2015 ~ A Year of Faith

Each year I write a "year in review" post of sorts and its so fun to look back on the previous years review as I sit down to write this one. 2015 has without a doubt been the most trial-filled year for our family so far. I struggle admitting that because I'm sure Heavenly Father is up there thinking "Oh my Kayla, so young, so naive, you haven't seen anything yet!" but from a very temporal standpoint, this year has been a doosy. As I reflect on all our experiences I'm so grateful for this years lessons and how much they've stretched us and shaped us into a new couple.

This year we've learned...

We don't know everything, we don't have to and we can still be happy
We are all eachother needs
Faith and hope are choices, not just gifts
Living close to extended family is a blessing and takes skill
What used to seem like a lot of money, now seems very little
Always have napkins in your car
Getting angry is never justified
Not all our callings will be our favorite, but all of them will be for a reason.
Salted roads and icey conditions will infact rust your wheel wells and ruin your cv axel
Mice are never truely gone, no matter how many your husband kills with a broom
Being unified with your spouse makes every obstacle easier (so make that step one in each trial)
A 1/2 marathon is nothing like a marathon (they shouldn't even sound the same, its not fair to marathon runners)
Cruises really are the best way to travel
Being a mom is really my favorite and most important job (I knew it was important but now I know I love it!)
Agreeing and being agreeable are very different and only one of them is required for a happy marriage.
Network, network, network! 
While my whole 30's and "year of no soda" were great lessons in discipline, all things in moderation.
Don't buy a clunker unless you're prepared to loose it the next day.
We love snow and miss it terribly
Live within your means, but more importantly live within your means confidently.
Liams a lot more sensitive and absorbent then we'll ever know.
I'm not a bunny person
The Lord can and does lead you places to show you you don't belong there.
You can loose 40 lbs in 3 months healthily (need to remember this come May)
I need to be singing more, it makes me truely happy and I've neglected that talent the past few years
Chad is truely one of the best of friends to have. He's so good at it.
Liam is very independent but ultimitly strives to make those around him happy ( a true gift)
I have good thoughts and ideas and this year, I watched myself become more outspoken and appreciated.
Chad is not only a hard worker but an amazing perseverer.

We learned so many things, about our family, ourselves, just life in general this year but most importantly, we learned that faith is never misplaced when its in Gods hands and when we, as a family, choose to actively "walk by faith" together.  The "together" part is very important. I know I couldn't have made it through this year without my husbands faith, and him without mine. And how grateful I am that we were in a place where we could fully rely upon each other and the Lord.

Highlights:
Watching Liam learn how to talk
Criusing in Mexico with the Thompsons
Running a 1/2 marathon
Chads graduation
Moving to Arizona
Saying goodbye to managing apartments
Going to Carlsbad CA for a week together
Being the Primary Chorister
Watching Liam gain a love for the scriptures and Nursery
Having Chickens (for a while)
Liam learned his ABCs and how to count to 20
Liam also learned to sing "Head, shoulders, knees and toes", "once there was a snowman", ABC's, dozens of short Daniel Tiger songs, "I love to see the temple", "Let it go" and "roll your hands" (we're working on Adeles "Hello".)
Chad got his first REAL Christmas bonus and did amazing at his 6 month review
I went the whole year without a drop of soda ( Minus a Pina Colada on the cruise that I was unaware contained Sprite)
Chad and I lost 66 lbs collectively
We learned how to eat/shop clean and Liam has gain a love for all things green (avocados, green beans and broccoli being his favorite)

2016, we look forward to welcoming baby Matix to the family, progressing in a different direction with our careers, Liam becoming a loving big brother and lots of personal progress. We're really focusing on discipline and routines this year. Liam has done amazingly with his routines and we would be wise to follow his example as we create more spiritually uplifting family routines, discipline our desires and create patterns of upward progression that will set us up for success in the coming year.