To the allergy momma - One Year Later

One year ago today I got a nice little list of 10 things that had wreaked havoc on my baby girl’s body - some of them daily, some of them from the moment she had been born. You could say it’s been a year of LOTS of learning.  I remember sitting there in the doctor's office thinking, "This isn't THAT big of a deal. It's only ten. It could have been worse." And then reality set in of how BIG some of those 10 are. Every single one has snuck in on us in one way or another over the last year, but as our doctor said yesterday, "Ignorance is not always bliss."

Our little Allergy Warrior has AMAZED us this year!

To the new allergy momma,

Take a deep breath. The days and weeks to come are gonna be rough. But you’re gonna make it. You will survive this and come out stronger. You WILL get the hang of this new life and learn how to be the fiercest advocate your child needs.

But hold on tight, there are tireless days ahead. LONG trips to the grocery store.  Expensive trips to the grocery store. And a lot of wasted “tries” at finding “replacements.” There will be frustrations as you slip up and watch your child have that dreaded reaction because you missed something and the guilt will be almost unbearable. But that overwhelming guilt is because of your fierce love for your child.

I’ll leave you with the top 10 things I’ve learned in the last year:

1. These babes are resilient.
2. Make it all, from scratch. It’s so much easier and will give you complete piece of mind.
3. Look for yourself. Not everyone will “get it” and that’s okay...check the labels for yourself, every time. I’ll repeat that: Check the labels every time.
4. Find your tribe - shout out the Allergy Moms page on FB for being mine.
5. It’s okay to not be okay with all of this, but know it WILL eventually be okay.
6. Forgive yourself. Quickly. You’re going to mess up, so own it, take note, and move on. (I can guarantee you it won’t happen twice.)
7. Be prepared to do a LOT of dishes. (See item 2...which doesn’t even touch cross contamination.)
8. Write it all down. Think there’s a new reaction? Write it down. Have a question for the doc? Write it down. There are going to be a million things going through your head every day, you’ll never remember it all. But your Notes App will. (Which is where I typed this whole post out to begin with.)
9. Don’t look at anything else out there except what your child can eat. Research on “growing out of it,” food challenges, therapies can all wait. Get a grasp on what foods are safe first.
10. Pray. Trust God with ALL of it.  This is all a part of His story He is writing, and He can use it for His glory. #HisStoryHisGlory

Well, I couldn’t stop at 10, so here are a few *bonus* things I’ve learned.

11. Eating out is a thing of the past.
12. When you DO get the hang of things and venture out, enjoy the same restaurant 500 times in a row. 
13. You WILL cry in the middle of the grocery store. And it will take you an hour and a half to find 7 items that total $100. (Only the last part was exaggerated…by like a dollar.)
14. Just because something is “safe” today, doesn’t mean it will be “safe” tomorrow - this includes restaurants AND store bought foods.
15. It is empowering when your child starts to figure it out for themselves. Be ready, your heart might explode.

New allergy momma, I can guarantee you that it will ALL be worth it!

Our pantry before and after removing everything she couldn't eat.
(Some left on the right was for mom and dad to eat!)

One year ago this week - The day before, the day of, and the day after.
Her sweet smile helped us all and lifted our spirits.

And life today with these outside-loving besties. SUCH a joy!

I'll leave you with a quote/dedication I read in one of the new cookbooks we were given in the days following: "To all of the children whose dietary restrictions created division, isolation, or sacrifice.  May these recipes bring you comfort, inclusion, and joy in both your healthful journeys and life's many celebrations." YES! This is how we've chosen to live.

Serve is the Word in 2018

Okay guys.  I seriously dropped the ball, or should I say...entire basket of fruit on my 2017 word of the year.  I had every intention of being SUPER intentional and focusing on a different fruit of the spirit each month, diving in deep and learning what God had to say about each one...but I didn't.  (I still hope to do this at some point because it really is one of my favorite passages of scripture, and I know it is filled with so many truths, pointing to many different passages and themes in the bible.)  I went a little to crazy on that one, so I will be dialing it back this year and focusing on one single word...one single truth: SERVE. (Just kidding...I had been working on this before God spoke to me about adding another word...but I'll get to that)

I've mentioned before that some years, I have had to really search out what God is speaking over me where these words are involved (like this year's 2017 word coming in at the 11th hour), and other times it is as clear as can be for weeks (even months) ahead.

But this year, this word is different.  God has been speaking this word over me and to my heart for almost an entire year.  We were barely into 2017 when I began to hear Him nudging me to this years word: SERVE.  As we studied through John last year in BSF, one of the lessons about how Jesus SERVED stuck with me.  Over the past year, I have repeatedly seen Him highlighting this area in my life.

