What is it about the end of an old year and beginning of a new that makes us reevaluate our lives, our homes, our organizational systems, our BMI, our sugar addictions, our finances, our spirituality, our parenting, our marriages, our passions, and everything else under the sun? I've had so many thoughts today of all the changes I'd like to make and missions I'd like to accomplish in 2016! The problem is, I'm already so overwhelmed, I feel like quitting! According to StatisticBrain.com, of the 45% of Americans who make New Year's resolutions, only 8% keep them. So, while the beginning of a year is a nice time to reevaluate and reflect on our lives, in reality changes happen slowly over time, in the course of our day-to-day lives. Before I throw in the towel altogether though, there is one goal I've been mulling over that I am determined to accomplish. Hopefully by the end of this weekend, before heading back to work on Monday. And this goal is...waaaaaiiiit for it...our family year-end review!! I know, I know...you are all SO excited about this that you might just have to pause your movie, put your phone on "do not disturb," or tell your family that supper will have to wait. After all, this kind of blog post only comes around once a year. Or, eh-hem, in the case of our family, once every TWO years!

Yes, I begin this review with an apology for missing the 2014 year-end review. Maybe it was one of those "slow news" years with not much to report. Or it could be that Tom & I were busy traveling to NYC during the days I normally get this done (see my blog posts from a year ago for the story on that). Or the fact that my laptop was sent off for repairs and took longer than expected to return. Whatever the excuse, I have been burdened with a huge (okay, really pretty small) sense of guilt all year for not having done what has become a yearly tradition since the early days of our marriage. I just can't let 2016 be another year plagued with guilt.

So let's get this party started! We've got two years to cover!

2014 truly was a "slow news" year, although it did bring a few big changes for our family. A quick review of photos and Facebook posts (which by the way, takes much longer than one would think if you post as much as I do...maybe another thing I should change this year?) reveals the following highlights and low-lights:

Seth & Maddie were engaged!! (Feb. 27)
Leah & Chloe performed in the EHS musical - The Music Man
We enjoyed Spring Break in Orlando, Florida.
Maddie graduated from Calvin College with degree in Special Education.
Chloe started driving. Leah got driver's license.
Jared quit job at Epic, and started as web developer at University of Wisconsin...a good move for him.
I fell off my bike and tore my rotator cuff, requiring surgery, P.T. and a long, painful recovery (glad to report, all is great now!).
We participated in our first JDRF Walk for Diabetes as a family.
Leah made several college visits as she began her senior year.
On October 16, we were all deeply saddened by the loss of Tom's father, our beloved Dad/Grandpa.
Our dear friends' son (Morgan B) was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma, and began treatment in NYC.

While 2014 ended with some really difficult days, we moved ahead into the new year full of hope and anticipation. 2015 delivered, with a year full of new and exciting adventures for our family, albeit with a little trepidation as well.

Tom and I kicked off the new year with our trip to NYC to visit our friends and to have some fun in the city. Morgan and his family have really been through the wringer this year, but all of his treatments have been successful in killing off the cancer! We pray with them that his body will remain free of this disease in the months and years to come!

After returning home, we had many projects to attack. I can honestly say that January through June were six of the most productive months we've had in a long, long time. I had to create a spread sheet time-line (called it my "Master Plan") to keep track of all the projects and deadlines. 2015 was definitely NOT a "slow news" year, and each member of the family contributed...

Chloe, now a junior at EHS, celebrated her sweet 16th birthday with a day in Chicago with friends (forcing me to take a Saturday off from house projects).

In addition to her busy social life, she fills her school days with singing in the Varsity Chorale, taking part in musicals, and being section leader of the front ensemble (pit) in marching band. She was thrilled to travel with the band to Ford Field in Detroit this fall, where they competed in the MCBA State Championships! She's also added Yearbook (Desktop Publishing) to her classes, and is challenged and excited about the things she's learning. In 2015, she also got her driver's license, worked a summer job at the Notre Dame library, and absolutely loved attending Music Business camp at Anderson University! Still debating her future path, she is starting to explore her college and career choices.

Leah, now 18, finished off her senior year with the exhilarating role of Miss Jones in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" (our HS musical). She auditioned for the music schools at Butler, Indiana Wesleyan and DePauw, and was accepted to all, before graduating in May.

After spending her summer working with Chloe (and Dad) at the Notre Dame library, and packing up all her belongings, we moved her to Greencastle, Indiana to attend DePauw University where she is now studying Music Education with a piano emphasis. She keeps busy with classes, piano lessons, University Chorus, a flute choir and DePitches women's a cappella group...not to mention her new-found social life. She absolutely loves DePauw, her roommate, and the other friends she's made there.

