Happy New Year Phoebe!

Today is January 1, 2009 and it is Phoebe's first new year. Last night, Ton and Cynthia came over to spend new years together. From 5:30 on, we played Wii, watched TV, ate together after making our homemade pizza's, and rang in the new year as a family. That was great. I feel so appreciative to them for sharing their new year with us, considering we really can't get out of the home like we used to. Brett was initially going to join us, but then he called later that day informing us that he had not yet gotten over his cold that he caught roughly a week ago. He was very kind in letting us know and to make the final decision of whether to have him present or not. The biggest fear is having Phoebe get sick in the first month, which would then wind up with a situation where we would have to have her worked up for sepsis, a very involved and complex process.

This past work week went by fast, considering that it was very short, just Monday to half of Wednesday. I'm off Thursday and Friday. I love being home with Phoebe and Mimi. I get to wake up with them, hang out with them, change Phoebe, and just attend to things that I want to do with my family. Today for instance, I would like for us to go for a short walk on the trail since the sun is shining so brightly outside. It would be nice for us to get out there while there is still daylight.

So we just went out and did a 20 minute loop on the trail. It was a little cold outside, but we had her bundled up, as well as ourselves. I think we're getting into the swing of taking care of this child, and at the same time taking care of ourselves. It definitely is a lazy start to the new year, but when one is waking up two to three hours at a time at night, one just wants to stay in the warm cozy environment of their bed. Who could blame us.

Here is a funny story. Daniel Wu, one of the elders from Mimi's home church came to our home to drop off some gifts for Phoebe. Interestingly enough, when they left he ended up wearing my shoes home and he left his shoes here. I saw them yesterday right before Ton, Cynthia, and I left to purchase groceries. I could not figure out whose they were, because they were definitely not Mimi's and it looked too big for Mimi's mom. Then I also noted that they were men's style. Then I looked at my shoes and started counting where all my shoes were. Sure enough, one of my black ecco's were missing. I then realized that he must have worn my shoes home. How weird is that. Can anyone say that this exact scenario has ever happened to them? Daniel Wu and his wife returned them this morning, and I'm grateful for that, but the event itself was pretty strange.

In the end, 2008 has come to a close and there were some really special parts of this past year, and other difficult moments. I thank God that in 2008 He provided for all of us, protected our family, gave each of us good health, brought two new additions to our family, Jake and Phoebe, and we can give thanks for the many blessings, like Tim getting a new job.

As we look forward to 2009, we think of what is to come, the changes of this family, and the growth of our baby girl. I pray that God's hand continue to guide my parents and Mimi's mom's health so that we can continue to enjoy their presence with us. However, if God decides to take them to be with Him, then I know in my heart that each of them, a believe and a child of God, will be in a much better place. I just pray that that is years to come.