The 2009 Letter

Dear Sarah,

It is that time again, when we reflect on last year and make plans for the coming year. You wrote a letter in January 2008 for January 2009, but you lost it. So instead of writing out the letter and loosing it again, You thought it should be a blog. That seems to be the only writing that you are keeping. Do it again for 2011, after you are done reading this.... I mean right now.

This last year was rewarding in many ways. Elizabeth went from being a baby to a toddler this year. What a change you've seen in her; crawling, walking then running and talking. She is a little Ma Ma. Still calls all babies she sees "MaMa," drives you crazy. She knows all her body parts and started to potty train, but not much. Loves to read books and has started to sing songs.

Paige turned 4 this year, had her first rodent pet and moved up to the top bunk. Paige has become a very good big sister. She loves the cats and carries them all the time. She still has her pretend friends though, oh how you would love for Nemo and Birdy to leave. Her favorite game is Duck, Duck, Goose and she has started to teach it to Elizabeth. She has become a little teacher, always trying to get Elizabeth to say something new.

Andrew started a new job, youth pastor. You never knew exactly how much that 10 hour commitment would change how your life works. Not a bad thing though, it has been rewarding (even if you are on the sidelines a lot).
You went from working with the school district to staying at home. This was a good idea. It was hard to never see Andrew and be alone with the girls so much. You miss the extra income, even now after 7 months off.

You let Mark stay with you, what a good thing for the girls. They grew very attached to their uncle. And enjoyed that time with him. You enjoyed that time too. There was built in help, even if it was unpredictable. So nice to call and tell him that we need milk or have him sit with the girls while you picked up Andrew.

In about May, you stopped using credit cards. What a blessing and good decision that was. Now you just need to figure out how to find a little more to pay it down. Remember that the winner of the race was not the hare who ran and took big breaks, but the turtle who kept on plugging away. Just keep at it. Things will get better!

If there was any mistake over the last year, it was the last house guest. What an ungrateful, self-seeking, mean spirited, dishonest woman. You have never been used more and without regard to what we were already doing to help her. Daycare was a good idea, but not for a woman who is staying with you. Some boundaries are needed. Things get to gray when that is how things are set up.

Through this however, you did learn that your house is not too small to have another child. That was good to discover.

Last year your goal was to have a baby sometime in the future. It is still not a goal for 2009, but as you sit at the beginning of this year, the idea of a baby is not upsetting. Hopefully, by the time you are reading this, something has come from these talks. But if not remember that foster care was on your heart just before and after Christmas. Having another baby does not have to happen right now! Did you ever call and get more information on how foster care works?? You kept putting it off. Could that be how you serve? Will that fill your heart? Pray about it again.

Goals for 2009
Getting everyone to Matt and Tina's Wedding
Quiet time
Pay down debt
Make "work outs" happen
Potty train Elizabeth
Preschool time every weekday
Keep house under control
Write a letter for January 2011