2013 Reflections

2013

January

So the year started off rough with Andrew being laid off for the first time. We spent the rest of the month on the job hunt with Andrew going to multiple interviews and trying to figure out what path God was trying to put us on. It was during this month that both Andrew and I began to recommit our lives to the lord. We both grew up in the church but had let life lead us astray and finally became so broken after everything that had happened in the fall that we were ready to let God take control again. It's also hard to remember how little Gemma seemed back then. I have been reflecting a lot on how much she has grown and how she's becoming more childlike than toddler.

February

So February was huge for us as Andrew finally got a job offer but it meant a big move north. We made the decision to leave it all to God's plan and had two weeks to pack our entire lives and move before Andrew began work. It was hard to leave the friendships we had forged and the life it had taken 18 months to build. But things honestly could not have worked out any better financially even though the move was horrific. I will never again in my life do a long distance move with only two weeks to prepare.

March

March was a pretty easy going month for us trying to get settled into our new apartment and unpack. I reached 16 weeks and was able to find out the little one was a boy. We had already picked out names either way so we knew little man was Sean Patrick. I will say a big thing happened this month, we had decided before we moved that we would again try to find a church home, and on Easter Sunday 2013 we decided to try out a little church down the street from our apartment. And even on a holiday we knew we had stumbled across a special place.

April

We spent a little time wandering around town this month since the weather was nice but not too hot. It was pretty uneventful, I reached the halfway point in the pregnancy early in the month and was feeling pretty good physically. But I honestly just spent the majority of my time continuing to unpack and playing with Gemma.

May

Crazy to believe but my little Gemma Bean turned TWO this month and I reached 24 weeks. It was nice to spend time with my mom as she came to celebrate Gemma's big day. We went to a local wildlife ranch and Gemma got a huge kick out of all the animals. Plus since Gemma's birthday falls on Cinco De Mayo, so there was a parade through town that we watched after we ate a special breakfast on the square.

June

I officially turned 26 which still feels surreal. I honestly don't know where the past few years have gone. It feels like yesterday that it was 2008 and I turned 21 and graduated college and got my first job as a Tech. The rest of the month was pretty uneventful, I reached 30 weeks and we began counting days till our little guy would arrive. The weeks honestly kind of blur at certain points this year and looking back I was in survival mode for a good bit and didn't take pictures or make note of milestones. I have begun trying to correct that. I am unfortunately just not one of those parents that takes pictures constantly. I kind of wish I was, there are spans of months were I literally don't take one picture.

July

 Well we all know the big one for July. On July 21, 2013 our son Sean Patrick was born into Heaven. I can say wholeheartedly that I still loved parts of this month with the fourth of July and all of our family coming to support us. We went to another parade which Gemma loved. And with both our families living at least 4 hours (most are scattered all across the country) away it was insanely awesome to have everybody in one place even if for only a day. Gemma got to see her aunts and uncles and grandparents. If I could only say one thing for July, I would say I love this giant extended family I have and married into.

 

August

August was another rough month because Andrew had injured his hand at work early in July and had to have surgery at the end of the month. So he spent the first few weeks of August healing before he could go back to work. And then the day he returned to work he was laid off. Again I don't have pictures from this month but I do remember just holding Gemma and looking at her taking in each moment. After we lost Sean I was so scared of losing Gemma too... I know as a parent that's always a fear but it became so much more real. I just treasured our time more. Andrew and I also celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary, which was extremely bittersweet since the 24th was my original due date for Sean.

September

Gemma started pre-school this year which was huge for me. But it has been such a blessing to her as she has grown so much with her speech and social skills. It's reassuring that her pre-school is at our church which means she is getting the values and teaching we want her to have. It is just nice for what we try to teach at home to be reinforced outside of the home. Plus her teacher is awesome about taking pictures so I have little insights into her days at school. I also love how they have special events throughout the year, and this month they had "Donuts with Dad", which Andrew loved. Gemma even made (well the teachers helped alot) a special picture with her hand print on it just for him. Plus Andrew found a job early in the month which was enough for us to keep life right about where it was. I can't lie we are already used to a pretty slim lifestyle. I have gotten really good at keeping a trim budget when times get tough, so a small pay cut was nothing we couldn't handle.

 

October

 October was nice with the cooler weather and the fall festivities. Gemma dressed up as bunny and still loves her costume, she wants to wear her bunny tail still to this day. Gemma had fun activities lined up at school which included Fire Safety week and getting to meet the firemen, and the Fall Book Parade with costumes. Another big decision was made this month. With how tight things had gotten with Andrew's pay cut and the government shutdown I decided to return to work to help bring in more income. Andrew is a retired Army veteran and with the government shutdown certain benefits we receive from the Veterans Administration were in jeopardy, which reminded us that certain things aren't guaranteed. With that in mind I applied for an open Surgical Technologist position and was grateful when I was called back for an interview and then was offered a position.

 

November

Andrew turned 30 this month and I began work. We also celebrated thanksgiving this month with my mom. We made a small meal because we kept reminding ourselves the day was not about the food it was about being together as a family. I will say it was nice to make the meal myself as the last 2 years I had spent it at a friends house since Andrew was out of town for work. Again something else I have been grateful for, Andrew being home and not spending every holiday, birthday, and anniversary on the road.

December

So December has flown by, and as of the end of the month I have officially been employed for 6 weeks already. I am continuing to find my niche in my new work place and build relationships with all of my co-workers. Which has been hard since when I left my last workplace I had been there just shy of 3 years and had long since gone through the awkward getting to know you phase. But I am grateful to have this job since at the very beginning of the month Andrew was laid off for the third time this year. He had been employed by a small business owner and with the economy the way it is and the new healthcare laws coming into place, his boss was simply unable to cover the costs associated with keeping Andrew employed. We understand completely and are able to say that after two not so amicable splits from employers this year, this lay off was much easier. Andrew and I have talked for months about the possibility of Andrew returning to school to get his degree. But with his work schedule and his responsibilities at home and church it was hard to try and fit it all in. We are finally seeing that God made this all possible so that Andrew would be able to use his GI Bill and pursue school full time. So nice to know that he will be able to focus fully on his degree and also have the ability to help with Gemma while I am at work.

And of course we celebrated Christmas, and while trying to focus on the real reason for the season, Gemma still made out like a bandit and probably thinks it's all about her Doc McStuffins playset and her playdoh. But again it was nice to see my mom as she came to visit shortly after Christmas. Though it was an adjustment to have to work during the holidays and try and fit my moms visit in between two work shifts.

2014

We have had a running joke since August that we were so done with 2013 and all the trials we have been through. While I am greatly looking forward to 2014 and all the good things coming, I still have a certain healthy amount of respect for 2013 and all the growth it has provided us.

Sending much Love and Happiness from our family to yours this New Year, may it bring much Joy and Laughter and Blessings your way.