Looking Back on 2007

Wow! Another year is almost gone. Looking back to things accomplished as a family and as a mother/wife/teacher, it is amazing to me the things that were done in just one year. And thinking now to the year ahead, it is not just the things we did but also the things we learned. We learned that we are so blessed by God to be in a Bibically-sound, amazing, dynamic, balanced and spiritually growing church. This is so important to us. We learned that God does indeed control our lives if we let Him and that we need to trust Him in all things. We learned as a family that we all have different love languages and that is ok! We learned that we all seek the Lord in different ways and that is ok, too! We also learned that Mom (me!) just cannot do Courtney's level of math...and that is ok too as I will never need to do it! (chuckle!)
Here is a list of our highlights for 2007...things that really stand out to us (I will list 12, one main thing from each month):

1. Established a family nite to incorporate more time together. Being on the 2 computers at the same time doesn't count! Things like board games, watching a movie, reading, playing cards, going out to dinner, going to the church coffeeshouses...those things count!
2. Saving money for home repairs: we were blessed to have a little extra last year due to husband's bonus so we invested in having the upstairs bathroom redone in ceramic tile. What a huge difference and since we got a great deal from the contractor, we upgraded our toilet, too!
3. Prayer time: as a couple we decided to spend time in prayer for each other and for certain issues we wanted to work on as a couple/family. We decided to spend a week during spring break just having fun and doing an educational field trip. During March, I also began training to be a small group leader host at the women's weekly devotional group held at our church. I learned alot from the older women mentoring me and I was able to use my teaching skills in the group to help younger women. We called it living like a Titus woman!
4. Explored Pittsburgh with the girls. Spent the entire April vacation in PA. We learned that we don't like being at a ballgame in 30 degree weather (we watched the Pirates vs the Cardinals and it was cold!!). We discovered new things at the Science Museum and we learned alot about the Amish and how hard working they are. And my daughters were thanking the Lord that we are not Amish.....although they said it would be fun to go to school in a one room schoolhouse!
5. Claire learned to ride her 2-wheeler just in time to surprise me for Mother's Day!!
6. Courtney "graduated" from junior high with Academic High Honors and with perfect attendance! Claire was told she is a good ballerina and that she should think about joining the advanced ballet class at the studio where she takes classes.
7. My oldest (Courtney) goes on her first missions trip! She had to raise the money herself and we learned that we have some very good Christian friends and family who were willing to help support her financially...what blessings these friends are! We also had several family members help out and this was an answer to prayer.
8. We learned that we love to kayak! We are fortunate to have relatives who share their beach house with us so we got to use it for a week and spent some nice quiet time on the beach and with the kayaks. I also bought a brand new car for the very first time in my life...yeah...thank you Jesus...no more used cars !
   
9. I returned to the classroom working as a teacher assistant in our own school district. and Courtney began her high school career! Dave became middle school coordinator at church!
10. I took a small group leadership training class with a friend and we have plans to begin our own group. We just need to pray about when to begin!
11. Dave surprised me with 2 kayaks for an early birthday gift and we enjoyed Thanksgiving with the entire T-----clan!
12. So much to thank the Lord for: good health, both sets of grandparents are well, both children are thriving in church related activities and are making good Christian friends who also attend the schools where they go. We all are pursuing personal spiritual goals and personal fitness goals....and....come spring we will be heading out with those kayaks.....but....for now.....

we will continue to seek and serve the Lord as individuals and as a family and try to shine the Light of Jesus in the dark world......and we look forward to what 2008 will bring us around our house.....