Balsmeier Family

So....it's over. All that build up, anticipation, and preparation and the 2009 Holiday Season is over. We had a good one. We were able, for the first time in our family's history, have our 'own' Christmas morning. We have our own space here in my mother in law's basement, so the kids woke up and we did our thing. Abbi was super excited to be Santa's helper and pass out the gifts. They were all pretty excited about the things they got (they are all incredibly spoiled) and even more excitement that their cousins were coming over later. We all had a really great Christmas and a good New Year too. I made John stay up (yes that's right, made him, he is such a stick in the mud) so I could get a New Year's kiss from my hubby for the first time in 6 years (the last couple of years my kiss has been from my children--still not too bad, just not the same).

Anyway, great holiday season. It's just always over so fast and here we are, 2010. I am so incredibly glad 2009 is over--I can't even put into words how much it pleases me that that cursed year is over. I have to say that my family has grown much from the plentiful trials we have had, I am just not at the point of being grateful for those trials....yet.

For the sake of prosperity, I will write down the goals I have for my family this year...

We have really done well with family scripture study and family prayer in the evening, so firstly, I want to have family prayer every day in the morning before everyone departs for the day. I would also like to make Family Home Evening a habit.  Of course, I would like to keep the moving to a minimum this year, and get in a better financial position, and maybe get into a home of our own again. As always, I would love for more patience to rain down on me from heaven, or maybe I should just count to ten.

Well, there you are....and here we go 2010!!!