Happy Birthday, Gibson Jack

Happy Birthday to our smart, courageous, always smiling, outgoing, energetic, happy, thoughtful Gibson Jack.

In your seventh year of life you...

Lost your two front teeth. Attended your first concert {needtobreathe}! Started mountain biking. Invented roller basketball. Built a tepee. Spent your spring,summer and fall on the trampoline. Mastered the front flip and back handspring. Took gymnastics. Started scaring the jeepers out of your mama. Mastered tickle torture. Found the joy that witty one liners bring. Loved everything fossil! Became enamored with football routes. Played catcher and LOVED it. Devoured Weird but True books. Made your first gingerbread house. Body boarded at Avalanche Bay.Dune jumped. Served at the Supper House. And, prayed for your sister every night.

We are blessed by you each and every day, and we are proud of the young boy you have become.

So long, Year 32

Today, on this final day of Year 32, Steve surprised me with a handmade hammock hanging on our back porch.

I had heard the hammering in the basement for the past several nights, but I was shocked when I opened my eyes to see what hung before me.

He made this beautiful hanging hammock so I could cross one last thing off of my list, to take my long anticipated nap in a hammock and to reflect. To rest.

As he left, he said, I'm not sure why we spend our time celebrating birthdays when we should celebrate the amazing year we were just blessed with.

And with that, I cried.

Year 32 has been an amazing, epic year.

I have laughed genuine laughter.

I have cried tears filled with anguish and pain.

I have said hello to many, many people and possibilities.

I have said goodbye to many of the same.

For the first time in my life, I have let go, and I have lived.

As I pursued Year 32, eyes wide open, I was suddenly aware of life that was waiting to be lived at  every turn.

In my 32nd year I...

completed a flip-turn | did one successful front flip | submitted an essay into a writing contest | went for a midnight swim | INSPIRED one person to live on purpose | finished my Christmas shopping before December 1 | bought a bike | learned to sew| read a series with my boys | attended a retreat | completed a closet overhaul | payed it forward in a drive thru | resigned from my teaching job | completed a 30 day CANDIDA DIET | attended mars hill running group | saw salmon run {amazing!} | took a spinning class | made bee-bim bop | bought brown boots | ate MOOMERS ice cream {several times} | raced in a different city | cooked a turkey! | saw mat kearney at the house of blues! | RAN OUT of GAS | went on a color tour | ate my first pastie | sled down a ski hill | got SNOWED IN | built a snowman on a ski hill | bought skinny jeans | went to my first concert at the intersection {needtobreathe} | retold my story | took a photography class | hosted a wine and cheese party for Jesus | hosted a craft night or two | was introduced to my DAUGHTER! | attended a holy yoga retreat | visited denver, CO | lost my village coffee virginity | mountain biked on a real MOUNTAIN | survived loveland pass | saw mumford and sons | at RED ROCK! | hiked red rock | took our boys on our first date | chose TRUE as my word of 2012 |  project purged for justice | did revelation wellness in the park | rolled down a hill |  sled arm-in-arm down a hill with three of my dearest friends |  took the boys to their first concert | road in a Rigshaw | brewed kombucha | FLEW to Nashville | heard wisdom from Donald Miller | 


In the end, life is what we make it.

We have a choice.

We can be derailed by the reality of life and be bitter.

Or, we can choose to live life well and be a part of a bigger story.

What's your choice?

Year 32, I thank you and celebrate you!

2011: A Year in Review

Elliott summed it up best as he cried himself to sleep on New Years Eve.

I don't want 2011 to end, because it was a good year.

And, he is right, it was an amazing year filled with

life changing moments and amazing memories.

Here's to 2011...

January

We said goodbye to Jade

We ate turtle for the first time

I purchased a life changing rice cooker

I Laughed my way through cross country skiing 

We were thinking about Finley, before we knew her name

February

The boys continued their bathtime adventures.
Steve and I went on a snowboarding adventure.

We enjoyed the blizzard of 2011 and the snowdays that came with it.

Started to get serious about organizing

March

Steve and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary.

I ran my first ever 5k with my partner in crime.

We said goodbye to the truck &

hello to our new van.

I teamed up with Sara in a black & white challenge.

April

Daddy's work took us to the ballpark.

Elliott celebrated his 4th birthday.

We vacationed in Florida where we soaked up lots of sun.

I joined in on the Martha/Mary challenge.

We walked for water.

We welcomed Landon Michael to the family.

Gibson played in his first T-ball game.

May

Elliott was the star student.

The wait to meet Finley continues.

Steve and I finished the 5/3 Riverbank Run with our closest friends.

Gibson was crowned the fastest kindergartener.

Elliott invited us to his school carnival.

And, we played baseball with our church friends on the day

 Finley was born.

June

I began an Unexpected Chapter.
We went Back to the Basics.
I got to see Steve's all time favorite band for the first time.
Katie, Kmac and I ran our first 10k.
The "Klein kids" went to a Tigers game.

The boys experienced the biggest Slip-n-Slide to date.

July

The boys and I toured Chicago while Steve worked.

The boys hit the pool for swimming lessons.

We ventured to Holland to see the street performers.

We enjoyed an amazingly relaxing vacation with friends.

The boys visited with their California friends.

We relaxed at the cottage.

August

Steve experienced his first ever County Fair.

We took in Tunnel Park on a beautiful summer day.

We welcomed Sloane Elizabeth to the family.

The boys and I caught up Grandpa Dale.

In pouring down rain, we enjoyed the Coast Guard Parade.

I canned tomatoes and peaches for the very first time.

The girls and I got muddy.

September

I celebrated my 32nd birthday and set out to accomplish 32 in year 32.

InstaFriday was born.

I was able to put my boy on the bus for the first time ever.

Elliott finally got to play soccer.

After much avoidance, I attended my first Pursuit of Wholeness Retreat.

Gibson lost his first tooth.

October

Steve and I enjoyed some time away on a couples retreat.

I am Pinspired.

I cook my first clean meal.

We take a family date to the Griffins game.

Steve and I see our first a salmon run.

The boys enjoy an Indian Summer.

November

We celebrate our second trip around the sun.

Katie, Kmac and I run a 15k!
Steve and I are spoiled with another getaway (with the Terps) to see Mat Kearney.

Steve rings in year 33.

The boys see their first dead deer...and are excited about it.

Gibson and Elliott celebrate the 1st snow of the season.

December

After 28 months of waiting, we meet our Finley Grace.

Our workout groups marks our 1 year anniversary.

I host a craft night.

We enjoy watching Gibson in his Christmas program.

The boys get crafty and make bird feeders and slime.
Gibson turns 7!

I linked up to the terpblog.