Happy New Year 2012

The year’s almost through so it’s just about time

For a holiday greeting and annual rhyme.

This year we’ve been blessed like all years in the past,

We love our life here, but the time’s going fast.

For those who live far, you may not have known,

Our sweet little family by one kid has grown!

To find out the gender we wanted to wait;

We thought that this time a surprise would be great.

Joshua William arrived nine days late.

The nurse said just under ten pounds was his weight.

He looks pretty skinny—he’s long and he’s lean;

I think from his Daddy he got the tall gene.

His whole head is full of long, light brownish hair—

He looks like his siblings, if we must compare.

He gets lots of loving; he’s very adored.

By his older siblings he’s never ignored.

He’s just two months now, but the time’s going fast.

These days when they’re little sure don’t seem to last.

Caleb is next as we move up the line.

Adjusting to baby, for him, has been fine.

He runs, hops, and gallops, and rarely, he walks.

Of monsters, and gators, and “sharkies” he talks.

He loves to imagine and play with Big Sis;

Sometimes they fight, but most often it’s bliss.

He helps in the kitchen to cook and to bake,

And likes to use tools, to fix and to make.

He uses the potty just like he’s a pro.

Last time in a diaper was three months ago!

He always is singing a cute little song.

He’s snuggly, and giggly, and silly and strong.

Eliza likes learning and asks lots of “why?”

She’s brave and she likes to give new things a try.

She’s memorized poems she likes to recite

And helped with the baby from morning ‘til night.

She likes to “read” books that she’s heard many times,

Tell jokes, and sing songs, and make up silly rhymes.

She’s not very shy—she makes strangers her friends.

She loves to dress up, makes believe and pretends.

Over the summer when we were out West,

She cut her own hair, her mom’s patience to test.

She just snipped her bangs, but way down to the root,

She cut Caleb’s too, and he did not dispute.

In school Mike just has one semester to do;

It’s hard to believe our time here’s almost through.

In California the summer we spent.

Mike was an intern, so that’s why we went.

He loved what he did and he learned a lot too

Next year as a lawyer he’ll make his debut.

We’re hoping to end up back out in the West;

We’ll trust in God’s plan, though, for he knows what’s best.

With work, Scouts, and Kola besides doing school,

His schedule is busy, but never too full

To play with the kids even though it is late,

To wash all the dishes, or go on a date.

Stephanie feels like her job is the best,
Though it’s lots of hard work, not much time to rest.
Cooking and canning, preparing the meals,
She also makes time to find some great deals.
When things calm down and she has time to spare,
She’s sewing and crafting, but free time is rare.
She loves her role as mom and as wife;
Can’t think of a better way to spend her life.

(If you read our poems, you may just take note

This stanza’s the same as in past years I wrote.)

The new part to add is that caring for three

(So far)’s not quite as hard as I thought it might be.

Of course we remember our first daughter dear,

Who came to our family but did not stay here.

It’s nearly five years since the day that she came.

She changed us; our hearts grew; we’ve not been the same.

Sweet Lily reminds us that life can be brief,

We all endure trials, we all deal with grief.

That’s why in this season we celebrate Him

Who lights up our path when the way’s looking dim.

The babe in the manger was God’s gift to man

Who came out of love to fulfill God’s great plan.

 See more of our most recent family photos and Baby Josh's photos.

Read about New Year Poems from previous years