Taking Stock 2014.

  I love taking stock. Big pictures are really important, I think. Looking at all the little moments that make up your bigger story seems essential to me.
  2014 was a full-to-the-brim kind of year. After a couple of years of heartache and longing, this one felt like a year of plenty. Of blessings upon blessings. I've gone back and forth on how to feel about that though. I of course want to celebrate and be thankful, but I also struggle with guilt. Guilt because people I love are in different, harder seasons. Because sometimes celebrating seems like bragging. Because sometimes it makes me feel unrelatable. I know, I know. It's not. But sometimes it feel like it.
  While 2013 was a year of choosing joy {when it was hard and sometimes didn't make sense}, I would say that 2014 was a year of experiencing joy. Not just because Caleb arrived. But also because of wonderful new friendships, being able to stay home full time, adjustments at Justin's job, celebrating new life with family members, and so much more. And since I know that even this really full season is only part of my bigger story, I've been savoring it. It could change in an instant. We'll for sure have hard seasons ahead of us again. So 2014 was about experiencing joy for what's it is and not taking it for granted one bit.

Tomorrow, With a Smile in 2014

January// I started writing weekly notes to Caleb {13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 weeks}, we had tons of snow days, posted my first reader survey, shared about how I do my daily devotions, decided I'll always be a dog person, finally started my gallery wall, and hesitantly shared some of my dreams {and realized one of them in the same year!}.  

February// I wrote a rare post about my job, started learning to appreciate Winter, found out we were having a BOY!, recapped our little gender reveal party, started dreaming up Caleb's nursery, and kept up with my weekly notes to Caleb {19, 20, 21, and 22 weeks} 

March// got a pregnancy cold, thought a lot about Lent, said goodbye to part of our Cooking Club, and more letters to Caleb {23, 24, and 26 weeks}

April// felt full to the brim, started garden planning, took the pups to an Easter egg hunt, started decorating the nursery, and of course finished more letters to Caleb {27, 28, 29, and 30 weeks}    

May// shared some thoughts on Mother's Day, wrote more letters {31, 32, 33, and 34 weeks}, and started praying hard for sweet friends who lost their baby way too soon.  

June// This was a quieter month. As I finished out my pregnancy, I also grieved with my friend. After welcoming Caleb, I really struggled with how to celebrate his new life while still grieving. Those two {bitter and sweet} events colored the rest of my blog post for 2014. I wrote my last three letters to Caleb {35, 36, and 37 weeks}, announced his birth, talked about becoming a mom, and shared his beautiful newborn photos. 

July// I settled into life as a mom, talked about {another} part of my story, shared some atypical new mom must-have's, celebrated 5 years of marriage!, listed Caleb's 1 month stats, left my job to stay home full time, a garden update, our little guy's first bath {and the best baby tub!}, thoughts on rain showers, my summer reading list, and deemed Thursday's Caleb's day on the blog.    

August// made a birthday wishlist, shared some fun recipes {here and here}, talked about my dogs, had brunch, tried to keep up my Thursdays with Caleb {here and here}, rounded up my summer favorites, celebrated 2 months with my little guy, reflected on 28 years, remembered that what's happening is not always what's going on, and started planning a jump into Whole30.     

September// we came back from a holiday weekend at the lake, dove head first into Whole30 {here, here, and here}, shared one of my favorite fall traditions, celebrated 3 months with Caleb, wrote down the little things I don't want to forget, celebrated a good friend before her wedding, had family in town, and finally got around to writing about Caleb's birth story. 

October// finally made over our builder-grade bathroom, we roadtripped to MI for a weekend of family and football, I listed all the things I don't do, mailed out some birth announcements, went on lots of family walks, finished Caleb's nursery, celebrated 4 months with Caleb, struggled a little bit with how to love people well through different seasons, and wished Jersey a happy birthday.  

November// we cheered Meg at her marathon, Caleb met his baby bestie, it snowed!, Caleb turned 5 months old, and we sent out our first Christmas card. 

December// I decided to get back to my Thursdays with Caleb posts {here, here, and here}, made a cute Christmas sign, shared our family photos, found a new obsession {I can't wait for season 2!}, attempted to document our normal Friday, started a new tradition with some favorite friends, and committed to more discipline in my spiritual life in 2015.