2012 Year in Review

2012

January: 

Hudson Davis Bishop is born, we have the first wave of visitors, and Ellie turns two!

February: 

We have the second wave of visitors, Hudson gets baptized, and we have a party for him.

March: 

Ellie gets her first professional haircut, Currie runs in the St. Patty's Day parade (pushing Ellie), Abby turns 32 (and eats Chocolate), Ellie sleeps in a big girl bed, and Hudson learns how to read. ;)

 

April: 

We take family pictures, Hudson has tummy time (Ellie joins him), we celebrate Easter, and Ellie begins swim lessons at the Y.

May:

Mum & Dad come for a visit, Monkey joins the family, we eat Ted Drewes, Ellie becomes a princess for the first time at her friend's bday party, and Currie drives to Chicago to get a free boat!

June:

We camp at Rend Lake for the annual Messabout, we attend GA in Louisville KY (and see cousins), we road trip to FL to see family (and the beach), and Hudson takes his first swim.

July: 

We spend the 4th with college roomies (and their babies!), hike at Anna Ruby Falls w/ Mum & Dad, Abby keeps busy w/ gobs of playdates, Ellie turns 2 1/2 and gets her first taste of VBS ("I just love Ol' Orchurd"), and Hudson learns to crawl.

August:

Currie finishes a 2 yr. kitchen renovation, Abby's parents come for a visit (we eat more Ted Drewes), and we meet friends in KY for a college reunion.

September:

Currie's parents visit so we can get away for our 9th anniversary (first time away from Hudson), Ellie starts her (free!) Mommy & Me ballet class at the seminary, and we go camping at the church retreat (no pic).

October:

Abby humors Currie by going to the Grafton Rendezvous to enjoy fall leaves, we host our annual Halloween party (as characters from Ellie's current favorite musical), and, *Biggest News of the Year* we find out that Currie gets a call to pastor a PCA church in Carbondale, IL!!

November:

We take more family pictures, we (Grandad actually) rent a house for a family Thanksgiving in the mountains of GA, the cousins get along great, and Currie passes his comprehensive exams (no pic)! 

December: 

Dad & Mum come for another visit, Ellie watches in wonder as Daddy strings Christmas lights, we pick out a tree (and have more Ted Drewes!), Dad comes for another (almost monthly) visit and acts out David & Goliath with Ellie, Currie turns 33, we host our 10th annual Christmas party, and our baby has his First Christmas.

 WOW.  When I think about the past year, I tend to think about how crazy it feels to keep up with two small children, two part-time jobs, constant studying for the PhD., handyman work, involvement in church, home renovations, etc.  I think about the long battle we had with coughs/colds this fall, the stress of Currie completing his comprehensive exams, and studying for ordination, the number of times we've had to wake up each night as the kids learn to share a room, the daily time-out battles we have as we try to teach our 2 yr old how to obey, and the struggle to keep house in the midst of our crazy schedules.  So, we often feel that we're running in a million different directions.

But, I hadn't realized what an incredible year 2012 was!  Looking back at these pictures makes me keenly aware of how good God has been to us.  Our children are such an incredible blessing to us, we have friends that love us well and are intentional about spending time with us, and our family go out of their way to help us and care for us.  We thank God for a great year and look forward to what 2013 has in store!