It's a Wrap

2013.

I remember telling myself in January that I needed to be more organized this year. Hmm.

Looking at my filing system (a laundry basket overflowing with papers from the past few years) and my kitchen cabinets (crammed with odd assortments of just about everything,) I can see that "getting organized" did not make it to the top of my priorities after all. And yet--our bills are paid, we always manage to find something to eat, and our sons have grown.

What did I do this year that matters for eternity? Clean out some cabinets? File some papers? Did I print my pictures or dust the hard to reach places in my house? Nope! Maybe some day I will get to those things. I really hope I can. But tonight I am choosing to look at 2013 as the year I supported my husband through lots of changes at work. It's the year I loved watching one son rise to the top at his middle school while bringing his 6th grade brother along with him. It's a year to celebrate Aaron's health, and his little-boy sweetness with snuggles at night and big squeezes for hugs. It's a year I stepped outside of my own little world and asked God what He would have me do for Him.

I have loved this year. Thank you, Lord, for an incredible 2013. It is filled with much love, rich friendships, highs, lows, tests, and trials. I think the song Never Once, by Matt Redman, describes what I'm trying to say.

"Never once did we ever walk alone. Never once did You leave us on our own. You are faithful, God You are faithful."

To wrap it up, I have more Christmas pictures to post. :) Surprise! Tee hee! I noticed I didn't post as often in my blog this year. It's not because of pinterest. I don't like pinterest. It must be because I'm so busy being a mom to 3 growing boys...and maybe I'm on facebook too much? ;) Happy New Year!

Making gingerbread cookies with Aaron

Braylen and Kaleb made almond bark pretzels.

Kaleb called them "barky pretzels."

Aaron was a toy soldier in his school program. :)

The 3rd grade Christmas gift is...

...a handprint rug! Now we have 3!

Waiting for Grammy & Grampy to arrive

A favorite gift this year for Aaron

Eagles vs. Bears :)

Another favorite gift--his own pottery wheel.

Christmas Eve

His last present to open...do you think he likes it?!

We played lots of board games this week--especially Clue. Although the game pictured here is Sorry.

Aaron's air swimmer that he wanted SO badly! It's huge!

My biggest blessings of all, my family.

Merry Christmas - He is With Us

Merry Christmas dear family and friends!

"He is With Us."

Emmanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Our God is with us. Through deep sadness and hurt. Through great joy and celebration. Through every day moments and big moments.

Through it all, Jesus is with us.

Merry Christmas with love from Derek & Sarah

Kaleb and Braylen received a hunting rifle from the 4 of us.

Ginger, a.k.a. Rudolph, rejected her carrot!

Derek and his starlight mints!

Grammy's Christmas morning cinnamon rolls

Braylen bought this gift for Derek and they both loved it.

One of my mom's creations this year. I asked for headbands!

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Okay, so I came up for the title of this post by typing the song currently playing on my Pandora. But it fits, since this time of the year IS pretty great!

This past weekend we welcomed Christmas into our home. We put up our tree and decorations. I made a double batch of sugar cookies. I even unpacked and set up my Christmas village. Last year I didn't set it up, since we traveled to Illinois for Christmas. When I opened this box the other day, look at the note I found inside. It says, "Packing this up on March 13th, 2012. When I get it out again, I pray Aaron will be seizure free and thriving. I believe in God!" :)

Believing God

Wow, am I glad I set my village up this year! What an awesome blessing! I had forgotten all about this note I wrote. Discoveries like this one really do make this the most wonderful time of the year. Aaron is indeed thriving. His last seizure that I saw was on May 13th, 2012...exactly 2 months after I wrote this note. Praise the Lord!!!

In other news, Braylen and Kaleb performed in their band concerts last week. It was strange to see Kaleb in concert and not have him sitting in the bleachers with us. Good thing Aaron had his cousin to sit with. :) Kaleb's 6th grade band is the biggest band the school has seen in recent years with 65 students in it. They sounded great, and our Kaleb was easy to spot in the trumpet section with his blond hair!

He's still easy to find, don't you think?!

Braylen is having a great year as top dog in middle school. The 8th graders in jazz band wore santa hats for this concert. Braylen played the trap set, tympani, and tom toms. It's fun having a percussionist and a brass player this year. :) Braylen's last song of this concert was called "Celtic Carol," and it was my favorite one of the night.

My handsome musicians!

Around the house we've been staying warm in this deep freeze that's hit the nation. Winter has come early this year, but that's fine by me. The other day I found a tick on our dog and it makes me wonder if it's been there awhile? The great thing about winter is all those creepy crawly insects go away for the season. :) And we're not mowing any lawns!

Painting his new bunk bed shelves Daddy built for him. They are working out great!

Finally, here are a few pictures from Christmas arriving in our home. We've been having fun hiding our elf in unusual places around the house. I REALLY like where we put our tree this year. Why did it take us 10 years in this house to find the perfect spot? Aaron took Derek and I to a family fun event at school where he built a gingerbread house. It was a messy, fun time for the 3 of us. :) Yep--we sure are having fun during this most wonderful time of the year!

Derek can't pick Braylen up for this job anymore!

Aaron's pretty proud of his house, complete with a sugar cube snowman out front!

F-f-f-freezing F-f-f-freddy!

;)

Birthday Boy Kaleb

Happy 12th Birthday to our Kaleb Matthew!!! How fun to celebrate his birthday on a Saturday this year! We had a slow morning and made time for important things--like opening presents and talking on FaceTime with family. Since we had the whole day together, we decided to go out for lunch to Kaleb's favorite breakfast restaurant. Yummmmm!

Kaleb and his pile of presents :)

With 60 degree weather on the last day of November, Derek and the boys spent lots of time outside today. They played basketball, catch, and kick the can. Braylen took family pictures for his aunt and uncle at a nearby park, so Kaleb and Aaron helped Derek put our Christmas lights on the house. I made homemade pizza dough and chocolate cake for Kaleb's family party--yummmmmmm!

When I asked Kaleb what he wanted to do on his birthday, one of the things he mentioned was watch a football game. We managed to get that done today too. :) Kaleb wore his Ohio State t-shirt, and they barely pulled off a win. But they DID win!

Kaleb is 12 years old, and I could not be more proud of the young man he is becoming. His first word was "happy," and that fits since he has always been a happy child. A few facts to help me remember what Kaleb is like at 12 years old:

• His favorite thing to do with Dad is go camping and ride 4-wheelers.
• His favorite thing to do with Mom is read together.
• His favorite thing to do with his brothers is play catch. I would also add play games on the iPods and Wii, wrestle, and be LOUD!
• He wants to be a chiropractor when he grows up.
• He's looking forward to visiting his Grammy and Grampy's house this next year of his life, and he also wants to visit his Uncle Eric and Aunt Amber and cousin Will!
• Kaleb is content in his own skin and content with what he has. "What you see is what you get," describes Kaleb well.
• 6th grade has been smooth sailing for Kaleb, and he's well-liked by his peers and teachers.
• He wants to invite one friend over to spend the night rather than a group of friends for a few hours.

We love you Kaleb!!! May God bless you richly as you live each day of your life. :)

Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Kaleb loves his chocolate cake!