Merry Christmas

To All Our Family and Friends,
  Merry Christmas!  Oh what a year it has been. Of years to be, I would have to say 2011 has been a hard one.  But I as I sit back and ponder at this Christmas time, I am so thankful to see all the blessings that we have received.  We started the year off to a rough start with a miscarriage in January and the twins turning four in February!  Where did the years go?  Our time in the military was coming to a close and in the hectic time of recovery and homeschooling, Dave was job hunting and busily trying to prepare for life after being a US soldier.  In mid March, a job finally came together, the move came together and we left our home and the military behind in early April.  Those 3 months were filled with so many mixed emotions and we were ready for a vacation.  So we stopped and had a great time at Disneyland on the way down to Arizona.  We took a little time after our trip to Disneyland to head to Salt Lake, where Dave ran his first half marathon at the Salt Lake Marathon!  Once in Arizona, we had a few weeks remaining before Dave headed off to his new job in the Middle East.  We were surprised to find that we were once again pregnant!  We enjoyed what little time we had and said goodbye in May.  Although, May brought to us our first owed home!  It has been a joy to make changes to the house and make it ours!  We moved into a fabulous ward and the kids quickly adjusted to life around family.  I tried to make the summer months pass as quickly as possible.  Haylee turned 9 and Trent turned 8.  We went to Arizona Grand Resort, Ely NV, and traveled much of the midwest.  Dave learned that the base he worked at would be closing and once again started job hunting. Before we knew it, August was here and it was time to start school.  The children decided to attend public school this year and loved it immediately.  I, on the other hand, took some time readjusting to a "schedule" and having them away from me so many hours of the day.  Laycee and Logan also started preschool at one of the local public schools. It was a big adjustment for me to go from having all of the children home all day long to having all of them gone for even part of the day.  We hit a few rough patches along the way.  Laycee had some adjustment issues which we are dealing with.  Trent had a few issues in school which we just finished testing to see what was going on.  The fall time brought on new anxieties as Dave's job situation seemed to be a bit rocky still.  I was growing ever larger carrying this adorable baby boy and Trent and Laycee continued to struggle.  However, winter has brought some much needed saving and answers and blessings.  Dave was able to stay on in his current location in his current company with only going through a few growing pains of a new contract (which included days a of sleeping in the office and weeks of no internet).  Trent was diagnosed with a Lazy Eye which we are treating, as well as Dyslexia and Dysgraphia.  We will be working on solutions for the latter two soon.  Laycee and I agreed to an understanding about going to preschool and we almost have her separation anxiety managable.  She has become very well liked among her class.  Haylee performed her first two cheerleading performances in the winter and has grown so much in her role there.  Logan got to participate in his second season of soccer and he is a champ!  Trent progressed to yellow belt in karate and is half way to orange belt!  We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby 5.

As I sit and reflect back upon the year, there have been many struggles.  The days are much exhausting and most of the months have flown by.  It has been a blessed painful year of growth for me.  However, I am thankful for my understanding and knowledge of the Lord in our lives.  I am thankful to recognize the big and the small ways He can impact the struggles we experience.  The year started rough and it was enduringly long, but the year's ending is bringing some amazing blessings we could never have anticipated.  I love that I have been tried this year so I could grow into a stronger daughter of God.  The Lord loves and looks out for each of us and I am thankful for that knowledge in my life.  Merry Christmas to you all and may your new year be bright!

Love
The Higbees