2011 here and gone...recap recap

As I entered 2011 I was entering my 30th birthday. Jan brought me 69lbs thinner and a wonderful b-day bash put on by dear friends and family. I am blessed to be loved so much by so many people. It was a night to remember that I will never forget. I rode in a Hot Rod in a form fitting dress. My make up was done and hair was done. I felt like a princess!!! Thank you to those that made that night so special. One memory I dont think I will ever forget..first some background. When I was 9 my mom remarried a man who has 2 sons (theyre still married). I spent most of my life trying to get them to love me and accept me as their sister. Though I havent pursued that for a long time, it was heart breaking. You can never earn love from someone they have to be willing to love you for who you are. I never was and never will be accepted as a sister to them, I am the evil step-sister and to that I am fine with. The awesome thing is that God knows the desires of my heart. He blessed me with 2 brothers. On the night of my bday bash I heard words I have been longing to hear for so many years. My brother in law Nathan gave me a hug told me he loved me and called me sis. Music to my ears and peace to my soul. When you spend so many years and nothing in return only to have someone fulfill those dreams, words cannot express. Needless to say my other brother in law also tells me the same thing and I am truly blessed. I will never forget that night. I love my Na Na and Mattmu!!! So we ate and danced and enjoyed ourselves!!! What a wonderful night!!!
As March drew near my husband surprised me with a cruise to Hawaii for my birthday. He worked out all the babysitting and plans. What a beautiful time we had. He means the world to me and again God knows the desires of my heart when he brought my hubby into my life. Though most thought he was scary, eventually he was all mine. :) He humors me, comforts me, loves me unconditionally, washes me in the Word. He is a picture of Christ to me, and to that is irreplaceable and beautiful, again words cannot describe.
We then became pregnant with our 5th child. It breaks my heart to say that so many babies in the last few months of 2010 and the year of 2011 left their parents and went to heaven. The world says miscarried, but to me they are precious babies in Jesus' arms. So as our baby grew and lived I know he is special and that God has a special plan for him. For some reason God allowed our baby to live. We found he was a boy and mt kids could not have been more exciting. Christian was exceptionally excited. He made many lego projects and other projects for Marek as decorations. He talked about the sharing rooms and playing. I love it!
We also gave up the fight for our condo in March. For about 3 years and with 2 different companies asked for help so we could keep it. No one would help us. We even appealed and still no help. We are still here and God will move us on in His timing.
Summer came and went. We went to the beach and played with friends. The kids took swim lessons and loved it. We celebrated Christians 5th birthday and Hannahbelles 2nd birthday with family and friends. We also went to the Del Mar Fair as a family and then I stayed for the 3rd annual Switchfoot concert with a couple of friends.
This year was tough for Erics family as his grandfather passed away. It was a sad time. Eric spoke at his Memorial Service and his Military Funeral. He was close to him. His grandfather is greatly missed.
As winter ( I say that lightly as we dont really get a winter here) approaches we were eagerly awaiting the birth of our baby. We also thought we were moving in Oct. God extended it and thus we havent moved yet and it is a blessing. We started schooling again, Awanas started again and we adjusted to Eric's new work schedule.
Ah and then December comes. What a month for our family. So many unexpected things happened. My husband ended up in the E.R. and then in emergency surgery about 1.5 weeks later. Moriah turned 7 years old. Then our sweet baby was born on December 26th at 10:28 pm. he was born in his sac completley. he is beautiful. he is the perfect addition to our family. we love him so much. he is a blessing in so many ways. He then was in the NICU. We celebrated New Year's Eve in the NICU but thankful that our baby was healthy and that nothing was wrong with him.
Now we look to a new year. full of many blessings.