A Brand New Year

First post of 2014. As I looked back over 2013, I wasn't really that sad to leave it behind like I am some years. It was a good year. Not the best. Not the worst. Just a year. Of course, I have some great memories, mixed in with not so great.

Some of the highlights of 2013 included:

*Daniel FINALLY sleeping through the night at 16 months old!

*Just watching Daniel learn and grow through the entire year!

*Fun little road trips to St. Louis to see the Cardinals play, going the the Science Center and then to the St. Louis Zoo!

*Time spent with both sides of our family, including a VERY impromptu road trip to Iowa so I could plant my butt on the 2nd Ave Bridge to watch the fireworks!

*Our vacation! We spent time at my parents, then traveled up to Minnesota to visit Rachel and Micah, and then back to Iowa for a family get together at Grandma's house!

*Celebrated 4 years of marriage!

*Went to see the Hawkeyes play in the NIT tournament with my Daddio!

*Got a lot of my anxiety under control! (Post to come on that!)

Some of the lows of 2013 included:

*Pain. Pain. Pain. I was plagued with back and hip pain through the year. Spent tons of money on urgent care, doctor visits, drugs, a chiropractor and getting an MRI. Still have pain, but I'm just dealing for now. And with crappy insurance I'm still paying for all of it. (All out of pocket)

*Car problems up the wazoo! Let's see. 2 flat tires. 8 brand new tires. New oil regulator. New wheel bearings and I think brake pads or something like that. And a new alternator. I hope that's it for awhile. Our car maintenance fund is officially lacking!

*Our air conditioner kicked the bucket and we ended up getting a new one and a new furnace. More money.

*Getting many cavities filled. I guess this could be a high and low. Low because, well, cavities and money. High, because I faced my fear of going to the dentist! I still don't like it, but I went for a cleaning a couple of weeks ago and my heart didn't race, and I didn't want to jump out of the chair and run away!

Quite the year!

I'm not setting an resolutions, because let's face it...I will not follow through. I never do. I know what needs to be done, it's just getting up the motivation to do it.

We don't have any big plans this year. At least not right now. I always like having something to look forward too, but so far I have a big blank year staring me in the face! Looks like we'll have to create some adventures! I'm sure there will be several Iowa trips thrown in there. Hopeful to add to our family this year, but we'll see what God has in store for us!