**I fully anticipated having one single word to focus on this year, but when God speaks...you listen! ;) So December 30, during the course of a conversation, someone quickly mentioned the word SURRENDER.  It didn't strike me too much at the time, but the idea behind what she was discussing stuck out to me and was something I knew I needed more of in my life (as in surrendering to my husband in marriage the way we should surrender our life to God).  And then...December 31...final hours of the year, I heard it again.  This time it was in a song, "I Surrender All," that was playing on the radio while I was driving.  I have felt as the Lord has led me before, and I knew he was doing so again.

So this year, while there are two words, I feel like they definitely work hand in hand, and as I learn to surrender to the Lord and His will for my life, I will serve Him out of the overflow of my love for Him. Surrender + Serve.

Here's the song I was listening to as I clearly heard the Lord telling me to just SURRENDER to Him in 2018.  So here I am, at the beginning of this year with my hands open, held out to Him, expectant of what is to come, knowing that He will cover it all.

2017 – Our *Wild, Brave* Year in Review

I absolutely LOVE this time each year! You know, that random time after Christmas and before New Years when no-one has any idea what day of the week it is or what we're really supposed to be doing with ourselves?!  It's a time to just slow down and take a look back over the last year to see every little bit of provision and blessing (and a whole lot of painful growth) God has placed on us...and boy did He ever provide this year.  He provided us with lifelong memories, growing friendships, and peace through some of our toughest days.

When I started these posts, back in 2013, I did them more as a "Top 10," but over the years, some of the moments that have brought about the biggest growth in my life and in our family, as well as those with lasting impressions wouldn't necessarily be considered "Top," so now they're just the most memorable moments. We know that God uses every part of our lives for His story, and for His glory, so here they are from the past year:

10. Birthday Celebrations.  We kicked off 2017 celebrating our sweet girl's 3rd birthday with a little Breakfast at Bryleigh's, and we wrapped up the year celebrating our Wild One at his 1st birthday.  It is always so incredible to watch these kiddos grow up from year to year, to look back on the past year and see all the ways that they have grown and changed, but I know that the best is yet to come as they learn more about who God has created them to be.  I am so very thankful that God chose Brad and me to be earthly parents to these precious kids that make life so incredibly fun.

9. Vegas Vacation.  At the end of 2016, my Boy-Band-loving husband came across some information for the Backstreet Boys residency in Vegas, and the rest is history.  We had an absolute blast discovering a new city that neither of us had ever been to, and the cherry on top was experiencing my middle school self's dream!  Also, we ate a LOT of really good food!!  I am so thankful for times to get away with my husband, to reconnect and just enjoy life together.

8. Sports, duh.  Obviously sports is going to make the list.  The jury is still out on just how good of a year this has been for my hubby since his Sooners are STILL making a run for it, but most of my teams left a little (or a lot) to be desired in cheering them on.  Since number 9 happened (Vegas Vacation), a trip to see the Nets was off the table, but that didn't hold us back from watching them every chance we got (on a computer rigged up to the TV with questionable viewing half the time).  Brad and I had a blast at the incredible Baylor/OU game this year, and I always love getting to spend an afternoon with him at the Cowboys game.  The highlight of our sports year, though, was taking Will to his very first Rangers game!! He's a fan for life. I am thankful for the passions and interests God placed on our hearts as individuals AND the things he placed in our hearts that we enjoy together/as a family. (I am also thankful that my happiness does not depend on the success of the Baylor Bears!)

7. The Holidays. For us, the "Holidays" start with Halloween and go right up until 11:59 when we ring in the new year, looking for ways to work in some memory-making moments every chance we get.  Our Halloween was so fun and special this year as we saw our little girl REALLY growing up.  It was our very first "Teal Pumpkin Project" Halloween, and I'm already looking forward to doing a little more with that in 2018. We had a successful (read: tear-free) sugar free Halloween.  I LOVED getting to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, since last year's was a little...chaotic...and tiring...and every other thing you can think of.  We got to celebrate Will's SECOND Thanksgiving before he turned one! ;)  Any time with family is always special, but time with them at Christmas just seems a little more magical.  Christmas always reminds me of how incredibly blessed we are with an amazing family. God has been SO good to us.  I am thankful for the endless amounts of time I get to spend with my children during these younger years, making a lifetime's worth of memories with them.

6. Brave days.  As I mentioned, not all of the things on the list are "top" moments, but they are definitely BIG moments, and we had a lot of big moments this year with both of our brave babes and their health.  We started the new year with a new doctor, and that was a game changer for us!  There's been supplements, and adjustments, and nutrition education...and a few couch counseling sessions...to get us to a MUCH better place than we were in this time last year. After jumping through hoops and more details than I care to recount, we FINALLY got somewhat of a diagnosis for Bryleigh that consisted of TEN allergies we needed to completely eliminate from her diet...and it's been a journey to figure it all out ever since. On top of that, we have learned that she does have scoliosis, which is something we were very prepared for as lots of things pointed to that throughout the year.  We're still working through details with Will, and have to wait as his spine develops to see if he will have the same issues as well, but he does have the same GI issues that his big sister does.  Although there have been tough days (weeks.) and lots of questions, we are SO thankful to be where we are at this point and know that God goes before us in to 2018!

