It's Been A Long Time...

December 15, 2015

12:06 PM

Hello, there! It's been nearly two years! How's everything been?

My last entry was published February 26, 2014, Jay's 7th birthday.  In two months, he'll be 9.  9! It's hard to believe.  So much has happened since that last entry.  I had major surgery July, 2014.  Praise God I survived that!  It wasn't anything too serious, but it's surgery.  There's always a chance something could go awry.  Stephan is now a veteran of the United States Army!  His last day was in September, 2014.  What a big transition we had to make going from Texas back to Maryland!  We had lots of help from our family, especially from our moms.  We sent the kids ahead of us with them so we could pack.  That was also the time I had my surgery.  Not four days after my surgery, I discovered something HUGE: I was pregnant!  We had no idea!  We were absolutely thrilled!  Unfortunately, that great news was temporarily set aside at the news of my grandfather's passing in August.  Granddad had been sick for the better part of that year.  It was very tough on our family, considering he was the patriarch.  We missed the funeral, because we were shutting down our life in Texas.  We still miss him and think of him often.

Shortly after sending off our belongings on moving trucks, Stephan and I hit the road.  We drove though Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia, and right into our home state.  It was lots of fun spending all of that time alone with my hubby.  It was the first time we ever had been together alone for that length of time (nearly three weeks), since we always had Jay with us.  We learned a lot about each other.  After reaching Maryland, we settled down at my mom's house.  

Fast forward to April, 2015.  Miss Abigail Marie Berry made her debut!  She is so precious and sweet!  We were secretly hoping for a boy, but were just as happy when the sonographer told us we were having another girl.  The year 2015 was a year for ups, downs, and changes.  Our family suffered loss, again, this past July.  That was a lot to recover from.  Right around that time, Stephan went back to work.  Most recently, we bought a house!  I mean...wow!  A house!  We also joined a new church!  I love my Fellowship Baptist Church family already! They preach and teach the word! 

Oh, man, I almost forgot.  Yes, we still homeschool!  Jay is now in the third grade (equivalent), doing fourth grade work.  Madison has even started!  She turned three this past September, so she's working on her colors, shapes, numbers, and letters.  I had some anxieties about homeschooling in Maryland, but there's such a large number of homeschooling families, it would be hard NOT to!  There's ton of support and even more daytime programs and activities geared toward homeschoolers.  Jay has been taking swimming lessons for over a year.  He even takes piano lessons, and dabbles on the drumset.  He'll be starting wrestling with the Boys and Girls club next year.  He's really pumped, but we had to explain to him that it's not like the WWE. *Lol*  Madison also takes swimming lessons.  She's a natural!  Totally fearless! 

The Lord has only shown a small portion of His power in our lives over the last two years.  It's been wonderful. It's been challenging.  There were some tough choices that we had to make.  But, throughout it all, I've been faithful.  In no way, shape, or form have I reached where I'd like to be as a follower of Christ, but by the grace of the Lord, I'm moving in the right direction!  

Now that we're finally settled into our lives, and back to our "Texas routine", I'll be posting more often.  I've had a lot of parents message me over the last few years asking about homeschooling and/or working with their children.  If I can help in any way, then that's what I'll do.  Love you guys, and glad to be back!  Until next time...