In Martina McBride's song Blessed she sings: "I have been blessed with so much more than I deserve". This completely describes how I feel as 2009 comes to an end and I look forward to the beginning of 2010.
As another decade is ending and I watch on TV all the bests & worsts that the decade held I reflect on the sunshine and the rain that it brought in my own life. I realize we can't change the events that have happened, but we can trust in the Lord and make the best of them.
Here is a recap of the decade for me:
year2000
february: Traveled to Bloomington, Indiana to visit Kristan (my sister & Ty) and celebrate my nephew Tyler's 1st birthday.
may: Casey (Wes' brother) graduated from High School.
june: I moved back home from Boise and starting work at Magic Valley Distributing.
year2001
september: 9/11 changed our world. I remeber hearing the news report on the radio after the first plane hit the first tower. We watched the news reports all day at work and saw the devistation & destruction that had taken place. For me it was heartbreaking to watch all those people searching for their loved ones.
october: Wes started his own concrete construction company.
My Grandma Newman was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer and had surgery. That was a very scary time for me. My grandma means the world to me and it was difficult to watch her go through treatments and surgeries. I am so thankful that all went well and she has continued to remain cancer free!!
november: Married the love of my life ;) and honeymooned in Manzanillo, Mexico.
My Grandma Newman was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer and had surgery. That was a very scary time for me. My grandma means the world to me and it was difficult to watch her go through treatments and surgeries. I am so thankful that all went well and she has continued to remain cancer free!!
november: Married the love of my life ;) and honeymooned in Manzanillo, Mexico.
Moved back to Boise.
year2002
january: Started work at Boise Vision Care. (I loved working there, wonderful people!)
may: Conrad (my brother) graduated from High School.
june: My nephew Gabriel Matthews was born.
october: My niece Burkely Bauer was born.
year2003
may: Cory (Wes' brother) graduated from High Scool.
april: We moved back to Jerome because Wes was doing so much work in the Magic Valley. I went back to work at Magic Valley Distributing.
Our move home included our brothers as our roommates. Yep, for some crazy reason we let Casey and Conrad move in with us.
july: Wes had an auto accident that changed our lives and we got our first glimpse of how destructive drinking & driving can be. We moved in with Wes' parents to save money because our legal fees were quickly increasing. This event changed our lives and really the lives of everyone involved. It tested our faith, our families, and our marriage. Even though this was a tough time we trusted that the Lord had a plan and He brought us through it all.
august: Conrad joined the US Marine Corp and left for boot camp.
My nephew Derek Matthews was born.
november: My family traveled to San Diego, CA to watch Conrad's graduation from boot camp. It was an amazing experience and opened my eyes to the respect our military deserves.
year2004
may: Wes had to serve a 6 month rider and I realized how much it sucks to be away from your husband.
october: Dylan McFadyen (my 'adopted' nephew) was born and I got to help in his delivery.
Wes came home...yeah!!! He never will know how much I really did miss him!
year2005
july: We started building our first home...we were still living with Richard & Christy. Wes did most of the work himself, subbing out very little. He did concrete floors throughout the house; they were beautiful!! He did concrete countertops and even rocked the house with concrete, although you wouldn't know it by looking at it, it really just looks like stone.
december: We found out we were expecting only to lose the baby days later. Through this we were reminded once again how amazing our family and friends are.
year 2006
january: We moved into our new home. This was a wonderful feeling after not having our own place for so long, but we are so thankful to Richard & Christy for putting up with us while we got our life back on track.
march: I quit my job at MVD to stay home and help Wes with his business.
april: We found out we were expecting.
july: Grace Mae McFadyen (my 'adopted' niece) was born.
july: Grace Mae McFadyen (my 'adopted' niece) was born.
august: We found out we were having a BOY!
november: We started building another home.
november: We started building another home.
december: We welcomed Samuel Gene Bauer into the world, the best Christmas present we could have asked for.
year2007
march: I became a consultant for Cookie Lee and started selling jewelry. I was hesitant about it and Wes was sure it was going to be a waste of my time and money. Looking back I am so glad I stepped out of my box and became a part of an awesome company.
may: We lost Cory (Wes' youngest brother) in an auto accident. Our family paid the ultimate price when someone you love decides to drink and drive. Once again we were reminded how blessed we are with amazing family and friends. I don't think I can express in words the void his death has brought, he was one-of-a-kind and I miss him terribly!
june: We moved into our new home. Wes was the builder and he did a beautiful job, our home shows off some of his amazing talent.
june: We moved into our new home. Wes was the builder and he did a beautiful job, our home shows off some of his amazing talent.
october: Samuel had eye surgery to extend the inner eye muscles of his eyes.
december: Samuel was life-flighted to Boise and diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (this means his pancreas no longer produces insulin). We spent a week in PICU and our brains exploded from the whirlwind of events, the information we had to retain and the emotional stress of it all. To this day the scariest moment of my life was when the doctor sat down in front of me as I held my son and said ' I need you to understand how serious this is. Your son is in critical condition and I don't know if he is going to make it'. As a mother there is nothing more devistating than hearing life-threatening news about your child. By the grace of God we made it to the ER that day just in time and he held our son and gave Samuel the strength to fight. My son is a trooper, he endured so much and doesn't let it phase him. Once again we were surrounded by family and friends and reminded how blessed we are.