5. Summer-ish. Our B-Dad had been hard at work for the last three years, traveling weekly to North Carolina to meet in person with his client, and this summer they had their big finish.  It meant some weekends away, long hours, lots of stressful work, but he did an awesome job, and when it wrapped up, it meant some time at HOME.  It fell right around the middle of July, so it felt a little like we were on summer vacation. We got to do weeknight dinners, double duty bath time, and extra helping hands for this momma.  We're so proud of him and thankful for how hard he works to provide for our family.  He's now off to Baltimore each week to work with his new client, and we have no doubt he'll do just as well there!  I am incredibly thankful for my hubby's job and all that it provides for us, in every way.

4. Celebrating 10, and 8. It's always fun to celebrate and look back at all of God's blessings in our lives, and this year we celebrated 10 years of doing life together.  Our sweet story started on Memorial Day back in 2007, and we married a little over 2 years later.  We celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary in August with a fun date night out and some shopping, then home to snuggle our babes at bed time (which is exactly what we did to celebrate our 10 years of dating, too).  I really could not have asked for more. I am so thankful to do life with these people.

3. Saying Goodbyes. As I wrote this post last year and looked forward to all that 2017 would bring, I had no idea what was just around the corner.  We got what would be the worst phone call of our lives as we learned that our Uncle B had passed away of a massive heart attack at the end of February.  We have missed him every day since and we know that this world will never be the same without him.



Our heartbreak did not stop there, unfortunately.  In June, we said goodbye to our sweet Grandmother, days before her 93rd birthday.  Although we were so sad to not have her with us, we are so grateful that she was reunited with our sweet granddad and met Jesus face to face, where he undoubtedly said "Well done my good and faithful servant." What a reunion that must have been!  I will always be so grateful to God for her last 3 years of life where she was able to spend time with my Bryleigh Girl.  There relationship was one of my most favorite things in the world. I am forever thankful for the lives of Brian Lee and Pauline Mae, who loved me unconditionally and made me a better person.

2. Becoming Burgdorf. It's safe to say that the best day of 2017 for our family was the much anticipated wedding day for our sweet little sister, Erin, and our new brother, Luke.  We are SO blessed to have them as Aunt E and Uncle Luke to our babes and we had an absolute blast celebrating them and all the fun around their wedding - showers, bachelorette/bachelor weekends, and rehearsal included! I am so thankful that the Lord answered our prayers for our sweet Erin and a husband that will love and cherish her like she absolutely deserves.

1. Life with 2. This year, we settled in to life as a family of four, and we had an absolute blast doing it.  Will is OBSESSED with his sister.  It's obvious that she's his favorite person, and the feelings are quite reciprocated!  There's never been anything that has brought me more joy than to watch them love on each other and grow as little tiny people.  Every day is not perfect, but there is good, good blessings in every single day. I am beyond thankful for this very life that God has given us, each and every day of it!

 "Let me tell ya 'bout my beeeest friend!"

A Nursery Fit for a Wild Man

It's been a while since I've updated, and this sweet little nursery has honestly been "done" for a while, but I just have not gotten around to getting the details on the blog.

I spent the better part of my bed rest planning and dreaming about this little boy's room, and that meant quite a bit of time surfing the internet for the perfect pieces.  We were able to order some pieces online, other pieces are from a successful trip to Hobby Lobby, some things are hand-me downs and family pieces, and one very special shelving unit was designed by me and built to perfection by Will's Pappy!  I love every single inch of Will's Man Cave and look forward to adding a few more pieces and finishing touches to it during his first year.

Will's hospital room door hanger. Big Sister has one just like it on her door.

I knew I wanted to do some type of rustic theme, with outdoors, animals, and arrows involved, but I went back and forth with some different color combinations.  After our trip to Hobby Lobby and a quick look in the buggy, I could tell the color pallet was determined - ivory, gold, and wood!  I've added color in some different areas, and might add some more, but I LOVE the neutral look and the feel it gives to Will's room.

