Farewell 2009

It is hard to believe that I am looking at the last day on the 2009 calendar already. It seems as if this year has flown by even faster than previous years!

Miss Drama Queen was born in 2006, the Beast was born in 2007, and the Spud was born in 2008. I guess one thing that makes 2009 a banner year for us is that I have not been pregnant or given birth this year! :) I love love love my kiddies, but it was nice to have a break this year.

Apparently however, I am a glutton for punishment, and didn't allow myself much of a break before I "gave birth" again, this time to The Framed Frog. My husband had been encouraging me for some time to take this step, and on February 6, 2009, I opened The Framed Frog on Etsy.com. It took me nearly a month and a half to get my first sale. Then the sales started trickling in here and there. Even though I had grandiose plans to build my new business, I still thought of it as more of a hobby than a business. In September, sales really started to pick up, and by November, I was suddenly overwhelmed by the Christmas rush. Over a third of the 80 sales I have made online this year came in November and December. God has blessed my little business so much - now I just have to figure out how to balance it all with taking care of my kiddies, taking care of my man, and taking care of my home. Yeah. That's definitely still a work in progress!

2009 was also the year that I was able to faithfully blog the entire year. :) Although I primarily started my blog back up to chronicle all the events of our chaotic life for the kiddies (I mean, the Spud's baby book is still in the shrink wrap!), I appreciate all the support from my followers and commenters! Your encouragement helped make The Framed Frog a possibility, and I love having all these new cyber-friends! Sara, thanks especially for all your faithful commenting! It feels like we have know each other a long time - I hope that someday, before our kiddies get too old, we can get the whole crazy group together for a playdate. We have family in Ohio, so it could happen, right?

Despite some tough trials this year, our family has been immeasurably blessed by God. I look forward to 2010's adventures, although I'm not sure I'm ready to be the mom of a 4-year-old (in two weeks!).

And in case this post isn't long enough for you already, here are my top five favorite posts of the year:

1. A Quick Trip to the Post Office
2. It Hit the Fan
3. Mexalian
4. He Cares About the Little Things
5. Future Preacher :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!