Oh, 2013. You’ve been quite. the. year. You’ve definitely left your mark on the Brehm family. You came in with a cacophonous bang to let us know, you had arrived. On the very first day, you gave me a somewhat unexpected, positive pregnancy test. On the second day, I started my new old job. And with that job, we welcomed a new face into our home who brought great delight to our little loves. Six weeks later, you changed your mind and decided that the Baby New Year who’d bounded in, would not be the babe we would hold in our arms, but instead a pregnancy we would hold in our hearts. Which resulted in more mama madness than usual. You gave our sweet second-born the gift of tubes so he could hear the world around him. And the gift of expressive speech through Early Childhood screening and the incredible speech program through the school district. And you blessed us with another incredible teacher for our next-year kindergartener. You gifted us a birthday celebration of a healthy, funny four year old. And helped my husband and I make it through the seven year itch and glide into 8 years of wedded bliss. And you finally let me bring a lost pregnancy to a close, physically, after three very long months. 2013… you made way for 31 bright, sparkly candles upon my own cake and 33 on my mister’s. Which included intimate celebrations with friends and fam. You let me take part in fundraising walks, that for the first time ever, took place in crappy, inclement, unseasonable weather for REbeL and Great Strides. You gave me the joy of watching my husband and father cross the finish line at the Lincoln half marathon. And then the even greater joy of seeing a positive sign on the pee stick, yet another time. You allowed us to make memories to last a lifetime on Anna Maria Island. Complete with family and sun and carefree days. And we got to celebrate our second spirited, hilarious son blowing out two candles on his cake. You gave us many chances to enjoy the lake with loved ones. And to reunite with family and friends for annual Czech Days festivities. You gave us so many happy moments with our parents who we are thankful both celebrated milestone anniversaries. Who are happy and healthy. And present. You made us thankful for many moments with friends who are like family through happy hours, taco tuesdays, and date nights. And Husker festivities that included some wins. Some losses. And some games that we just would rather forget. You allowed us to see some high school volleyball that was perhaps, more worth watching than some of the Husker Football games. And we celebrated many birthdays of healthy nephews, one niece and many of our friends’ babes. What a wonderful reminder of what a gift children are. You gifted our family with stable, rewarding employment with people we genuinely like and respect and introduced us to Mr. Ramsey. And you gifted us a new church family that fills our bucket. And right before you could close your books, you asked me to say goodbye, yet again, to a job that made me feel like more. Because in a valiant effort to keep things interesting, and to never be forgotten, you brought us our third baby boy. Which made for a different but delightful Holiday season. There have been goods and bads. Highs and lows. But really, you’ve ended on a high note. And brought a new, bright light, into our life. So thank you, 2013, for that.
So, 2013, we bid you adieu… but don’t fret… you’ll long live in our memories and most definitely, in our hearts.
Why don’t you take some time before you pucker up for the strike of twelve to reflect on your year. The goods. The bads. The highs. The lows. The things for which you are grateful. And those things you wish to just leave in the dust of 2013. The moments that taught you a lesson. The moments that showed you grace. The moments that were harder than hard. And the ones you will hold onto dearly. The ones you hope to never, ever forget feeling. What are the moments that have formed your memory of 2013? And what’s your plan for 2014? How will you make your world… or the world… a brighter place?
I haven’t settled on any resolutions yet. I like to get one week into the year and feel it out before I make any statement about what it will be. But one thing I plan to do… is to keep on blogging. Because, for the last 5 years, it has allowed me to catalog my year, my life, and my thoughts. And I’m ever so thankful. And am thankful to those of you who click on my posts. And give my posts life.
Here are the 13 most popular posts of 2013 as chosen by you:
Welcome to the World, Little One
Moving Forward From Miscarriage
I’m Bringing Sexy Back
Baby on the Bed Rest
Parenting Is Not a Pinterest Board
Pregnant Pause
Gifts of the Season
Give That Man a Medal
Life in the nicu
A Place of Yes
Back Where I Come From
MSPI… All Up In My Eye
I’m a REbeLiever
