2013 Year in Review

January comes around each year and for the last couple of years it came with a new baby (by way of foster care), but not this year. We were waiting (I won't bore you with the details)...God has perfect timing so while we waited we prayed, rested, enjoyed family time, and I got some projects done around the house.
In February,  I turned 40. Doesn't seem that old now that I am here. While we really did it up with a big party for Geoffrey's 40th birthday, that is not my cup of tea so we had a few friends and my family and we went for the best pizza and cheesecake in town. Also, because my husband knows I love to travel, we planned a trip (for the two of us) to NYC in the fall.
March began and we were back on the list for a baby. Sure enough, the calls came in. 8 days in and we picked up a baby girl from the hospital and brought her home. As God would have it, there was definitely a reason for the 2 months of rest, for in a matter of weeks I was bone tired and ready to throw in the towel. How can such a beautiful baby be SO lovable and SO much work at the same time. Again, I won't (can't) go into detail but by God's grace He gave us the strength to push through the exhaustion, and doctor visits, and etc.
March thru June were kind of a blur, but our youngest turned 9, and our oldest turned 15 and school ended and summer began. Boy was I happy that school was out!!! Our three oldest went to summer camp and our youngest, who begun Brazilian Jujitsu, was now training all day most days for a competition at the end of June. (He placed 2nd!)
July came and we sent our baby to a friend's house so we could go see my family in Colorado. It was a nice break and we really enjoyed our time there. The weather is beautiful there and my family is so easy to be with. It was such a nice vacation. Upon our return, we looked to the end of summer break (but not of summer...it is Arizona after all)

Photo courtesy of  Defending the Legacy Photography

August begins and with it, school. Sean (10th grade), Jakob (9th grade), Kyra (6th grade) and Ryan (4th grade). They all started the year with great enthusiasm. We also were looking at a month of transition for our foster baby as she began the process of moving to a new home. (sorry, no details can be given - but know this is/was a positive move) So as August turned into September we were again without a baby and in a period of resting and waiting.
The end of September was our trip to NYC and my parents came down to watch the kids while we were gone. The kids had a blast with their grandparents and my parents survived and enjoyed themselves as well.
Jakob had an opportunity to be in a play titled "Arsenic and Old Lace" in late October and it was such fun to watch him do what he loves to do. Sean began tennis lessons and has really improved and hopes to join the school tennis team in the spring. Kyra had the opportunity to be on the school leadership and service council this year and she was able to do announcements and even prepared and delivered a speech at their school's Pride Day assembly. Ryan was again preparing for another competition in Jujitsu and again placed 2nd.

Geoffrey  -  We had lots of great highlights and memories created this past year. We also have had the opportunity for Jesus to grow and stretch us which is sometimes difficult; yet His faithfulness can not be disputed. He is good all the time.

We round out another year with a trip to Colorado for Christmas and waiting on the Lord's timing in several areas of what will be in store for us next.
Merry Christmas to you all! 
Geoffrey, Darcy, Sean, Jakob, Kyra, and Ryan
Psalm 37 "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;"