2012 at a Glance!

Overall 2012 was a pretty good year.  We have had a LOT of changes!  A HUGE move overseas, new house, new car, several sad losses, etc., etc., etc.  Goodbye 2012!  May 2013 be a wonderful year for you and your family!  Here is 2012 at a glance.

 

January: We celebrated 8 years of marriage.  We moved from Germany at the end of the month.  Collin started his new job.

 

February: Stayed in furnished rental house while doing lots and lots of house hunting and waiting for our household goods to arrive from overseas.  Celebrated Collin's birthday.  I also joined two mommy groups, The Moms Club and MOPS in town!  Caden started gymnastics again.

 

March: We closed on our new house!  We also visited Collin's parents!

 

April: We went to college station for an Aggies for Christ reunion.  Marisa had her 3rd miscarriage.  =(  We also bought our new SUV.

 

May: We traveled to see Collin's parents.  We also decided to join a church closer to our new house.  This was a very tough decision as we love our friends across town.  Thankfully we have made some great friends at our new church too.

 

June: Marisa turned 30!  Caden turned 3!  Fun birthday parties and we enjoyed our neighborhood's new swimming pool.  I also took Caden to his first movie at a movie theater.  We saw Happy Feet 2!

 

July: We took Caden to his first IMAX film.  We saw Born to Be Wild!  Caden attended his first VBS.  Our church had a day camp and I helped by teaching the lesson.

 

August: We took a trip to see Collin's parents in west Texas and attended Collin's 20th. high school reunion. Marisa went to a MOPS (mother's preschool) convention in Grapevine and saw some friends from Germany and got to know some ladies that live in town better.  Caden went to his first day of preschool at the Ark School.  He has loved preschool this year!

 

September: Collin and I worked together to photograph our first wedding in Austin.  That was the first time we ever spent the night away from Caden.  We took a family vacation to California for Marisa's brother's wedding.  We got to go to Disneyland and enjoyed the beach while we were there as well.  Marisa celebrated being baptized for 20 years!  We also went to our friend's October Fest party which was super fun!  We also started teaching Caden's Sunday school class at church for the quarter.  We had a blast!

 

October: We went to a local apple orchard, Caden had a petting zoo visit his preschool, and we went to a Halloween party a friend's house.  This was the first year we took Caden trick-or-treating.

 

November: Collin went on the Z Experience and had a great time.  We also went to see Collin's parents for Thanksgiving and to help them move.  Caden said the prayer at his school's Thanksgiving feast.  We also visited a cheese farm and chocolate factory.

 

December: Marisa had her 4th. miscarriage at 10 weeks.  :( Caden got to celebrate his first Christmas in Texas with Marisa's family. We had a wonderful Christmas and have so much to be thankful for!  We also bought our first leather couches and a King Tempur-Pedic bed.  I feel truly spoiled!  Hopefully 2013 will bring us lots of nights of good sleep.

 

This year we have made many new friends and have been able to see lots of old friends.  God has blessed us richly with family and friends.  Life is not always easy but it is worth living.  No matter what 2012 has brought to you and your family, whether it has been a great year for you or a challenging one, never give up, always have hope, and always trust God.  Lean on friends and family when you're down.  It's amazing how much impact a good conversation with a friend can be.  Thanks for keeping up with us.  Here's to the new year!