2012 Bucket List

Happy Happy New Year!

2012 was a great year, a fast year and a very full year.

When you have many children of many different ages and stages, there is really never a dull moment.  So, here is a quick recap with some interesting large family tidbits thrown in : )

Matthew, my son with Down Syndrome, took off walking independently after he turned 3.  A wonderful milestone for him. 

Still homeschooling 5 different grades, plus 2 very active toddlers.

Graduated our oldest daughter from a Christian school and now have 3 in college, yes 3!  (it's really not so bad, God provides : )

Our large 12 passenger 7 year old van went away : ( It needed a good bit of work and with only 7 kids living at home all the time, we were able to go back to a 9 passenger Suburban.  Actually, we were all pretty happy, especially me and the teenage drivers.

My mom had a bad fall in March and took about 3 months to recover, but has emerged from all this so much better.  She is off a lot of meds that she didn't need to be on and is so much more herself and enjoying life again.

We took 3 lovely vacations this year.....to the NC mountains, the beach, camp in Pennsylvania and Ron and I were able to have a few weekend trips away (I would highly recommend this for a healthy marriage.)

I began tutoring a Classical Conversation's class in the fall at our local co-op.  I teach my daughter and 7 other 1st graders and absolutely love it!  If you homeschool and have not heard about Classical Conversations, check it out!

We still go through at least a gallon of milk a day and about 3 dozen eggs a week.  When everyone is home from college, I'm sure we go through more.  My grocery budget has gone up to about $450 a week due to buying more organic and healthier foods, plus groceries have just gone up in price in general!

We've had a surge in hunting and trapping, thanks to my teenage sons. We also have had quite a menagerie over this past year.......quail, geese, rabbits, raccoons, possums, a fox, ducklings, hamsters and the usual cat and dog.

I weaned my baby mid-summer and this is the longest I've gone without being pregnant or nursing since we were married 23 years ago.  I'm almost down to my goal weight and getting in better shape.  Who knows, maybe really done having babies.

Well, that's about all that comes to mind. We're excited to see what God has in store for 2013......whatever that may be I'm so thankful for all his blessings and committing this year to cultivate more joy and thanksgiving into my life.