2013 State of the Union

I guess this is more like our "State of the Family" for the Walkers.  As we look back on 2013, we discovered that God has blessed us in more ways that we can count!  We serve a big God who is capable of big things!  The blessings of 2013 far outweigh the trials of the year.

Blessings:

1. God provided us with a healthy baby boy!  Over the past year, Roman has been our joy, love, and comedic relief!
   
2. Right before Roman was born, I was able to resign from my speech pathologist position.  I have been a full-time stay-at-home mommy ever since!  It is a joy to spend my days with sweet Roman.  Thank you to my husband, Jonathan, for working hard to provide for our family.
3. Roman started sleeping through the night on July 12, 2013.  He was a little over four months old.  This allowed Jonathan and I to actually start spending quality time together again.  What an answer to prayer!
   
4. Roman's baby cousin, William, was born October 23, 2013.  Roman is so excited to have a playmate who lives just a few hours away!  We visited him when he was only days old.  I can't believe Roman was once so tiny!
   
5. We finished off 2013 with a wonderful family vacation to Colorado.  Thank you to my parents, DeeDee and Papa G (to Roman and William), for providing for and planning our trip!  We enjoyed skiing, snow-mobiling, snow-tubing, and shopping while there.  Roman and cousin William also spent their first Christmas in the snow-covered mountains of Durango.  Great memories and sweet fellowship with family!
   

Trials that God so faithfully brought us through:

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison."

~II Corinthians 4:17~

1. Many sleepless nights while Roman was very young.
2. Colic and gasiness that seemed to keep Roman crying all day long.
3. Sleep-training.
4. Unsuccessful scar revision surgery (post shoulder-replacement surgery).  

We know that blessings are not a guarantee in this life.  We have also learned that trials are inevitable.  When hard times do come, they are always for a purpose (James 1:12).  Thank you, sweet Jesus, for blessing us with another wonderful year!