Memories And Hopes

To be honest, while 2012 held some wonderful milestones, there weren’t many exciting events to write home (or this blog) about, except for reporting on my cute boys, that is.  It was filled with enough decision making to tire us out, but they were all decisions for the future and only required stamina for the present.  Regardless, I’m beyond thankful for my healthy family that has everything we need including hopes for a great 2013.

Among the positives for the year and aside from all the updates you’ve read detailing how the boys are growing and developing, probably the most exciting event was Jacob making his first commercial sale of bulk honey!  He sold ten 55 gallon drums and kept one for private sale!  Our little bees and Jacob have been working hard.  Since then he has split his hives drastically in hopes to have more going into the honey flow this spring.  It has proved to be a nail biting venture with no guarantee, but he is pressing forward and doing a fantastic job of it.  We are all proud of him and Josiah wants to be just like him!  He even wants a beekeeping 4th birthday party :)

On my end of things, the practice where I work was sold this summer to new owners.  While that always requires adjustments and questions about the future, it has proved to be a positive thing that I hope continues to go well through 2013 and beyond.  I’ve learned a lot and have been able to practice medicine in a way that is getting ever-closer to what I like.

On the home front, we set out the year with plans to hopefully build.  We found a contractor and worked towards perfecting our plans and getting it within budget (so frustrating, but so exciting!), then literally the week that we were making appointments with the banks to move forward we found out that my job would be undergoing major changes.  Since it wasn’t completely clear what that would mean for my future and because we had toyed with the idea of paying our house off first, we opted to put our down payment towards our house and pay it off!  That was exciting and disappointing at the same time, especially since the day we paid it off, our well pump went out so we officially owned a home with no running water!  That was a $2200 repair, to boot!  We’ve never spent more money in one day, but we were blessed to have it to do so.

Now, looking into 2013, we continue to have the goal of building our home, but like last year, we are not fixated on it.  Through this whole process we have been trying to follow God’s will for us and not force our desires.  We have been busy saving money, multiplying bees, and working hard.  If our little insects have a profitable year, then it should be a “go” but anything can happen.  It is a good thing that the God who made those little bees is my God!  We know we can trust him with our needs.

As for family goals and upcoming milestones for 2013, Josiah will be starting Pre-K….gasp!…gulp!  I can’t believe that time has come.  We have some big decisions to make about that just based on logistics, not to mentions his best interests.  Elijah will continue to grow and mature and the astounding rate that he has been.  I’m hoping to be able to spend lots of fun time with these boys and continue to do some of the things I have planned in the back of my mind with them.  Maybe Jacob and I will even get a little getaway…maybe.  As long as we all stay as reasonably healthy as we have been then I will be a happy Mama!

I hope 2013 is filled with joy and blessings for us all and if those blessings don’t  pan out to look like what each of us expected, I pray for patience and grace to find the blessing in what was meant to be.  Happy New Year!