We were able to use the changing table from Bryleigh's nursery and then bought our Wild Man a new crib since Sister is still in her's and she'll be using it as a full size bed.  We added neutral colored sheets and changing pad covers (with light green back-ups from Sister's extras).  I knew what I liked in a diaper caddy, so we purchased a woven basket from Hobby Lobby to hold diapers, wipes, and all the creams.  We got SUPER lucky when we realized the wipes reusable box fits PERFECTLY at the back with some storage room underneath and the wipes tucked in at the front.  I LOVE the tree trunk canvas in neutrals and gold that really ties in all the details of the room and ended up being a big inspiration for all the decor.  I purchased it from Hobby Lobby as well.  The lamp shown is a beautiful brushed gold with arrows and a burlap shade, and there is a second matching one in the corner of his room.  These are from World Market and were a perfect fit to our little guy's room.

The shelf is from Target and has some sweet little owls from Bryleigh's "Look Whooo's 2" party, along with a picture from that Will's great-grandpa made.  It will eventually have a beautiful 4 generation picture displayed, but for now, Brad is loving the "punch heard round the world" being on display in Will's Little Man Cave.  There are also two signs and a camping lantern from Hobby that completed the shelf decor.

This corner of Will's world is home to lots more Hobby Lobby items - including the two square frames, the white-washed letters for his name, and the arrow beneath.  Two of my favorite pieces in this section of the room is the book shelf hanging on the wall that used to hold hymns on the back of a pew in my hometown church, First Baptist Church - Sherman, TX.  There is a lot of history in that church for our family, so it is very special to have a piece of that in Will's room.  You can also see a night stand tucked away in the corner, and that belonged to my Granddad.  My MawMaw and PawPaw got the Jimmy Don mountain-metal sign for us, and it is just the perfect fit for this rustic room and our hopes for our boy to be adventurous.

These are just a few close-ups of some of the details from Will's room.

I always love giving my dad a vision and watching him bring it to life!

If you've done much searching on pinterest, you might have seen shelves similar to the ones above...with a cool price tag of about $1100.  NOT exactly in this momma's price range, but thanks to my Pappy, we made it happen for a fraction of the cost.  We were able to find few different units that we liked and things from each that worked well, and my dad was able to design a shelf that fit our price range and was completely functional for our little guy's nursery.  It could not have turned anymore perfect!

That sweet moose and tree on the very top were purchased during my hospital stay and were the beginning of this whole vision.  They'll always be special pieces to me.  The bin at the bottom matches the diaper caddy on his changing table and is FULL of books that Bryleigh had while she was a baby a long with a a whole new set of books that our BSF Leaders showered us with when we came back to bible study.  I will always cherish those!  There are also some books we purchased or were given as gifts along with some more pieces from Hobby Lobby, including the "Be strong & brave" sign, the arrow picture frame, and the "Adventure" mountain piece, and the beautiful globe is from Target.

This just happens to be one of my very favorite rooms of all time.  And the little boy who lives in it happens to be a favorite of mine too!

A Fruitful 2017

I have chosen a word and a verse to think on, pray about, and live out each year for the past several years - 2014 was endurance, 2015 was joy, and 2016 was intentional.

And let me correct myself quickly, I haven't exactly chosen it as much as I've felt called by God to claim it (or work on it) in my life.

I thought endurance would be great in 2014 because I was starting the year with delivering a baby (talk about the need for endurance!?) and then raising that sweet little newborn, but what I did not know was all the endurance I would need for all that God had planned for us that year (Brad's 3 surgeries, 20 weeks of home health, and the beginning of his weekly travel to North Carolina).

My word for 2015 was one God repeatedly showed me I needed to work on - JOY.  I had very little of it in my life, and I just felt extremely negative all of the time.  I chose to claim that word and study it throughout the year, including reading "The Greatest Gift" by Ann Voskamp, where I began to track my #1000gifts.  It was a game changer for me, and although I still need work in that area, I know God did a great work in my life because of that word.

Some years I fall flat on my face.  I didn't FORGET about my word for 2016, and certainly did not forget my verse - {And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17} - but I certainly didn't make any of the efforts I intended to in order to live intentionally.  Although 2016 is behind us, my goal for 2017 is to be a little more intentional with all that God has given me and called me to - as a wife, a mother, a friend, and a daughter of the King.

Those three words came to me over the course of months leading up to the end of the prior year, and I really expected it to always go that way.  I figured God would always put something on my heart to work on or claim for the upcoming year, but lately, all I've heard is radio silence!! I've prayed and prayed, and here we are, 4 days before year end (as I type this...) and I didn't have a specific word as of 8:00 this morning.  I'd been thinking about a few and praying for some direction, but nothing was really standing out to me the way it normally does.

That was until I was standing in my bathroom, ticked off at my husband for something that Satan was turning in to a much bigger deal than it actually was, and I thought, "Boy do I need some patience.  Maybe THAT should be my 2017 word?!"

But have you ever prayed for patience?!  I'm pretty sure I did as a 6th grader and I'm still getting the lessons thrown my way, 18 years later...I could give you a laundry list of the things I've "waited on" or "waited out" or "patiently endured."

