Happy New Year!



 

 

Here we are at the end of another year.  I'm looking forward to putting behind me another year and looking forward to what is ahead of me.  This year has had it's share of troubles, but I'm grateful we have gotten through them and am pushing on.  We are excited to continue to encourage each other in our weightloss efforts and I will continue to learn how to live with depression and even some OCD tendencies. Change in routines or schedules seem to affect me and trigger a lot of anxiety.  It can be scary and very lonely at times.  All I can do is keep trying and do my best to rely on God, who in the end is the only person who is in complete control. 

 

 

Christmas Day was such a great day for us.  Gabby and Tyler were excited to have Pop-pop and Grand-pop both with us!  It was nice to enjoy each other, spend time playing and having fun with the kids and all they got for Christmas.  For the past couple of years, Julio and I have decided only to get the kids presents and focus on them. We know that the best present we could ever get is each other. 

 

One of Tyler's favorite presents was his first Hot Wheels track!  He also loved his new games for his mobigo  and some pretty cool lego sets.

Gabby's favorite presents were her Figit Friend and Furby. One very special gift she got was a hand-made desk that pop-pop made just for her. 

 

He even autographed it. It will be something we will treasure for a long time.

The Marker Christmas gathering this year was a lot of fun.  The kids had a blast and really enjoyed the special gifts they got.  I was glad that we all were able to enjoy each other.  You could feel the void from mom-mom not being there this year, but I'm sure she was definately smiling down and enjoying watching  all the festivities and the  grand-kids play together, but from Heaven this year.  She has left a legacy and a love for family I hope we always remember.

 

My dad and all the grand-kids

My dad, my brothers and I


As my Christmas Break is winding down, I"m trying to spend the last couple of days really relaxing and enjoying the downtime I have left to spend time as a family and do some things I don't normally have time to do. 

We're excited about welcoming in 2013 and everything it has in store for us!

 

Holiday Season!

We are upon the Holiday Season!  Seems we stay busy with our weekly schedule and try to use the weekends to spend some much needed quality time as a family and extra rest and relaxtion. There are some days and some weeks that are very challenging and I have trouble keeping up with all I have to do, continue to have strength to fight the depression that wants to destroy me, and doing my best to be a good mom and wife.  I make sure I do my best to make time to pray and rely on God through it all.  I am thankful for my family and enjoy making memories with them.

Gabby just brought home her first report card.  She ended up getting 9 A's and 1 B plus.  We are very proud of her.  She got a music award in school and we made a certificate for her for her grades from us.  It is definitely a challenge to continue to help her develop good habits and be supportivie at home.  Our goal this marking period is to focus on slowing down and taking pride in her work.  She is a very smart girl!

 

 

 

 This week we started decorating and getting ready for the Christmas season.  We were able to start the weekend by stopping by and visiting Santa.  Martin the Elf came back as well to watch them and report back to Santa every night.  It will be exciting to see them come down stairs each morning and try to find where his new place is. 

 Julio put lights out and we put a Nativity seen up in front of the house that my dad made.  I'm very proud of his work :)  He does such great work and has such a talent! 

 Finally, we went and picked out our tree and decorated it.  It was fun to watch the kids decorate it and look at all the ornaments that have such fond memories attached. 

I am struggling a lot right now, but I'm thankful for all God has blessed me with.  I'm thankful for Gabby and Tyler, even though some days they drive me nuts! :) I'm thankful I have a wonderful husband and a great marriage.  I trust in God that he will bring me through and has good things in store for me.  I will continue to pray and try and be still as I wait.