Reflections of 2011

Well, I just re-read my post from last January with my hopes for the year ("resolutions" you could say), and I did pretty well!

Got a new cell phone. Got text messaging. Didn't get addicted. Got on facebook. Didn't go parasailing. Spent a lot of months praying about family. Got pregnant.

And what wasn't on the list, because I wouldn't have ever guessed I'd have considered this last year, was: started homeschooling my kids.

Yipee for 2011!

Last spring I thought a lot about Mother Theresa. Read some about her. Reflected on her selfless life. Was intrigued by her little acts of amazing love and how that impacted the whole world.

Wondered how I am making a difference with my life. Not that I want recognition or biographies written about me (I'm sure Mother Theresa didn't either). But, I also want to be sure I am serving Jesus in an important way. I haven't come to a solid answer on that whole topic, but I

still think about it. We talked a bit about adoption or fostering children. I'd still love to, but right now I'm cooking up a child in-utero, so other forms of growing our family will have to wait. I do think the homeschooling thing came a little as a result of these thoughts. Like, what am I doing in my own family and for my own children that makes the most of our lives? I was hoping having them home more would provide the time and relationship building that could make a difference. So far, so good I think.

Here's what else we've been up to this past year:

Michelle - Made her First Holy Communion, was in a ballet recital, read a million books, started 3rd grade, began piano lessons and playing piano beautifully, sang in the choir, read a million more books.

Jacob - Lost his first tooth, played Little League Baseball, ate a lot - grew a lot, started 2nd grade, amazed us at math and all other strategy related games, taught himself to play a handful of songs on the piano - pretty cool.

Dominic - Potty trained (easiest kid yet!), moved into a toddler bed, gave up naps, coined the phrase "I can't want to," figured out how to put pants and shoes on, made us laugh a ton.

And what's in store for this year? I think that's better saved for my next post.