Events of 2008

As many of you will be receiving Christmas pictures directing you to this blog, I thought that I would do a rundown of what has taken place in the fastest year I remember living yet(or at least it seems that way!) You can also click on the month and it will bring you back to all the posts to the blog that I did that month.

January~
~We had Andre, Christopher, and Kailey still with us, though they left the last day of the month.
~We were still running from doctor to neurologist to therapist and so on for Ethan.
~Ashley was working some Saturdays at Sweet Repeat.
~We still had our first litter of puppies around.
~Attended Foster Parents Association (FPA) meetings.

February~
~Still had the doctor, therapist, specialist with Ethan.
~Had a great Valentines activity at the Olive Garden.
~Had Micah and Julian join us for two weeks starting Valentines morning at 3:00!
~Had Ethans LAST specialist appointment on the 28th!
~Attended FPA meetings.

March~
~Figured out that Ethan couldn't have dairy and gluten, and now have a normal(relative) boy!! Praise the Lord!
~Continued with Ethan's therapists.
~Attended FPA meetings.
~Ashley worked some at Sweet Repeat.

April~
~Continued with Ethan's therapists.
~Started working with the Bella Pregnancy Center here in town.
~Jason's birthday.
~Had Ethan's final birthmom visit! Praise the Lord
~Jason's parents came to visit.
~Had a great turnout for the church work day.
~FPA meetings.

May~
~Ashley's parents came to visit.
~Received 3 FEET of snow!
~Ethan's hearing checks out okay.
~Continued with Ethan's therapy.
~FPA meeting.
~Our friends renewed their vows and had reception.
~Ashley worked some at Sweet Repeat.

June~
~WE WENT TO CHICAGO!!!
This deserves a little talk time! We hadn't taken a real vacation since we had children and decided that before the kids turned 2 (while they could still fly for free) we would go somewhere fun. We decided on Chicago because Ashley's Aunt W and Uncle L lived there and this is where Ashley went to college. W & L were very involved with our dating and engaged portion of our lives and have been so loving and supportive of our adoption journey we just needed to spend some time with them. We did so many fun things. You can read more about the trip here and here.
~Ethan's therapy continued, but started to become less and less.
~Ashley turned 25!
~Started having 'game nights' with our friends.
~Ashley worked some at Sweet Repeat.
~Had the most rainfall on record and in turn flooded the basement of the parsonage!

July~
~Our second litter of puppies arrived!
~Ashley's parents came for the 4th.
~Went to the Belle Fourche Rodeo & fireworks.
~Ethan's therapy continued.
~Turned the garage of the parsonage into a family room.
~FPA meeting.
~Attended our friends little boys 1st birthday party.
~Ashley was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) started fertility treatments.

August~
~Ethan's adoption was finalized!!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!
~Many friends and family came to celebrate with us including Jason & Ashley's parents, Ashley's sister-in-law Christy, and Aunt W (from Chicago) along with her daughter-in-law and children surprised us!!!
~Ethan's therapy continued, but he did GRADUATE out of Speech therapy!
~Jason performed two weddings.
~We had Jason's annual family BBQ.
~We celebrated our 6th anniversary!
~Ashley started working weekly with the Bella Pregnancy Center and became the Co-Chairman on the board for their big fundraiser of the year, the Dessert Galla.
~We learned how to play pinochle, which has been our stress reliever every since. Thanks E & M!
~Met up with some of Jason's family from Minnesota, Ray & Edie, in Wall for an evening.
~Ashley continued with fertility treatments.


September~
~Ashley continued to work with the Bella Pregnancy Center on a weekly basis.
~Had a big rummage sale and raised over $1000.00 towards the adoption loan! Praise the Lord!
~Ashley continued fertility treatments.
~Ethan had a few therapy sessions.
~Ashley worked at Sweet Repeat some.
~Our Ada Grace turned 2!!! We of course had a party with some dear friends and family.
~Ashley's mom came for the party and stayed a week and a half.


October~
~Ashley's mom's stay continued into October.
~Ethan had 1 therapy session!
~The Bella Pregnancy Center's Dessert Galla took place, we were able to raise over $25,000!! Praise the Lord!
~We hosted a college activity.
~Ashley stopped fertility treatments.
~Received our first snow storm just 5 months after our last!
~Ashley opened Pumpkin Patch Daycare on the 28th!

November~
~Jason's parents came to visit.
~Had another 3 FOOT snow storm!
~Dear friends L & C watched the kids overnight while we snuck away to Rapid and spent a night at a hotel (mostly at Borders though!) Enjoyed the couple time.
~Ashley's mom came out early for Thanksgiving, a total surprise to me!
~Ashley's dad joined us a few days later.
~Of course did the crazy Black Friday shopping, left the house at 3:15 AM and didn't return until after 7 that night! I love the fact that mom is so much fun and wants to do that and that the guys are willing to take the kids for the day!
~Ada Grace started Dance Class, she is learning tap and ballet! She LOVES it!

December~
~Have had a few Christmas parties.
~Cut down our own Christmas tree with kids.
~Found out that my husband would no longer be the pastor of First Baptist and that we would need to move by January 31st 2009.
~Started looking for a new church.
~Received many blessings.
~Loved getting the mail every day to see all of the fun Christmas cards and 'catch up' with each of your lives!
~Will be spending Christmas Eve & Christmas day with Ashley's family and the wonderful Fish family from Lake Benton (Christmas Day)
~Will be spending the day after Christmas with Ashley's mom's family who will also help us Celebrate Ethan's 2nd birthday.
~Will be spending the 27th (Ethan's 2nd birthday) with Jason's family.
~We plan on spending New Years Eve with friends. At this point we are a small group of us and E & M, but anyone and everyone is invited to join in!
~Experienced flooding in South Dakota in the middle of winter! 1st time in over 50 years!



We pray that this finds you well and that 2008 has been a blessed year for you. While it wasn't what we planned for ourselves, we know that God had it planned all along and rest easy in that fact. We may 'fall of the scene' for the next 30 days while getting our new house ready to move into and then moving (alot of work to do before January 31st!) I know that it will all get done because I have a wonderful husband and we have many friends who have offered their help! But once we are settled we will let you know our new address and things of that sort.

May each of you remember that Jesus is what Christmas is all about and enjoy the time with your family and or friends.