Over the past week, I've also considered a few others, like LOVE, and JOY, and PEACE...and then it hit me...FRUIT.  I need each of those areas to improve in my life. I WANT each of those areas to improve in my life.  I want my life to bear the FRUIT of Christ, showing love and joy and peace and patience and kindness and goodness and faithfulness and gentleness and self-control.  (The irony is not lost on me that my word for the year is a word that - in different context - has rocked our world a bit over the last 2 years...)

Over the years, I have loved studying the passage in Galatians chapter 5 that discusses this very topic and plan on studying it over the next 12 months - and each month I'll focus on one of the words.  So here's to a LOVING January, a JOYFUL February, a PEACEFUL March, a PATIENT April, a KIND May, a GOOD June, a FAITHFUL July, a GENTLE August, and a SELF-CONTROLLED September.  And I'll swing back around for a second round of those words for the last quarter of the year...you know, the Holidays when you could use a little more of each area! ;)  Here's to a year of FRUIT in 2017!

2016 - A *CRAZY* Year in Review

You know all those memes and funny Facebook posts (and some not so funny) about 2016 and how crazy it's been - like how can there be so much good and so much bad at the same time, like how we REALLY need 2016 to be over and for 2017 to be a little better behaved?! Yeah, that's SO us!!  God has given us SUCH good gifts in 2016 and we made some incredible memories, but to say it's been a tough year of growth would be an incredible understatement.

10.  Life with our big girl!  It is such a blessing to be Miss Bryleigh's momma and daddy.  She is such a joy and we have loved watching her grow up over the last year, which included turning 2, going to her first movie, starting school, and learning all kinds of things!  (Here's to hoping year 3 sees the end of the pass and the beginning of panties!)  I am thankful for the little beautiful life God blessed us with when He loaned us our Bryleigh Girl.

9.  Diaper Daze.  Along with growing and learning, our big girl had a tough year with all of her tummy issues.  She had lots of appointments with her doctors at Cooks and several different tests, including a sweat test to rule out Cystic Fibrosis, an endoscopy and colonoscopy, and a big genetic test.  We spent a lot of the past year focused on trying to find out what was wrong with Miss B and how to help her, even without a diagnosis.  Although we are ending 2016 just like we did 2015, with no diagnosis, we are PRAISING THE LORD that these last weeks of 2016 have been (mostly) tear free when it has come to changing diapers and all things diapers related.  God is so good!  I am thankful that God is faithful and He sustains us, even on our toughest days.  I am thankful that He knows Bryleigh's tiny body inside and out. (And insurance. I'm STILL thankful for insurance.)

8.  Our Teams.  2016 was a fun year for sports in our family, starting with cheering on Carrie's Broncos and Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl!  We spent a lot of time at the Ballpark cheering on our Rangers, and it's been such a fun season cheering on the Cowboys.  One of us is happy to have cheered on the Big 12 Champion Sooners, and the other isn't as pleased with how the year went (on and off the field) for their Bears.  We LOVED getting to visit the Nationals' park again and watch two games, including a Scherzer gem!  We even found ourselves cheering on our alma mater (UTA Mavs) in a men's/women's double header.  I am thankful for the fun we get to share as a family, making memories together whether our teams win or lose.

7.  We're pregnant! And it's a boy!  On March 24, we found out that we were expecting a sweet little baby that would join our family around the first week of December.  True to each of Carrie's pregnancies, there was lots of sickness to start things off, but our sweet baby was healthy and growing!  On July 26, we found out the exciting news that the sweet little baby was a BOY!  We had a fun year of dreaming and planning for our little guy.  I am thankful for the miracle of new life that is a blessing and a gift from God.

6.  Sweet Sister.  We weren't the only ones adding to the family in 2016! Our sweet little sister got engaged on July 3, just 2 months after they both graduated from UTA.  Erin has already started working as an ER nurse and we are SO excited for March to get here so that we can officially add Luke to the family.  I am thankful for the little sister I got when I married in to Brad's family and for all the blessings He has given to her!  What a blessing she is to all of us.

5.  A San Antonio Get-Away.  We had a blast exploring San Antonio with Carrie's family in May to kick off a fun-filled summer.  There was time on the River Walk, lots of good food, a trip to Sea World (in the middle of a monsoon), and a 1000 piece puzzle.  I never get tired of seeing Bryleigh with her cousins (and she never gets tired of seeing them).  I am thankful for the fact that God saw fit to put our sweet Tate, Olivia, and Bryleigh in our lives, close in age, so they can grow up together.

