Saturday, January 2, 2016

2015 in review

Wow!!! How can it be the end of 2015 already! God has done some amazing things over this past year and I can't wait to see what he has in store for 2016. Here is a quick recap of 2015

January we started off the New Year right by spending the day at the beach in Sarasota! Jonathan turned 14 which is just crazy but he is growing into such a young Godly man who loves football.

Jonathan turned 14 and then broke his wrist playing football! 

February our family is a football family so we started the month out right by watching the superbowl. Aiden turned 12 and is following Jonathan's footsteps and loves football but he has his own sense of humor and I just love it. One of my highlights of February was finally being able to go to my first Steven Curtis Chapman concert and then meeting him with the family. It was just a wonderful few moments.
Steven Curtis Chapman and family


Daper Day
March We got to celebrate our first "Daper Day" at Disney which was a ton of fun and we are looking forward to more of these events. Along with seeing Toby Keith, Allan Jackson and more at Seaworld made our March lots of fun. Also, one of my favorite days World Down syndrome Day was celebrated 3/21 and we just love spreading the word about Team Jameson and all the wonderful kiddos rocking the extra chromosome!
World Down syndrome Day 2015 
Toby Keith at Seaworld


April Easter was spent reflecting on the wonderful sacerfice that Christ made for us so many years ago. We spent the afternoon at the beach in true Florida style. April also brought great visits from the Conrads and the Evan's families which make our Disney trips even more fun.
Easter at the beach 
Love the crazy and awesome Evan's family 
Jameson Easter Sunday 




The Conrad's came to Disney!!!



May- my baby sister turned 16!!!! This just can't be possible! We had a fun girls weekend at Disney which was very much needed for the 3 of us and plus it was so much fun spoiling Elise on her special day. We also got to enjoy our first and sadly our last Star War's weekend at Disney
Star Wars Weekend 
Elise Morgan 

June we started out the month with a trip up to North Carolina which is always fun to see framily and meet up with our awesome NC doTERRA team. Plus, I love every moment I can squeeze in any Mary time.
Airborne Museum 
Mary oh how I wished we lived closer 

July I packed my bags and boarded my flight for my 4th trip to China. Just in time to arrive and meet a very special little girl and leave 18 hours later for our journey to Hong Kong. It was a very special honor to be trusted to care for sweet Annie. We would then spend the highest of highs and lowest of lows but God pushed me out of my comfort zone and grew me for his greater good.
Sweet Annie girl on our 2nd night in the hospital 
Bags packed and ready for HK 
August still in HK for the first part but we were super excited that after 5 long weeks to break free from the hospital and join the New Hope family. I was able to spend the next couple of weeks helping in the preschool class and loving on some of the most awesome kiddos ever.


Back at Hope 
Painting little piggy toes is always a favorite 

With some of the fabulous New Hope family! 
On the Great Wall for my 5th time! and it never gets old 



September was a hard month of goodbyes for some and see you later's for others but every trip to China comes to an end and I know my time there is still not done. It was fast and furious when I returned home because Mom and I turned around and headed to Utah for the annual doTERRA convention. It was a great week learning and falling even more in love with this wonderful company. and the hardest birthday of all to believe is that my very first little brother turned 18! I feel like it was just yesterday that I became a sister for the first time.
One of the hardest and prayerfully only a see you later and not a goodbye 
Convention fun
Alex is 18! 


October was the start of Down syndrome awareness month where we get to celebrate one special little boy all month long! Nicolas also turned 9!!!! and we all became scuba certified which was scary and cool all at the same time. It was amazing to see this whole other world that God created under the water. We also closed out an awesome tackle football season for both Jonathan and Aiden and I can't wait for next year.

Nicolas' birthday
Scuba training 
Go Wolves! They were the 2015 District Champs
Aiden and the Thunder! 

November Jameson turns 4!!! Has it really been four years since the baby was born?? Crazy talk but November was spent doing fun activities with the family and just enjoying each other with a fun family fun day at Universal Studios withe the central Florida Ds group.

Jameson turns 4! 
Family Fun day at Universal 


December was full of Christmas activities and enjoying a fun staycation Christmas break. Ringing in the New Year with the best family and eating lots of fun and laughing and having fun.
        

Here is 2016 and the many adventures that it will hold. I will be starting off the year heading to the Passion Conference in Atlanta, GA with my 18:25 young adult Bible study group. And a certain country that I love so much just seems to be calling me back breaking my every other year tradition.......


....yep it looks like I will be heading back to New Hope this spring! More details to come later.

~Stephanie