Year In Review

I used to laugh at the annual "year in review" letter, but now I think it's a pretty neat idea (oh the things that change with age). Of course I am not going to look like a geek and send out an actual letter. I'll do it in a blog :)

January---We took a trip to Jacksonville & met our nephew, Aedan, for the first time. He was 6 weeks old and we had a lot of fun with him. We also started our foster/adoption classes. The District was formed at Radiant.

February---Matts parents came to Phoenix for a week. We did a lot of fun things and Matts mom helped me decorate the future baby room.

March---My sister came to visit for a long weekend. We had fun shopping and hanging out, and of course did our annual photo shoot :) We finished our foster/adoption classes!

April---We became licensed foster parents!

May---On May 15, Betsy & Jon skyped with me and let me know they were expecting a baby! Matt took 9 middle school students (yikes!) to Washington DC over Memorial Day weekend. The school year ended for Matt and he was excited to be off for the summer.

June---June was hot! Not a lot happened, just tried to spend as much time at the pool as we could!

July---We provided respite care for a sweet little 9 month old baby over the 4th of July weekend. I went to Michigan for a week and had a great time. Matt, Riley and I went camping near Sedona, AZ and enjoyed some nice weather. At the end of July, we received our first foster placement, two little girls; Diana was 2 1/2 and Veronica was 11 months. July was a busy month!!!

August---The foster children left us on August 4, only 6 days after we got them. The school year started for Matt & myself and our lives got pretty busy. A potential adoption case came up, but we did not get picked. For Matts 28th birthday, we went to Oregano's in Gilbert with a group of friends.

September---Matt started his coaching career in early September. He coached soccer for 6th, 7th & 8th grade boys and their record was 8-3-1. For my 27th birthday, we went to Cracker Barrell near the stadium and enjoyed a nice, quiet dinner, just the two of us.

October---On October 15, our lives were blessed with our second foster placement, Paul. He was 15 months when we got him and he brightens our lives.

November---I went to Michigan in mid November for Betsy's baby shower. The shower turned out nearly perfect! For Thanksgiving, we had our friend Brian over and we enjoyed a great meal and some football (Lions lost, what a shocker). At the end of November, we got a phone call from Matts sister telling us that they were expecting baby #2!

December---December was a pretty busy month for us. We got to watch a Coyotes game from a Suite, enjoyed the annual foster Christmas party, played in snow at the Goodyear Ballpark, enjoyed a nice dinner with our Radiant friends at the Radiant Staff Christmas Party and had a mini Christmas party...just the three of us :) And best of all, we went to Florida and spent Christmas with Matts family! We had a great time and can't wait to visit again!

Hopefully 2011 will bring more blessings for our growing family. We are exciting to meet Baby VanSpyker & Baby Sullivan in 2011...and hopefully God will bless us with a child as well!

Praying your 2010 was great and that 2011 will be even better!