Christmas is only a week away....what a year it has been!

Feliz Navidad....Ano prospero y felicidad!

So, Christmas will be here in just one week and here I sit wondering, again, where the time has gone that we call a year. I often look back at what has happened in our family during a year and am almost always left feeling amazed and overwhelmed by the number of blessings we have been given in our lives. This year is certainly no exception!

This year started with me beginning my final semester at HSU, knowing that in just a little over 12 weeks, I would have earned my Bachelor's degree in Spanish Education...or at least hoping so. John was still working and keeping quite busy as a Personal Fitness trainer. Connor was doing very well in the first grade class at Ferndale Elementary and Aidan was still enjoying his time at Prime Montessori in Fortuna where Mrs. Reddy showed a high level of patience with our typical "middle child." Korbin was growing like a weed, certainly not looking like a child who had spent his first week in the NICU of UCSF, but trying very hard to keep up with his brothers.

At the end of January our entire world changed when John lost his job and I was still in the long haul of school. It is amazing how the Lord blesses us in times of need! John soon found another job, and also had the opportunity to spend more time with the boys. The boys thrived as always, and I added part-time extra help work with the County into my crazy schedule. John's job was only to be temporary as the business was not going to stay in its location for much longer, but we knew that it would get us through May and my graduation; so it was enough for us.

In June we decided to take a vacation and visit Utah so that we could see John's sisters and their families and let the boys see the place that mommy and daddy had once lived. We had so much fun visiting Church history sites, the zoo, Lagoon (a great amusement park!) and spending time with family that we hadn't seen in a couple of years. While there, John had the opportunity to interview for a job. He was offered the job, and we knew that Heavenly Father was providing us the means to support our family; so here we came!

It was hard for grandparents and great-grandparents to have us move so far away, but they understood the reasons. Connor and Aidan were able to stay behind for 6 weeks while we got settled and then my mom brought them out and stayed with us for a week. Connor started 2nd grade and Aidan ended up having to stay home with Korbin and mommy due to the age requirements here in Utah. It has been really great for Aidan and Korbin to have this time together each day.

So, here we are in Utah where John is extremely busy with his job at Gold's Gym as a Personal Trainer, I am way busy being a mom and wife while seemingly running the neighborhood carpool (we take and pick up 3 neighbor kids to school each day). The boys are happy that there is snow on the ground and they can play in it. I am glad when it stays in the mountains!

My mom came for Thanksgiving and Aidan's birthday and then he flew back home with her. In just 4 short days we will be flying to CA to spend Christmas with my family. It will be different than last year because my dad and Rhonda won't be there to celebrate with us...and we will be coming back to Utah just a few days after Christmas. Connor will be staying behind for a couple of weeks (and he gets to miss some school...he likes that part) and we will come home with just the little boys. It will be nice to have Aidan home and Connor will love being with his Ga-ga and Pop.

As we come to 2008, I again sit in amazement as I contemplate the blessings we have been given. We truly have been given so much by such a loving Heavenly Father! Next year will bring us many new experiences....Connor will turn 8 and be baptized, Aidan will get to start Kindergarten, and I hope that Korbin will be out of diapers! I hope that I will remember each day to cherish the blessings I have been given and to cherish every moment with my 3 boys as they continue to grow so quickly.

I hope that each of you enjoy your time this holiday season and that you each will take a moment or two or ten, to reflect upon your blessings and be grateful for each of them. May our Heavenly Father bless each of you in all you do!

The Ireland Family

We have joined the blogging community

So, I decided that perhaps we needed to join what seems to be everyone else in the world in creating a blog for our family. This is our blog! Here we will keep all of our friends and family near and far, posted on the happenings of our family.

At this moment we are surrounded by snow on the ground outside and loving the miracle of the heater in our home! Aidan is in California with Ga-ga and Pop (Sarah's parents) and the rest of us are anxiously awaiting our trip back there in just under two weeks.

I will post more later and include some pictures.

Love to all of our friends and family!

John, Sarah, Connor, Aidan and Korbin