Also challenging has been keeping up with the kids and all the things they've been doing!
Emma, 9, is in 4th/5th grade this year. She loves helping out in the kitchen and takes pride in being able to cook things for our family. She's been very active with gymnastics, and just advanced to the next level of classes. (It was her 3rd level advancement this year!) She would tell you one of the highlights of her year (maybe THE highlight) was going away to summer camp for the first time. She was away for 5 days, got dirtier than she's ever been, and loved every minute of it! Her musical skills also grew this year. She got to perform with the African Children's Choir when they toured here in Iowa. And later in the fall, she performed several times with our church's International Youth Choir, occasionally accompanying the group on piano.
Ashlyn, 6, had a big year of overcoming many fears. She learned to swim, and even loved jumping in the deep end by the end of the summer! She also participated in a week long drama camp, which was perfect for feeding her love of all things drama and imagination. Ashlyn also excelled in gymnastics, advancing 3 levels from where she started the year! She still loves all animals, has an awesome imagination, and is able to spin stories effortlessly. In school she is working on 1st/2nd grade, and often tells me she's excited to be doing 2nd grade math. 
Josiah, 3, keeps me on my toes! The boy has amazed us in many ways this year. Over the summer, he showed NO fear of the water. By the end of the summer, he was swimming underwater with his eyes open, and doing diving belly flops with perfect form. This fall, he decided he should be reading and writing like his sisters. He took it upon himself to learn to write his ABC's, declining my help when I offered it. (He's pretty independent.) He also started arranging his magnetic letters into words, and has read a handful of beginner books on his own! It really took me by surprise, as I never expected him to start reading or writing this young!
Dakota started a new position within this company at the beginning of the year, and spent the first few months learning his new roll. He continued coordinating the worship team for the International Fellowship at our church. And he also started an International Youth Choir for kids at our church. He helped prepare the kids for several performances, and encouraged them not just to sing, but to take active roles in playing instruments--guitar, piano, viola, flute, djimbe, and more!
As for me, I've had my hands full homeschooling and taking care of the kids, while battling my ongoing health issues. Early in the year we were able to escape the polar vortex with a trip to San Antonio. My dad and his wife live down there, and we all enjoyed spending several days together while exploring fun locations. A couple other highlights for me this year were hosting some of the kids in the African Children's Choir, hanging out with family and friends, and saying goodbye to diapers once and for all!
Our extended family also had many highs and lows this year. In July, my youngest sister graduated from college. Shortly after that, my step dad needed emergency brain surgery. And a few weeks after that my grandma passed away. Then at the end of the summer, my newly graduated sister headed to the Middle East for a year of missions work. And just last month, we gained a new nephew/cousin when Dakota's sister had her first baby.
I'm sure the new year will come with more activities, sports, kids' firsts, and family fun. Our prayer for our family and friends is for a peaceful and healthy new year. Find joy in the ordinary and your life will be extraordinary!
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