4.  BCinDC2016 AND BryleighsTrip.  2016 was an awesome year of travel for our family with a return trip to DC for Brad and Carrie AND our first (and last) vacation as a family of three where we took our big girl down to Galveston.  I am thankful for the time I got to spend with my husband and my little family this year

3.  Bed-Rest Days.  The last quarter of our year was spent in and out of the hospital, complete with a 17 day stay in the antepartum unit at Baylor Scott and White in Dallas when our sweet little boy tried to make his grand entrance at 31 weeks and again in isolation for a few days while being tested for TB and again after giving birth (that part was a much funner stay!).  I am thankful that God sustained us during such a scary and frustrating time.  I am thankful that he took care of and protected our sweet boy.  And I am thankful that we got lots of extra time with our B-dad at home with us!!

2. William Bradley.  Our sweet little guy was born on Thanksgiving Day at 9:00 am after a quick-ish labor and delivery.  We fell instantly in love, as did Big Sister, and our lives will never be the same.  What a gift he is!! I am thankful for the incredible blessing it is to be Will's mom and to get a first-hand look at Bryleigh being his big sister.  What good gifts our Father gives!!

1.  Life as a family of FOUR.  In the short 5 weeks we've been a family of four, we've already deposited some incredible memories in to the memory bank, including Will's first days at home, his first Christmas (and all the fun involved there), his first hotel stay, his first trip to the zoo, and so much more.  We are looking forward to all the adventures that are in store for 2017.  I am thankful for the incredible family God has blessed me with and all of the days and all of the things...every single one of them, no matter how tired, or gross, or long, or "boring" they may be.

Live Intentional in 2016

Each year, I spend a little time looking at the year ahead and setting some goals for myself to shoot for in the new year.  Over the past few years, I've honestly been able to achieve more of those goals than I imagined I could as I let go of being "perfect" at each goal and just strived for progress in each area.  Those goals have looked a lot like this:

The thing I have loved more than setting these goals for myself is choosing a word to focus on in the upcoming year because they've always ended up being the perfect word for that year.  Some years, they've come in at the last second, and other years they're as obvious as if God lit up a neon billboard with blinking lights and a large arrow saying, "This is your word, Carrie." (FYI: That's pretty much what happened this year.)

One thing I have learned in claiming these words (I would have said "choosing" them, but I feel like God has declared the words for me) is that you have to be very careful.  It's like praying for patience and you end up feeling a little more like Job than you ever expected, like every day is a new test more difficult than the one before.

Two years ago, my word was endurance - I ended up being 4 days overdue, in labor for over 18 hours and in delivery for about 2 more hours, had a newborn baby with the obvious lack of sleep and daily life lessons, and we rounded out the year with 3 surgeries and 100+ days of home health.  This past year, my word was joy - and although most days were fairly easy to find joy in some way or another, I never dreamed I'd be challenged so much in such a short amount of time when a very wanted pregnancy became a very unwanted miscarriage.  I fought to find joy in the days and months that followed.

As 2015 is coming to a close, I have had NO trouble knowing what my 2016 word should be.  God has been making it obvious for a few months now, and He has continually confirmed and reaffirmed it in various ways.

I remember at the end of my first year in BSF (May 2015), my summer-long prayer request was to be INTENTIONAL with my time.  That one word has continually come to mind time and time again since then.  I'm not sure when exactly God put it on my heart, but I know it is right where He is really working in my life right now.

...And there it is, right there at the bottom of that screenshot above - BEING INTENTIONAL.  So apparently my 2016 word came all the way at the beginning of 2015, and I'm just now realizing it at the end of 2015.  Sometimes God just works like that ;)

So for 2016, I'm not focusing on a whole list of goals in different areas of my life, I'm just focusing on one thing: LIVING INTENTIONALLY - with our finances, with my health, with relationships, with parenting and my time with Bryleigh, with my prayer life, with my relationship with Christ, and every area of my life in between.  And of course, I will continue to find JOY and give thanks in each and every moment, of each and every day the Lord gives me.

2015 – A *JOYFUL* Year in Review

I have loved sharing our life with friends and family on our blog over the past few years, and one of my favorite posts each year is our “Year in Review.”  This year was full of blessings from God coupled with His mercy and grace through some tougher times.  It’s always so amazing to look back and see how God continually took care of us along the way.  So without further ado, here’s our Top 15 in 2015…

15.  Celebrating Bryleigh.  We kicked off 2015 celebrating our sweet little girl at her 1^st birthday party.  We had so much fun making new memories, starting traditions, and celebrating her life with friends and family.  It was truly wonderful to top off her first year of life with a Onederland birthday party, complete with Christmas trees, snowflakes, and Hopkins County Stew.  I am thankful for a beautiful baby girl that reminds me of God’s miracles and great love every single day and thankful to be celebrating her sweet little life to kick off 2016.