Seth graduated from Calvin College in May, with a Biology degree. Watching him accept his degree brought a lump to our throats, not only for his accomplishment, but also for the joy of one less tuition bill to pay.

The emotional high (and lump in the throat) returned four weeks later as Seth & Maddie were married on June 19, and we gained a wonderful daughter-in-law.

The newlyweds enjoyed a honeymoon through upper Michigan, and joined the rest of us for a week at Cass Lake, in Minnesota. After all the excitement, they settled in to their apartment in Grandville, Michigan (near Maddie's family) with their bearded dragon "Draco." Seth has joined the working world, with his first "real" job as a warehouse manager for Eco-Green, a small fertilizer/seed company. Maddie works as a Special Education para-professional in a middle school classroom at Hudsonville Christian (the school she grew up in). Marriage seems to be suiting them both very well.

Jared keeps busy as web developer at UW (Madison, WI). He enjoys his job, but is always looking for a new challenge. He set up his own math tutoring business (JH Tutoring), maintains his own web site, and created a "Mad Minute" online math app. For a little extra cash (student loan debts are a drag), he even signed up as an Uber driver!

He enjoys climbing and hiking (and collecting extremely lightweight gear) and dreams of backpacking through Southeast Asia. As a bachelor who shares a home with six other young professionals, he's beginning to appreciate the art of cooking, and besides climbing gear and other extremely lightweight things, he also asked for gadgets like a garlic press for Christmas.

With only one (very social) child left under our roof, we decided this would be the year to host an exchange student, something that's been on our bucket list for some time. In August we picked up Sara, our 16 year old "daughter from another mother," from the airport.

Sara is Polish, but has lived most of her life in Vienna, Austria. Coming from big city European life to rural Michigan has not been the easiest transition for her, but we are trying to keep things interesting for her with trips to the Indiana State Fair, Cedar Point, Grand Rapids' ArtPrize, marching band competitions, downtown Chicago, apple orchards, shopping malls, and family gatherings. Chloe and Sara enjoy many of the same things (i.e. music, fashion, and makeup) and are often heard laughing and just being silly "sisters" together.

When we aren't busy driving all over the Midwest entertaining and seeing our children, Tom and I keep busy with other amusements. Although not terribly amusing, Tom served in his third and final year on our church council, this year as council chair. Leading our church through some rough waters was tough, but as in all trials, God has a way of equipping you for the tasks He gives you. When he wasn't busy with church matters, Tom continued his work at Notre Dame, celebrating 20 years with the Irish.

And when he wasn't at work or church meetings, I put him to work at home with painting projects and hardware installation, as we tackled several redecorating projects. We had hardwood floors and new carpet installed in several rooms, which involved much furniture shuffling and chaos for most of the spring. To release his stress and get away from all this work, Tom was often seen donning bike shorts and neon jerseys, as he hit the road. Biking has easily become his number one pastime, as he put in 2400 miles this summer on the back roads and trails of Michigan, Indiana and Minnesota.

As for myself...in an effort to keep up with Tom (or at least not get left in the dust), I invested in a new bike and put in just under 700 miles. With the mild fall we've had, we even rode in November and December a bit! Biking in Minnesota is always something we look forward to, but this year it held a special surprise for us as we rode the Migizi trail. We heard a loud "meow" coming from the brush, and after a little searching found an adorable stray kitten. I now have a new pastime...petting our Migizi, who we rescued and took home with us. "Migi" brought me much needed relaxation and entertainment after a busy spring and summer of painting and redecorating, throwing a graduation open house (for Leah), hosting a rehearsal dinner (for Seth & Maddie), planning a bridal shower (for my niece), and sending Leah off to college.

When my hands weren't busy petting him, I accomplished a little knitting (six hats) and blogging (six posts) in the free time I had left. I'm hoping to do much more of both in the coming year.

Ahhh...but that reminds me of the many goals and dreams I have for 2016. I guess if I'm going to get started on them, I better wrap up this first one. I hope you've enjoyed our review as much as we enjoy receiving your cards, photos, letters, emails, and posts. Although Facebook might slowly be replacing the need for these yearly traditions, I still enjoy receiving them, and value the chance to reflect on our own family's events. Through the big celebrations, the everyday grind, and the difficult circumstances, God's faithfulness is evident in the love we share with each other and with all of you. Blessings to you, our friends and family, in 2016!

(You may now resume your movie, un-silence your phone, or get back to making dinner.)

You've waited two years for this