2012 -- a Year to Remember

It's been a busy year.

A growing year.

A year full of laughter, tears and everything in between. The other night, as Gracie said her prayers, I made a point to remember each word she said and how she phrased it.  After she said Amen, so I wouldn't forget, I quickly typed her prayer out on Jody's open laptop.  It went like this:

"Dear Heavenly Father,

Please, please, PLEASE bless that Sister Gephart can get feeling better.  Please bless I won't get cancer.  Please Heavenly Father help my house not to break.  I'm thankful for Daddy, Mommy and Sienna.  But Please, Please, PLEASE bless that Sienna won't sneak into my room while I'm sleeping and break my things.  I'm thankful for my cozy bed and that I turned five, and I'm so thankful for my birthdays.  Thank you so much for letting my reindeer jammies fit even though I am five now.  Please bless the Cheney Family.  Help me to remember the things I learn in school.  Bless Papa Wiscombe's thumb to feel better.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

A bit of an explanation:  Sister Gephart is a mother of five. She lives in my parent's neighborhood.  She has been fighting cancer for a year now.  The cancer has spread completely throughout her entire body.  Gracie has never met her.  But she prays for her each and every night. 

Gracie thanks Heavenly Father (in nearly every prayer) that she turned five-years-old.  At the first listen, you may smile a bit and think that's cute.   But I think there is a deeper meaning: our neighborhood suffered a tremendous loss earlier this year, when sweet little Carson Cheney was taken back up to live with our Father in Heaven so unexpectedly in a tragic accident.  He was just weeks away from his 5th Birthday.  We know he is safe and being watched over...but his family misses him so much! And every time Gracie gives thanks for her birthdays, I think how blessed and lucky I am to share yet another day with her.  And I know children see things so purely.  I would never have thought to give thanks for my birthdays...but that's where children are so simple and so in tune with a greater spirit.   

And now as the hours are few in this last day of 2012...I am excited to see what 2013 will bring.  Our greatest joy comes from family.  Here is a look back at the past 12 months!

January



February

March

April

May



June

July

August

September



October



November



December

Happy New Year!!