Team Schuurman: Another Year Bites the Dust

     Well, another year passes and a new one begins. I'm always intrigued as we enter a new year, filled with wonder and curiosity about how it will end up. I felt the same way at the beginning of 2011 and had no idea what it had in store for us.
     In March, Marcus and I got to join Mark in Atlanta for a Pepperidge Farm Conference. While he was in his meeting, Marcus and I got to tour Turner Field, home of our Atlanta Braves. It was a highlight of my year for sure.
     In life, there are highs and lows, and on April 6th we had a low. My sweet Grandmother Bolen died and met her maker that day. I started to write, "passed away," but smile as I remember how she hated that term. She'd say, "Baby Girl, you don't pass away. You die." I giggle just thinking of her truthful, sometimes less than tactful, way of telling you how it is. In her last days, we were able to go to her and say good-bye, and she hung on to see her first grandson, Max, who she hadn't seen in years. As he left to go back to Alaska, she left this world. Mark had the privilege of speaking at her funeral and did a great job, telling fun stories, but also sharing how Grandmother Bolen loved her family and JESUS. I still have days when I pick up the phone to call her and realize I can't, but then again, I find peace in knowing where she is because she knew her maker, and I believe she's with Him in Heaven.
     When the summer rolled around, our family spent Mark's days off at the pool that is affiliated with our gym. He'd bribe me into working out so we could go to the pool afterwards. It was a fair trade, but I had rather just go to the pool and skip the workouts. Marcus enjoyed the water and usually napped in his car seat carrier while his daddy and I tanned. It was a good set-up.
     Labor Day was next and Marcus got to experience it for the first time, post-womb. I was probably more excited than he was but we still enjoyed a day of seeing old friends, finding bargains, and spending time with family when they weren't selling items from their booths.
     Just a few short weeks later, Marcus turned one and we celebrated here at our home with family and close friends. Mark's parents drove down and surprised us so they, too, could be here to celebrate his big day. Aunt Liv made Marcus an AMAZING sports-themed birthday cake and we all enjoyed it, along with chick-fil-a nuggets and juice boxes. After his party, we went to UNCA so Mark could pitch in the annual UNCA Alumni game. It was a great way to end the day because Mark's parents hadn't seen him pitch in years and yes, he still had it. He put away all of the batters he faced.   Also in September, Mark accepted the position of Sunday School Director at our church and I was hired at the Nursery Coordinator. We love serving at Newbridge and continue to do it in the future.
     September was a fun month, but October had it's shares of difficulty as my Papa, my mom's father, died also. Grandmother, on my dad's side, and Papa were my two remaining grandparents and they both left this earth within a matter of months. Just like with Grandmother, the Lord was gracious enough to let us come into town to say good-bye to Papa. Because of what I had seen with Grandmother, I knew Papa wouldn't last much longer, and sure enough, he passed away the following Monday morning. He was a D-Day veteran who faithfully served his country and it was rumored that he told nurses many times that he had two good wives in his life (my Grandma died in 1993 of Leukemia and Papa remarried a few years after). He had a full military funeral and all respects were paid before we laid his body to rest beside my Grandma's.
     In November, I turned the dreaded thirty years old and I must say, it's not as bad as advertised. Mark threw me a surprise party with other stay-at-home moms and their children one morning for a brunch and it was just wonderful. On top of all that, our beloved Camry of ten years died and we purchased a new vehicle. Our final choice was a stone blue 2003 Toyota Highlander. We felt it was the best deal and best fit our family. After driving it for a month now, including to Canada and back, we're really happy with our choice.
     And finally, in December we finished the year off with a bang, or a boom, or a bam...whatever you want to say. But Marcus woke up to the sound of hammering in our basement the first weekend in December because my dad came to town to help Mark install new flooring! We chose a hardwood laminate that just snaps in, so it was easier to install and still looks great. I am MORE than pleased with the final outcome and look forward to the cold winter day that we're "stuck" inside so Marcus can play in his new space and I can organize my large pile of books from school.
   For Christmas, we spent Christmas Eve with my Dad's family, Christmas Day with my mom's family, and then drove up to Canada beginning at 5am on Monday morning. We were lucky enough to spend the rest of the week with Mark's family and really enjoyed our time there. My camera broke the first night we were there, so I don't have many pictures from the week. What I do have is below.
     We drove to Kentucky and spent the night with friends on Friday, then finally arrived home at 5:30pm last night, New Year's Eve. It was absolutely exhausting and incredibly fun all at the same time. Marcus slept from 6:45pm-8am this morning, so it's fair to say he was glad to be home, too.
   We rang in the new year sound asleep in our own beds, snoring, I'm sure. So there you have it, a year in review. Did we have any idea all this would happen? No. Do we have any idea what 2012 brings? No. But we do know this: The One who knows the hairs on our head and who made the fish in the sea is who we serve and who KNOWS the future. We don't know what this next year brings, but we do know the the Lord is in control of it all. Knowing this, we are eager to face 2012 and everything else that comes with it.