In 2009 we watched as our dear friends marriage began to unravel. Our van broke down and we had to get a "new" van. We went to Disney world with our new 9 year old, the next day Roy was "right-sized" from his job. We went to Disney world twice in one week, once with our new 6 year old and once with our new 12 year old. Roy's dad had hip replacement surgery so we packed up the kids and headed to S. FL to stay with his mom for the LONGEST week of my life. Two days after Roy's dad came home his mom fell and had to go the hospital. Roy and I left the kids with my mom and travelled back to S. Florida to help his dad out, who still was not getting around well and could not drive to go see his wife. Our "new" van broke down and we ended up being able to repair our other van for a lot less than we thought. A week later we got a surprise phone call that Roy's oldest sister would not make it through the night. We left our children again, travelled to S. Florida to get Roy's mom and dad and then drove like lightening to get to Atlanta. We did not make it. We spent a week in Atlanta tying up loose ends. A few days later our A/C quit working. We went to Disney World a fourth time with our new 8 year old. My papa got very sick. We travelled to Philly for a wedding and stopped in D.C. on our way home. I did not have a Philly Cheese steak. It was depressing! My papa died about a week later. We had a family birthday party for my MIL that did not end well. A week later we got a surprise phone call that she'd passed away in the middle of the night. We left the kids AGAIN and went to be with Roy's dad in S. Florida. It was our 9th anniversary. A week later I decided for kicks and giggles to pee on a stick. Where there was usually only one line, for 9 years, a second line appeared. I was stunned. We finished the year on a high note.

2010 Roy was still unemployed. We had one more trip to Disney World with a new 4 year old. I have to say I love all my kids but his was my favorite trip because it was his first time ever. I started Drs. Appointments that would soon run my life. My mom had surgery on her leg. I became her sole source of transportation for 3-4months. I found out that I was actually almost 4m along in my pregnancy. Woohoo! I started insulin and all the fun highs and lows of that. I had monthly sonograms and Dr. appointments. I started a Bradley childbirth class. My oldest turned 13. I started twice weekly Dr. appointments. We went to Orlando for some pool fun before baby. I went into labor a week early. After almost 13 hours in labor and only 6cm I threw the Bradly book out the window and took the dreaded epidural. After 5 more hours of labor I was almost there but there was a problem so they started talking C-Section. I cried and begged God. I laid on one side and felt the epidural wear off. An hour later I was pushing. Two hours after I started pushing my baby was born. Healthy and beautiful. I continued to battle weird blood sugar. I successfully learned to breastfeed. My mom had surgery on her other leg. We never got school started again. My granny got sick and died suddenly. We went to Disney World one last time with our free Volunteer Day. We stayed the week in my mom's condo. Our COBRA subsidy ran out. Our Unemployment ran out. Roy interviewed for a part time position that would pay for him to finish his schooling. He has two years left. It also has potential to be full time soon with benefits.

WHAT does 2011 hold for our family? Oh, please let it be a little more tame than the past two years. A job for Roy? School for Roy? Children learning to read and do math again? A move? Maybe another baby? (No, no announcement, just a hope!) The purchase of an 8-12 passenger vehicle? Walling in a room of our house for another bedroom? More kids getting saved? Five, count them F-I-V-E birthday party's. Two that were supposed to happen last year but did not and three that are supposed to happen this year. Another trip to Orlando with Adrian since he does not get a birthday party. We are taking him to DT Disney to go to the Lego store. Meeting an online friend who I am pretty sure is my sister separated at birth. :)

I look forward to this year, albeit a little apprehensively. I know God holds our future in His hands and He longs to prosper us and not harm us. I believe that. No matter what I am glad that HE is in charge and NEVER surprised.

I hope you are blessed this year!

Just no death or illness this year, please?