Samuel celebrates his 1st birthday!!!
2007 brought a lot of rain and I still struggle to see the sunshine through the clouds. I can ask "why", but only God knows why we were brought through the fire. I know he is refining me and I know he has a purpose for all of it if we just keep trusting Him.
year2008
january: Samuel ends up in the ER again, but we discovered it is harder for him to fight any germs off now and gets sick very easily.
june: Samuel winds up in the hospital for a few days.
december: Samuel celebrates birthday #2!
year2009
january: We went to California for Camp Cookie and visited DisneyLand.
february: We found out we were expecting baby #2, due in mid-October.
Most of the spring it just seems like a blurbecause I was so sick.
march: My sister and her family moved to Lewiston. Yeah! Finally they are in the same state again.
april: My mom was diagonosed with melanoma and had a very aggressive surgery to remove all the cancer cells. We are very thankful that the surgery was a successful & the surgeon believes he got it all.
may: I participated in the Relay for Life walk with my mom and my grandma. I had tears rolling down my face as their names were read for the survivor lap. I am so greatful that I have both of them, they bless me in so many ways.
june: We went on an all expense paid trip that I earned with Cookie Lee in 2008 to Hawaii. It was a wonderful trip, Samuel still asks when we are going back...he loved the beach!!
july: Keeping busy trying to keep up with the work load Wes had, he did a lot of traveling this summer.
august: We took a spontanious road trip to Northern Idaho. We stopped and saw my sis & her family and ventured up to Coeur d'Alene, went to the theme park there and camped in Montana. It was a fun trip, but not so comfy for a fat girl!
september: Kristan & fam moved to Inkom (by Pocatello), now they are so close!!
october: Samuel became a BIG BROTHER as we welcomed Lydia Lea Bauer into our home.
november: Re-cooping and adjusting to life with two kids.
year2009
january: We went to California for Camp Cookie and visited DisneyLand.
february: We found out we were expecting baby #2, due in mid-October.
Most of the spring it just seems like a blurbecause I was so sick.
march: My sister and her family moved to Lewiston. Yeah! Finally they are in the same state again.
april: My mom was diagonosed with melanoma and had a very aggressive surgery to remove all the cancer cells. We are very thankful that the surgery was a successful & the surgeon believes he got it all.
may: I participated in the Relay for Life walk with my mom and my grandma. I had tears rolling down my face as their names were read for the survivor lap. I am so greatful that I have both of them, they bless me in so many ways.
june: We went on an all expense paid trip that I earned with Cookie Lee in 2008 to Hawaii. It was a wonderful trip, Samuel still asks when we are going back...he loved the beach!!
july: Keeping busy trying to keep up with the work load Wes had, he did a lot of traveling this summer.
august: We took a spontanious road trip to Northern Idaho. We stopped and saw my sis & her family and ventured up to Coeur d'Alene, went to the theme park there and camped in Montana. It was a fun trip, but not so comfy for a fat girl!
september: Kristan & fam moved to Inkom (by Pocatello), now they are so close!!
october: Samuel became a BIG BROTHER as we welcomed Lydia Lea Bauer into our home.
november: Re-cooping and adjusting to life with two kids.
december: We celebrated Samuel's 3rd birthday with a party at
Hop-2-It (giant bouncy houses)...the kids had a blast.
Home for the Holiday's:
We spent Christmas Eve with my family playing games and stuffing our faces.
We had a quiet Christmas morning with our little family of four, our kids were sick and very grumpy. We went to Wes' grandparents home in Hagerman to visit and participate in the annual gift exchange.
We are now spending the week after Christmas in Tammarack with Wes' parents and Casey & Burkely getting ready to ring in the new year.
As this year comes to a close I look around at how God has blessed me and my family. I am so thankful for the people he has placed in my life, even though some were for just for a season and others I am still fortunate to have after years and years. I have learned that life is precious and not to be taken for granted.
I pray that the upcoming year begins well and ends well, that the Lord blesses you abundantly and that you will remember that everything in life is a gift. I pray for health and happiness for you and those you love. Hold your loved ones close and let them know how much you love them, you just never know what tomorrow holds.
Take Care and God Bless!
Hop-2-It (giant bouncy houses)...the kids had a blast.
Home for the Holiday's:
We spent Christmas Eve with my family playing games and stuffing our faces.
We had a quiet Christmas morning with our little family of four, our kids were sick and very grumpy. We went to Wes' grandparents home in Hagerman to visit and participate in the annual gift exchange.
We are now spending the week after Christmas in Tammarack with Wes' parents and Casey & Burkely getting ready to ring in the new year.
As this year comes to a close I look around at how God has blessed me and my family. I am so thankful for the people he has placed in my life, even though some were for just for a season and others I am still fortunate to have after years and years. I have learned that life is precious and not to be taken for granted.
I pray that the upcoming year begins well and ends well, that the Lord blesses you abundantly and that you will remember that everything in life is a gift. I pray for health and happiness for you and those you love. Hold your loved ones close and let them know how much you love them, you just never know what tomorrow holds.
Take Care and God Bless!
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