it has been a month. well, actually it has been a semester, a summer, a year! as this year closes and i look back and . . . i can't remember anything. ok, i have not forgotten everything, but man how fast has the time gone. audrey is 9 months and will be one soon, and liam is going to be turning 3 before we know it. i don't feel that i have had the time to really just sit and reflect and soak in all that has happened. so, i am going to try to do a year end wrap up followed by oodles and oodles of christmas pictures. take a potty break now if you need to.
the not so good:
exhaustion. i don't think i have ever been so tired. two kids, a husband finishing his PHD, teaching a new class this semester, and two school plays have really taken their toll around here. there has been very little down time and one very messy house!
sickness. right now we have a little girl with thrush, had never even heard of it, a mom with poopy sinuses, a husband with a yucky tummy, a mother-in-law who also has a yucky tummy, and poor mema who has just had serious surgery. the past month has been especially hard on mema and grandad. mema has been having issues with her platelet counts and was put on steroids, only to have those steroids give her drug induced Parkinson's. thankfully this has been discovered and is on it's way to being fixed, but then we found out her carotid artery in her neck was 90% blocked and needed surgery to clean it out. God has really been watching out for us, mema's surgery went extremely well and she is already at home resting. i am so thankful that everything has worked out and that God has guided us through it all, now we just need to get well for christmas!
school. i love teaching, but this semester has really put that love to the test. it has been a difficult transition into teaching with two little ones at home. i am not a super multi-tasker, so i have issues trying to do too many things at once. i have not felt extremely appreciated or competent of late. i think the end of the semester was getting better, i just hope next year starts off on a good note.
the good:
we are alive. we make it through each day. we have food on our table and a house to live in. we are all here for each other. we have a great small group that we are a part of, and we are surrounded by family that helps us out immensely.
literary society. recently i decided to start a literary society and it has been a blessing. i love to read and i needed something that would force me to do it. we have met 3 or 4 times now and each time it is a joy. we eat, we laugh, and we share. i always walk away feeling good. thank you ladies for your time and your thoughts.
the ranch house, and a just a short bit until oma and opa are back in the states. oma and opa are building what we are calling a ranch house out by throckmorton. it is going to be amazing. i cannot wait until we get to stay out there, relax, and ride the ranger. i also cannot wait until oma and opa are back in the states. every year brings us closer to that time. although i have to admit, i love visiting europe and getting to see all the wonderful places. i can't wait until they are here and get to spend more time with liam and audrey. oma and opa summer camp is just a little bit away!!
the great:
PHD is done. my oh so smart and talented husband, successfully wrote and defended his dissertation to become Dr. Byars. i could not be more proud of him. he has worked so hard and deserves all the praise he recieves for this amazing accomplishment. shortly you can purchase a copy of his dissertation on amazon.com. i will let you know when that is available.
matthew arden byars. what a truly amazing husband i have been blessed with. not only does he put up with me, but i think he also loves me! ha ha! he is a wonderful father and it is a joy to see him with our children. he helps around the house, and even, tonight, helped clean up the throw up of our little girl. he is my knight in shining armor. he listens when i need to vent, and is supportive of my endeavors. he is my balance and my sanity.
liam arden byars. he is such a sweet and very 2 year old little boy. he is so smart and funny and sweet. he just keeps growing before our eyes. he loves to do puzzles, play with daddy's iPad, read books, color, watch movies, and he is a great singer. every night after we put him to bed he serenades us over the monitor with the "ABC" song, "i'm a little bull frog and God loves me", "the name song" (momma momma bo bomma, bannana . . . you know the rest), "you've got a friend in me" (the woody buzz song), and many many more. matthew and i sit and listen and laugh and enjoy all of his antics. he love his little sister, and sometime tries to stand on her head. he of course wants every toy that she picks up and will promptly take it from her, only to grab a book off the shelf and "read" it to her. they are adorable together. we are anxious to see what he will become.
audrey suzanne byars. what a blessing this little girl has been to us. she is off and crawling. i can't believe that she is already not a little baby anymore. she is pulling up and talking (gibberish but adorable) and picking things up. it amazes me how quickly the time goes, and i worry that i have not treasured up as many of her moments as i have of liam's. i don't worry too much, but i hope and pray that she feels as loved and special as liam. matt is already worried about the future boys that will be lost to her big blue eyes. i don't blame him at all. she is truly a beautiful little girl.
Lord, please help matthew and me to be good examples and supportive parents to the two precious gifts you have blessed us with. Help us to discipline and encourage and to raise them up to love You and be lights to the world. Amen!
the good far outweighs the not so good and we are so truly blessed i don't know where to begin. i pray that we don't take for granted all that we have and that we and you are blessed in the new year!
i told you deep introspective thoughts were coming.
see you next year. it is going to be a great one.
here are pictures for your viewing pleasure. enjoy!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR!
