Good-bye 2012

Recap of previous years posts (click title to go back):
2008 Surprises
2009 Happiness
2010 Peace
2011 Change
2012 Hope

2012 got off to a rough start for us. We excitedly found out we were expecting, but unfortunately, due to some complications, it wasn’t meant to be. It was a sad time & tough, but we at least had Jake’s 3rd birthday party to look forward to! Our closest friends from Chattanooga all came down to attend, plus mine & Robbie’s friends from college who all live here in Birmingham attended as well. Being new again to Birmingham, it meant so much to me to celebrate Jake’s birthday and have such wonderful friends surrounding us. In February, I took a girls weekend trip with my 2 best friends from college, Stephanie & Amanda. It was perfect & exactly what I needed after a tough January. In March, Stephanie welcomed her little girl Elizabeth to the world! In April, Robbie & I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. Jake took his first field trip (Baker’s Farm) and had his first dentist appointment. Also during the spring, Jake went to Chattanooga with Mimi & Granddad for spring break and Robbie had a guy’s weekend as well. In May, we celebrated my mom & dad’s 40th wedding anniversary. Our friends Andy & Margaret were moving back from Chattanooga to New Orleans, so for Memorial Day Weekend, we went to Chattanooga for the weekend, for one last weekend of fun in Chattanooga with our tight group of friends. There are only 2 couples left holding down the fort now in Chattanooga! These friends made our time in Chattanooga so special, so it’s very bittersweet. At least we have new fun places to visit now! In June, Jake & I took a mini-vacation to Niceville. We had our first party at the house 4th of July and had a great time with our Birmingham friends. July was a busy baby month. We welcomed new friends Brian & Emily and a new cousin Woody! In August, Jake got his first real bike and we celebrated Robbie’s sister’s 40th birthday. Our new friend Avery was born. This summer, we enjoyed the pool several days a week. We also ended up having to purchase 2 new cars. As September rolled along, we celebrated our 1 year anniversary of being in the house & Jake attending the same school for 1 whole year. Robbie celebrated his 34th birthday. We also had to say good-bye to my Grandmother Maddox. In October, we had a party to celebrate Robbie’s parents, Chuck & Judy’s 65th birthdays and Jake got to pick out what he wanted to be for Halloween for the first time – Batman. This fall, Jake attended 3 Auburn games. In November, we celebrated at a party for my friend Hayley’s marriage, I visited Troy again and we welcomed new little friend Tyler. I celebrated my 34th birthday in December, Jake got to meet Veggie Tales, we took a trip down to Fairhope and we celebrated Jake’s 4th birthday. Unfortunately, the year ended the same way it began, with the excitement of a pregnancy, and then the sadness of the loss of one.

But we will not lose hope. While trying for baby #2 seemed to impact a lot of my feelings towards 2012, it was still a great year. We grew closer as a family. I’ve grown closer to God. We celebrate a year of good health, fun memories and a lot of laughter & love.

Romans 5:2-5 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.