Well, Hi there!  How has your vacation been?  I feel like I’m coming back to life after this long break and I can’t wait for things to go back to normal.

 Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas break.  I am just a “let’s keep things the way they are” type of person.  Change isn’t my friend.  So when the kids are home the whole day for a few weeks, it kind of throws me off.

I’ve been reflecting on this past year and 2013 was actually a little stressful for me.  My husband had 3 different jobs, we moved away from our home of 8 years along with all the great friends we had there.  We moved closer to family which has been a blessing, but has it’s own challenges for me (My family is a little dramatic).  

BUT, I only have blessings to count after this year now that everything seems to be back to normal.  So many blessings of a normal life.  Really.  Normal is a blessing.

Things I’m grateful for as a result of 2013:

1. Everyone in the family is healthy
2. Everyone in the family is healthy (yes this definitely counts as two blessings)
3. I have a great relationship with my kids and husband
4. I have a great relationship with Heavenly Father because I’ve been “Armoring Up” in the mornings (Armoring up means that I’ve said my morning prayers and read scriptures)
5. We have a warm and roomy home
6. We have reliable cars that are paid off
7. We live close to family and can develop better relationships with them
8. My husband has a job
9. My husband has a job (again, counts as two people!)
10. One of my recipes on this blog went “mini” viral and helped me see the potential my blog has
11. I am a member of some great blogging groups with very supportive people
12. My DSLR camera is still working, even though it’s SO old
13. I have great clients from my photography business that keep me busy
14. I have a great job teaching preschool

Now on to my favorite posts of 2013.  I hope you enjoyed them.  I really basically do this blog for free.  I think I make about $0.01 an hour for as many hours as I spend planning, carrying out, picture taking, editing and posting.  Seriously.  But I just love doing it and I love sharing new ideas with you!