And so begins 2012…. Never in a million years did I think we would be here at the end of 2011! My plans were so neatly made and everything was supposed to be….well… different. I don’t know why I have to keep learning that God does not work that way!
This year literally ZOOMED by! I don’t know how it could go so fast! At any rate, I wanted to recap the major events of 2011 in our crazy, wonderful household.
January: We started the year with our son mooning over a girl he left in Chicago. She had to finish high school. Long distance relationships are never fun!
March: This month ended our USAG meet schedule, but Shaye’s coach threw us a monkey wrench and took her on to a new format of competition: AAU. What I thought was the end of a hectic meet schedule now extended into July! Yikes!
April: The month of Easter brought an additional member to our household. Neal needed a place where he could get his life straightened out and begin again.
May: Jon’s fiance, Taylor, graduated from high school and made the long trek to our home from Chicago, in order to be with him. Jon moved in with his grandparents so she could have his bedroom. B’Elanna also ended her last year of ballet “pre-pointe”.
July: Shaye was 2011 AAU National Gymnastics Champion! The girls and I took a fabulous trip to Florida and they got to see the ocean for the first time.
On our way back from the Orlando area, we made a 2 day stop near Atlanta, GA and Aubrey finally met Randy after talking with him online for 5 years! God certainly works in strange ways! 
August: I made the bittersweet decision to put Shaye in public Middle School. (This ended up being a very good decision despite all my worries!)
September: Taylor moved out of our home and into her own apartment. Jon moved with her, but God still prevailed!
October: Randy made the trip to Kansas for Aubrey’s 18th birthday. Aubrey did her first debut of a costume of her design. We treated Randy and his mom to the Renaissance Festival; something they had never encountered before.
November: Neal moved into his own apartment and I foolishly thought God was finished bringing additional members to our household.
December: God brought Vy to our home. He even provided a bedroom set for her, completely FREE! 
Our year’s finale was Jon’s wedding to Taylor a short week before Christmas.
It has been a year of decisions, tears, heartache, happiness and beginnings. God knows what He is doing and I am learning how to trust and obey!
“I Lift My Hands”
by Chris Tomlin
His love is deeper than the sea
His mercy, it is unfailing
His arms are a fortress for the weakLet faith arise
Let faith arise
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart, these things I remember
You are faithful, God, forever
That flows from Calvary’s tree
A fountain for the thirsty
Pure grace that washes over me
So let faith arise
Let faith arise
Open my eyes
Open my eyes
I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart, these things I remember
You are faithful, God
You are faithful, God, forever
