Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Hopeful new year?

Better new year?

Good riddance, 2015?

I find it interesting to see what people post or comment about the new year...how many say how blessed they were in 2015 vs. how many people say things like, "Well, 2015 was certainly not our year," kind of thing.

Well...if you think quickly on the G family's last year, we could easily say that. But each year has brought blessings alongside the hardship and trials. Although we've walked a hard road these last two years, there have been a scattered multitude of blessings and ways the Lord has been right beside us through it all. To write off 2015 as a bad year is to tell the Lord it wasn't worth it. And that's just not our style.

So here's our 2015 list of blessings & bests... {click on links to read original blog posts}

• God's provisions and protection.
• Chloe stayed home from the NICU for over 8 months!
• Blessings in ABUNDANCE from Chloe's Benefit!!!
• Chloe earned frequent flyer miles last summer and all trips were made safely.
• Safe travels back and forth a thousand times between our home sweet home and KC.
• Chloe survived her second heart surgery. 
• Chloe got to go to church with us twice, one of those being our family dedication for her and her sister.
• The kids LOVED the Ronald McDonald houses and considered it an adventure, not a bump in the road. We called it our summer vacation. 
• We didn't get lost in the woods. 
• We kept the momentum up through the unknown weeks of being away from home. 
• We watched from home plate seats as the Royals launched themselves into the world series, as a gift from the Ronald McDonald House. 
• Jodie discovered Instagram. She's pretty much in love with it. 
• Alan started seminary working on his masters and is loving it and doing great, and even took exams from Chloe's hospital room during his shifts as parent on duty. 
• Chloe didn't get any clots from this year's PICC during her stay!!
• Abi got to see Frozen on Ice.
• Our family got to see Cinderella live at the Star Light Theatre, outdoors, under the stars on a beautiful early fall night. The kids thought it was just a jumbo movie screen. 
• Isaac learned he loves math.
• Isaac learned to read.
• Abi started ballet classes online with her homeschool. She's perfecting her twirl. 
• Chloe has learned to chew on things.
• Chloe can sit up (assisted) without throwing up every time. 
• Chloe can hold her head up and reach for toys now. 
• Chloe has started losing her aversion to things in her mouth these last few days. Downside is she's trying to chew on her cords. 
• The kids got blessed by friends with a new swingset in our backyard this summer as their own private playground. 
• Visits from family.
• Extended family health prayers answered.
• Unexpected trip to Iowa to see family for the first time in over a year. 
• We learned how to off-road in a mini-van. 
• Chloe was OFF her ventilator for over 8 months during day and 4 months completely off 24/7! Huge praise as we know she's strong enough to do it again soon. 
• Chloe made the Wall Street Journal as well as Time Magazine Online via a post I wrote for a special needs blog. 
• Chloe came home for Christmas!!!

Yes, 2015 was a hard year (and the year before that as well), but from that small list, which left out a ton of other blessings, you can see how each year is important. The good and the bad. The good times and the trials. I think we're learning that blessings and trials go hand in hand. And that's a good lesson in and of itself. 

So here's to 2016. A new year. A fresh start. A new season for Chloe. I must admit, I cried the other day watching a 7 month old bear weight on her legs as she played in her mama's lap and I burst into tears because Chloe is almost 2 and not there yet. But immediately the Lord brought to mind this verse, "...they shall soar high on wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint..." from Isaiah and I was immediately reminded that in her time, by His will, she'll get there. I've set this goal for her that I want her to bear weight or start to crawl by the end of the year, but my husband lovingly reminded me that we're to simply be thankful she's even here right now and to wait patiently for those things to come. So that's our approach for this year for Chloe and our family. To soak it up, one day at a time. One dance party on the living room floor at a time. One car ride for appointments at a time. One homeschool day around the family table at a time. 

Whatever it is that you've walked through last year, know that this year is a new year, a fresh start, and that although there might be trials along the way, there will be blessings as well. Just wait and see.