressful time.

Especially because we were without a home for a couple months.

In June we were literally "camping" in a vacant apt a dear friend let us rent for a month last minute.

We didn't plan to stay long so we packed only what we *needed.

Imagine being 5 months pregnant with no furniture, no tv, and sleeping on an air mattress. 

My husband was so patient and willing when it came to helping me get up from sitting on the floor.

I tried not to complain too much but I was miserable. 

And the stress and time-crunch of trying to find a new home with a toddler and a baby on the way was quite overwhelming. So many ups & downs with house hunting!

June came & went and took with it the apartment.

Meanwhile, I just continued to get bigger & even more uncomfortable.

But our prayers had been answered & we found a house perfect for our family.

The paperwork took longer than promised so once again we were searching for a place to stay while we waited to move into our new home.

My parents generously offered us to stay with them while we waited for the paperwork to go through.

That "short" wait ended taking three long weeks.

I prayed endlessly for this little man through it all. 

I didn't want all of the stress & instability with moving so many times have a negative effect on him.

Once again, prayers answered because he did AMAZING through it all. Better than I could have imagined and handled it all better than I did. 

He didn't seem to mind his toys were packed away in storage somewhere or that he only had 5 outfits to pick from.

He such a well-behaved happy boy through it all. And especially loved when we stayed at his Papa & Nonna's house! 

I think familiarity was refreshing for us all. 

At last, the paperwork went through and it was MOVING TIME!! 

We were ecstatic!! 

We got busy right away turning our house into a home. 

My nesting instincts kicked in and I got right to work on a room for our baby girl.

A huge weight was lifted from our shoulders and hours of prayers had been answered. 

We were home at last.

We unpacked Ashton's room & toys before he came home and when he saw them all it was like Christmas morning! He kept squealing, "My toys! My toys!" He was so excited to have all of his toys again!

Two months later....

My sweet little Alaya was welcomed home as well.

Such joy.

She has the best big brother. 

He loves on her CONSTANTLY.

It didn't take long for me to start dressing her up & snapping a bajillion pictures.

I can't get enough of that tiny round face!

She is the sweetest baby. So content & happy!

I'm very thankful to be able to stay home full-time with these two kiddos.

We are so very blessed.

The past year had it's rough spots but it was also filled with many blessings.

Sure there were times we were without a home but we always had a roof over our heads. 

God was with us through it all.

Our needs were always met & there were so many blessings even in the rough times.

I'm so thankful He was always by our side and gave us the most amazing family who provided us so much support and love this past year as well.

It is a bitter sweet goodbye to the year 2014.

Deuteronomy 31:8

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; 

he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."