Reflections

*Pictures aren't going to reflect the text, and just warning: they are all of Elyse. Not because I love her more, but because she's the only kid I had this weekend!*

So Friday night I took down the tree, and yesterday I put away all of the rest of the decorations and found homes for all the things that didn't have homes yet. I actually like to take down the tree by myself. Not because it's easier without little hands trying to "help", but because I like to reflect and wonder.

Okay. Maybe not having "help" does help.

I thought about what life was like last time I took down the tree. I remember being hopeful. Wondering how my family would change. Wondering what my Christmas card would look like this year. Wondering what new things the kids would be doing and how they would grow this year.

Well, my family did change. Not nearly in the way that I thought- I thought if there was to be a new mouth to feed, it would belong to someone a little more masculine, about 6 times taller and 15 time heavier. I thought my son would be starting kindergarten and my daughter would be having the best time at Cindy's as the reigning princess.  

why three outfits with the same leggings? because due to leaky diapers, this girl needed three onesies in about 5 hours.

Ahhh. That's the problem with "wondering" isn't it. You get little nuggets of expectations that you didn't even realize you had, and then poof! Life happens, plans change, and you just keep on going. 

So. My Christmas card didn't have all the faces that I thought it would. I never dreamed that it would double as a birth announcement.

But holy moly, I'm so glad that this is the face that's there. I mean come on! Look at her! I would have never in a million years pictured that face and now I have no idea what I'd do without it. Luke didn't start kindergarten. He is KILLING it at jr. kindergarten though, which is exactly what should happen when you are exactly where you need to be. Evan is the reigning princess at Cindy's, now complete with her own little court.

So now it's time to wonder about the year that is coming upon us. How will my family change this year? What will happen to us? What kinds of adventures does 2014 hold for each of us? Will I have the same job? Will we need a new car? Am I finally going to patch the cracks in the sheet rock from getting the foundation fixed and repaint? (okay. that last one is a little specific. but I need to do this, people!)

I'm trying hard not to have too many expectations. I've been thinking a lot lately about how I'm letting God use me, and I've kinda come to the conclusion that I'm not. It's what happens when you have too many plans for yourself. So this control freak is going to try and let go. I know, I KNOW, that God has the very best planned for me and is just waiting for me to trust Him in it. It's time that I actually live out what I claim to believe. So here's to 2014, people. I'm ready if you are.

Y U SO CLOSE? WHO DAT BABY I SEE?