14.  Growing Pains.  Bryleigh's 1st birthday also meant the dreaded Well Check visit.  These had been pretty routine for us during B's first year.  She was meeting all her milestones and doing great with all of the recommended vaccines, but her One-Year well check ended up leading to some follow up appointments regarding her size and a year-long question that we still don't really have answers for.  (Bryleigh's growth had fallen from 95-99 percentile down to the 60's.)  We followed up a few times as her growth started to level out and our pediatrician was sure Bryleigh was just getting settled in to a new percentile.  (Let's face it, if you have been around Bryleigh, you know she is very happy and healthy!!) However, over the summer, Bryleigh began to have some other health issues that have left us with more questions that answers at this point.  We've spent a lot of money on diapers, a lot of time at Cook's, and ZERO (almost) time researching related issues on the Internet.  I am thankful that we have incredible doctors we are working with, modern technology and medicine at our disposal, and most of all, that we serve the ultimate Healer.  I am thankful that although 2016 will have more follow ups, God is with us and knows every detail about Bryleigh's body.  (And insurance.  I'm thankful for insurance.)

13.  Getaways.  Last year, we focused a whole lot on “Bryleigh’s First,” from her first smile, to her first steps and everything in between, but we celebrated a big FIRST this year ourselves…our first night away!  Mimi and Pappy came and stayed with our little Miss while we headed to Dallas for a Valentine’s dinner and a night at the Ritz, followed by brunch at Crossroads Diner.  It was the perfect getaway for us (for me), and Brad was still able to spend some time with Bryleigh while he was home over the weekend.  (We LOVE celebrating the holidays…all of them, both together and as a family.)  I am thankful for family that steps in to help out with our little one, and I am thankful for a husband that takes time for us and makes me feel so special.  I’m thankful for all the moment’s he’ll steal away for us in 2016.

12.  No More Years.  Not only do we like to celebrate holidays in our family, we just like to CELEBRATE in general.  So when my mom retired after teaching at Sulphur Springs ISD for 25 years, we had to celebrate in a big way.  I was so glad to be able to be with my mom for her last week before her Endless Summer began, and I loved being able to pull off some fun surprises for her, along with my brother and dad.  There were parties at her school, a dinner with family and friends, and a surprise trip from my brother and his family.  There were also a few “prizes” along the way!  I am so thankful that God provided my mom with a career that she loved and was so gifted in but also allowed her to be home with my brother and I any time we were out of school.  I’m also very thankful that 2016 will bring lots of new exciting things with mom’s new freedom in her time, she’s already making the most of it!

11.  New Car (New Freedom).  After 2.5 years of only having one car, we decided to make a BIG purchase and get a family car!  We celebrated paying OFF Brad's car in February, and went two months without a car payment.  Now that is something to celebrate!!  New cars are always fun, but when schedules are as crazy as ours, with early morning/late night trips to and from the airport, adding a second car was SUCH a blessing for us.  We made the whole "One-Car" thing work for us, but it has been so nice to have the freedom a second car allows for.  (And we finished up the night we purchased our car in the closet due to tornado warnings...something we won't ever forget!)  I am thankful for the Lord's provision for our family over the years and for all He will provide in 2016.

10.  Snow Days.  Not only did we spend quite a few moments in the closet this spring due to tornado warnings, but we also enjoyed several snow days!  Thankfully, Daddy was even home to enjoy a few of them with us, and he had a few of his own in North Carolina.  We made a lot of memories in our little back yard on Velvet Antler this year, and the snow days were some of my favorite ones.  Our little girl's love for the outdoors completely blossomed over 2015.  What we did not love was driving to one of Bryleigh's follow up doctor's appointment in blizzard-like weather, turning our 10-15 minute drive in to almost an hour, and the ride home was even longer!  And you better believe we made snow ice cream. ;)  I am thankful for unbelievably fun memories with our little family (and for the two of them that are along for the ride every step of the way).  I am so thankful for all of the memories we will make in 2016.

9.  Living for the Weekends (Still).  I never knew that my husband could be gone Sunday/Monday through Thursday and I would be okay.  It used to terrify me, but somehow, we've made it work for our little family.  Although we would LOVE more time together and a little bit easier schedule, we definitely make the most of our time together and it has taught us to appreciate each other more.  I am thankful that God has sustained us during this season of our lives and all the time we've spent apart, and I'm thankful that He has gone before us in 2016 to make the days apart quick and the time together very special!

8.  Our Teams.  We obviously love sports, and cheering on our teams always brings a little more joy. We were able to cheer on the Rangers at the Ballpark some great games including Opening Sunday, Josh Hamilton's comeback, Cole Hamel's first start, and the Rangers WINNING the AL West.  Brad has enjoyed going to the Cowboy's games with his dad all season, and I even got to go to one with him!  There hasn't been much to cheer for their, but we love them anyways! ;) And one of our favorite games of the season was traveling all the way to DC to see Bryce Harper and the Nats!!  I am thankful for all the things Brad and I have in common, including our love for sports, but I'm thankful that on years like this one (FULL of disappoints), we know life is so much more than our teams winning a few games.  I'm really thankful that 2016 is a new year with a few less quarterback injuries (we're looking at you - cowboys, bears, and broncos).

