A Look Back

I always enjoy looking back at the year.  I usually have to do it with pictures, because otherwise I can't quite remember what happened when.  There were good times and there were bad times.  I'm thankful for another year with our family and for God's faithfulness in the good and in the bad.

January was uneventful, filled with basketball and work and daily life.  The older I get the more thankful I am for the normal and uneventful days.  

February-The twins turned 16 and Audrey got her braces off.  Both of which were cause for celebration.

(the champagne was a gift from our orthodontist after our 5th graduated from braces!  Audrey did not drink it.)

March-Andrew turned 24. Sophia went to Charleston with a friend for spring break.  Andrew completed his triathlon in Wilmington.  

April-Audrey turned 15 and we pulled off a fun surprise party for her.  We celebrated Easter with the family at Nanny and Pa's.  Randy reached his goal of running 10,000 miles. 

May-Sophia turned 19.  She moved home for the summer.  Jackson and Lydia went to the prom with a fun group of friends.  Lydia competed in the Rambling Rose triathlon.  Jackson started working as a swim coach at Eno.

June-We celebrated Randy's 47th birthday.  The Crabtree family had a fun trip to Sugar Mountain.  We went white water rafting and hiking.  Randy and I tried to get away for a late anniversary trip, which ended up being cut short because some of the kids had COVID at camp.  Jackson, Lydia, and Audrey went to youth camp at Black Mountain and Sophia went as a chaperone.  Lydia and Audrey both found out they made the varsity volleyball team for Flight.

July-Kids came home from camp sick.  Andrew ruptured his patellar tendon and had to have surgery.  He moved into our house to recuperate and Sophia moved into his apartment so that he could have her room.  Jackson had the swim championship meet.  Jackson also got a major haircut.

August-Jackson and Lydia started taking classes at Durham Tech.  We had a lake day with the Stewarts.  I started my 3rd year teaching 3rd grade at Voyager.  Randy and I celebrated our 26th anniversary.  We moved Sophia into her first apartment at UNCW.  One of our young drivers totaled our car, "Sparkie". Praise the Lord nobody was injured.  Audrey tried out for several club volleyball teams.

September-We celebrated my 47th birthday.  Sophia and Aubrey went sky diving.  We went on a family beach trip.  I took the girls to Gatlinburg for the National Homeschool Volleyball Tournament.  Lydia had her volleyball senior night.

October-Kids went to Camp Caraway.  Lydia began her new job at Foster's.  Basketball started gearing up and volleyball started wrapping up.  Sophia started having severe unexplained bruising.  

November-Mom and Dad completed the beach house!!!  Dad was diagnosed with stage IV lymphoma. We celebrated mom's birthday. Sophia diagnosed as having terribly low iron and scheduled for first of 3 iron infusions.  Crabtree family beach trip for Thanksgiving.  Randy and Jackson hit by a drunk driver.  The car was totaled, Jackson had a concussion, and Randy had injured legs.  The drunk driver fled the scene of the accident.  Jackson and Randy missed work and Jackson also missed a lot of basketball and school, but thankfully they are healing!

November was tough.  

December-Dad begins chemo treatment.  Went on day trip to Wilmington to see Unchambered. Audrey nominated co-captain of her club volleyball team. Celebrated Christmas with both sides of the family. Our niece, Emoni, is engaged to her boyfriend Andre!   We went to the beach to ring in the new year.  Jackson is slowly returning to school, work, and basketball.  Randy still struggling to run and continues to have leg pain. 

So here's to 2023.  My prayer is that we will grow in godliness and that we would know Christ better.  I also pray for healing and health.  I'm so thankful for the people God has brought into our family this past year and for the amazing memories and moments we've shared as a family.  God has been very good to us.