Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year!

Christmas Day! My mom and dad meeting their new great grandson for the very first time. Son Ryan lookin' a little weary.....
The three sheepies! The little one in the middle is Flannery, with Reilly on the left and Maggie on the right.
William...having a quiet moment...poor wee William has colic...momma and daddy aren't getting much rest I'm afraid...


Little Afton wanted a drink of juice and as I was getting it she plunked down almost on top of Reilly...looked so darn cute that we just had to have a picture!


The living room on Christmas Eve....all was quiet.....




Well Christmas Day has come and gone...and now today is New Year's Eve! Time to think about the year that has past and to think of what may come in the next year....This time last year we had no idea that the Lord would bless us with a brand new grandbaby...and even with the colic, he is just the cutest little guy....and thankfully colic does pass,..although I'm sure his mommy and daddy aren't convinced of that! My mom and dad are becoming more and more fragile...it fills you with apprehension when you think of the months to come......army son is no longer 'army' and has moved back home for a bit and is looking for a job to be able to put gas in the beast of a truck he drives..(also to support his brand new relationship with his very first serious girlfriend!).....and to move back out and get his own place......
Second eldest daughter moved out and got her own place and is hoping and planning for some positive changes this coming year....yea Lauren!
We wont talk about second oldest son but I do hope he manages to stay out of jail this year!
Third eldest daughter is suppose to take on a new co-op this coming semester...something new, in the health care system....it's all day and hopefully will result in a job that she can move to upon graduation this June!
Eldest daughter and I have a humongous decision to make as to whether we will continue leading the Sunday School program this coming year (September)...there have been some pretty rough stumbling blocks the last few months that have caused us to question whether someone else would be better for the position......
Praying that eldest son will get a teaching position this year and finish his dissertation...and graduate!!!! Yea!!! My son the doctor! (Years ago, when he was a teenager, he joked around when he filled out an application for a gas charge card and filled out the name as Dr. Ryan W..........., we all laughed at that at the time...seemed impossible...now, it's soooooooo close, you could touch it) C'mon Ryan, you can do it!
My family...some I haven't mentioned.....like Emma......frittering her school time away.....Megan and Ben......well, what's to say about Megan and Ben.......unfortunately not too much right now....except many people have been telling me that I need to get some respite from parenting them......sometimes the process of getting help is harder than just doing it yourself and putting up with everything.... We'll see.
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown. And he replied: Go out into the darkness and put your hand in the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than an known way.
~King GeorgeVI 1939 Christmas message.
Happy New Year everyone!


13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not sure if new mom and dad are open to other's suggestions because some are not, but there's been some good feedback about The Happiest Baby on the Block book. Luckily, both our girls were pretty calm babies so we didn't have to do too much soothing, but there are some things in the book that may be helpful for a colicky baby. I also read The Happiest Toddler on the Block, but not too sure about actually using the methods presented there. Hope they can get some rest.

http://www.happiestbaby.com/

Happy new year!

mholgate said...

Wishing you a Happy New Year and praying that new mom and dad get some rest (as well as baby) soon!

-Melissa

Love Bears All Things said...

Bless you! Reading this brought back some memories of when my children were teens and life was so stressful and challenging. I thought I wouldn't live through it, at times. Now both are parents and active in church. I am amazed at what God can do. And so proud of how they turned out.
Happy New Year,
Mama Bear

Cari Kaufman said...

First of all, Marie, I love that quote and am stealing it!

Second, for colic, "Gripe Water" saved our lives/marriage! I don't know if they have it up where you live, but it is worth a shot.

Third, you have so much on your plate and you remain so faithful to those obligations. I join you in rejoicing your families milestones this year and in praying for the areas for improvement! Have a happy new year!

Unknown said...

Precious pictures! Colicky or not that is a sweet little guy! I do hope it passes soon and all can rest! Hang in there!
SO many blessings and challenges too! Praying that those with challenges will hold fast to our faithful, gracious, loving God. We are clinging to Him as we face some challenges here in our fam.
Happy Blessed New Years!
LydiaCate

the.bain.family. said...

love the adorable pictures!

Erin said...

Happy New Year. Thanks for sharing the pictures, you had a full Christmas.

SusanC said...

Your dogs!!! I love the dogs!!!

Sorry about the colicky baby. I was a very lucky mama and never had to deal with it, so I have no tips but lots of sympathy for mom and dad.

dawn said...

Okay, first of all, I love the quote at the end of your post and will need to write that down!

Secondly, your grandbaby is precious! Hopefully his colic is short-lived.

Thirdly, the picture of your room with the star lit on top of the tree is beautiful!!!!

Lastly--Happy New Year!

Rachel Anne said...

Wee William is precious. You must be awfully proud. His mama and daddy will survive, just like all of us did somehow....soon the colic will be a distant memory but that is no consolation right now. I remember giving some drops..hmm, can't remember the name. but colic is no fun and I hope they will be able to get some rest.

You have so many people to love and look out for...they are all blessed to have you in their lives. Somehow I think you are a very calming presence.

Many blessings this year...love the quote, it's just perfect.

MommiesCoffee3 said...

Oh my goodness! What a BUSY and Blessed time for you! My 2nd girl was very tough - not colic, but similar - and it wore on me at times. Praying William adjusts soon. =)

Can you imagine life if we had NOTHING to pray about? Nothing to thank God for? Nothing to surrender to His Will???

Wishing you a VERY happy and blessed year in 2010!

thecoolmom said...

Love those sheepdogs! Too cute. Hope those new parents get some sleep soon. That's a tough stage. Hope you and yours have a wonderful new year!

One More Equals Four said...

Oh that baby is PRECIOUS! And that sweater he is wearing is the cutest thing! I loved looking at these pictures!

You have so much on your plate in the coming year. I will add you to my prayer list that you will find clarification and wisdom in each of these situations! How incredible that we have a God who is bigger than all of it!

Blessings!