::The Year that Was 2014::

I enjoy looking back on the year and seeing what our family has experienced. I've only done this in earnest once before so here is the review of 2013 if you are so inclined, 2013. To be sure 2014 held much joy for our family but it was mixed with heartache and struggle, all of which strengthened our dependence and reliance on Christ. We are so thankful for our faith in Him. 

Without further ado, the Longenecker review of 2014.

 

January::We celebrated the New Year at home by playing Scrabble together, just the two of us. It was a quiet and restful way to welcome the busy year we were anticipating. The biggest event of 2014 happened in January with the birth of our Moxie Wren. Born on the 19^th, she started our year off on the right foot, with a focus on family and intentionally and purposefully loving one another.

February::Cutter and Scout turned 4 and 2 and we celebrated with a Valentine’s Day party in their honor. Red, pink, and white galore, it was amazing. We spent a lot of time at home adjusting to our new family of five and learning as much as we could about Moxie.

March::We dedicated Moxie to the Lord and celebrated at home with a brunch. We chose a scripture for her from Joshua and have prayed it over her daily. St. Patrick’s Day was not forgotten and Moxie donned the outfit that has been worn by each of our children on this special day.

April::Warm days meant we could finally get outside and play! Renovations began in earnest on the house and we celebrated Moxie’s first Easter with matching dresses for the girls (made by their Gigi) and a coordinating bowtie for Cutter. Simply divine. 

May::Mother’s Day with my children was celebrated with a picture of them all together, that was enough. This month was hard as we experienced a family death. We caught a Memorial Day parade and the kids proudly waved their American flags. We started attending a new church, and Cutter celebrated his last day of preschool with a lunch date at Chick Fil A. 

June::We welcomed the summer by spending a weekend at my sister’s home in the mountains. Seven years of marriage was marked by a dozen pink roses, and then we dove headfirst into the summer. Beach weekends, Camp Little Bear, swim lessons, and much more renovating.

July::Back to my sister’s to celebrate the 4^th of July with our extended family. We did the traditional Malvern Fair and the kids both rode the rides (for the first time!) and Steve won Cutter a monkey. A short week later my sister gave birth to her second son and I was present at the birth. 

August::Our Tennessee family visited for a week and the kids got to make another beach trip with their cousins. We celebrated my mom’s birthday with a trip to the Elmwood Park Zoo and the kids rode ponies, named Waffle & Chocolate. They still talk about them to this day. We enjoyed a week of just the five of us (and my brother) while my parents were on vacation and spent a day at the Philadelphia Zoo.

September::Cutter started his year of Pre-K and we began another Eagles season of disappointment. We went up to my sister’s again for her son’s baptism and spent a weekend basking in the fall glory of the mountains.

October::This month saw a culmination of a work project for Steve that we were able to attend in the form of an open house. Hayrides, hot chocolate and roasted hot dogs on the open fire were thrills for all. We celebrated Halloween with our Three Little Pigs with the secret that we were expecting a baby in 2015 kept to ourselves.

November::I celebrated my 32^nd birthday by telling our family about our pregnancy making my day one of the best birthdays. Snow made for a white Thanksgiving and the kids had a ball making snow angels and throwing snowballs at each other – and mommy. We shared with our extended family and social media the news of our pregnancy and celebrated Thanksgiving(s) with our families. 

December::Always the busy month, this year did not disappoint. Decorations were up in record time, Santa visits were made, and cookies were baked. We visited Longwood Gardens with the older kids, and Cutter’s Christmas program was darling and sweet and all that a preschool program should be. Moxie’s first Christmas was magical and I’m grateful we all remained healthy! We became members of our new church and feel like we are making new friends and growing by leaps and bounds through the preached Word of God. We are headed to our friends in York tomorrow to inaugurate the tradition of years past, ringing in the New Year together. 

I have much of the same outlook for 2015 as I did for 2014. Family remains at the forefront and serving them is my main priority; as mother, wife, and sister and daughter. God has been good to our sweet little family and I am grateful for His provision. Here is to a blessed 2015!