7.  Will Run for Chocolate.  The number 1 reason I started running was to run in the Dallas Hot Chocolate 5k with my momma!  It was well worth it and such a fun experience.  I'm proud to be a runner (although I'm not much of one these days), and I look forward to all the miles I'll put on my Asics in 2016.  I'm thankful that my mom has taken her health and staying in shape seriously and the impact it has made on me, as well as the memories we've made sharing in all kinds of experiences.  I'm thankful for the 2016 Hot Chocolate and all the other miles we'll run together in the days ahead.

6.  Bryleigh Girl's First (round 2).  Just because Bryleigh's first year is behind us doesn't mean our lives aren't full of "Firsts" on a regular basis.  Our sweet little trooper, who is always along for the ride, went on her first flight and had the flu for the first (and hopefully last) time this year.  She's also sported her first ponytail, attended her first, and second Rangers games, and she's tried a whole lot of foods for the first time (including chocolate chip cookies and ice cream)!  She took her first trip to the zoo and her first trip to Waco, Baylor's campus, and the Bear Pit.  The biggest first this year - STEPS.  We celebrated a new year with our new little walker, and she hasn't slowed down since!! I am thankful for the firsts we celebrated in 2015 and the ones to come in 2016!

5.  Glory Baby.  I've mentioned before that the "top moments" aren't necessarily the "best moments" from the previous year but rather the ones that have shaped our family the most, and losing our precious little baby is definitely something we won't ever forget - nor is it "just a moment." I wrote back in April when I shared the news that for the first time in my blogging history I "didn't have the words," and that maybe at some point I would...well, I still don't  I've learned a lot over the past 8 months, and I've learned more about finding  JOY than I really bargained for at the beginning of this year, but I just still don't have the words...So I'll leave you with some pictures of that time instead ;)  I am thankful that we serve a God who heals our broken hearts, and I am thankful that He will minister to us in 2016 through all the highs and lows that come our way.  I am thankful that He has far better plans for our family than we do ourselves.

But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. Ps 71: 14

4.  2015 Holidays.  As I mentioned early, we like to celebrate EVERYTHING in this family, so we make the most of all the holidays.  The older Bryleigh gets, the more she understands, and the more she gets in to all the celebrating as well.  By the end of Christmas she was singing the songs, opening her presents, and getting excited over all the lights.  I am so looking forward to making more memories with her, and the rest of our family, in 2016.  I am so thankful for all the memories God allowed us to create in 2015 and thankful for the ones ahead of us in 2016.

3.  BCinDC.  Brad and I celebrated SIX years of marriage this year, and we decided to take a little anniversary trip.  It was our first time to be away for more than one night, so we decided to go over a weekend.  We also used it as an opportunity to check some items off our bucket list - including a trip to DC, two ballparks, and crab cakes at Jimmy's Famous Seafood.  We loved our time away, just the two of us, and we truly fell in love with the city.  We still have days where we miss being there, and we can't wait to go back again soon.  We LOVED getting to see this years NL MVP, Bryce Harper, who played in MVP fashion - great base running, great fielding, and to top it all off, a home run!!  I am thankful for 6 years of life with my husband and for the "Lucky Number 7" ahead of us!

2.  MPBCBinNYC.  My absolute most favorite place on the planet is New York City.  I'm normally ready to go back "next time" before we even leave "this time," and this trip was no different!  This year, we got to do a lot of things we had never done before, including the Central Park Zoo, Serendipity 3, ice skating at Rockefeller Center, and a trip to Eloise in the Plaza.  Of course there were a few repeats like Shake Shack, Ellen's Stardust Diner, and the best view of The City - Top of the Rock.  We won't talk about the fact that Bryleigh got the FLU the day before we left.  She was such a trooper and loved her first trip to The City!!  I am so thankful that God allowed us to go on this memorable trip this year and for the countless ways He took care of us while we were there, and I am thankful for the unexpected blessings for 2016 He has coming our way. 

1.  Family Fun.  We have the BEST family in the world.  Bryleigh is blessed with 2 amazing aunts, the coolest uncle, the funnest cousins, and the most incredible grandparents.  She is surrounded by love, as every little girl should be.  There are obviously a million (and that's probably not much of an exaggeration) pictures I could have filled this collage with below from all the memories we made this year.  We were blessed with lots of time over the past year with our families, and we are looking forward to all the time together in 2016!  I am so thankful for the incredible family God has blessed us with and the memories we made this year, and I am thankful for all He has in store for our family in 2016.