a year in review

Life is so much more than the quick highlights and events that take place, and yet I do love remembering the highlights and events because they trigger thoughts of what God has been doing in us and how incredibly faithful He has been to us. I suppose I'm the only reader who gets the full picture of it all, but hopefully you'll enjoy remembering with me anyway!

 
January

- We celebrated Jackson's fifth birthday. (Unbelievable!)

- The Make-A-Wish Foundation sent our family to Disney World for the week so Aubrey could see a castle and meet princesses. It was memorable, special, wonderful, and luxurious!

 

February

- Our church closed on a building in Potsdam that we had been hoping/looking to buy for almost 2 years. Daniel was instrumental in the closing process and subsequently to the remodeling and planning processes.

- Gabriel turned eight!

- We got lots of snow! The kids had so much fun building snowmen, sledding in our yard and at The Big Hill in town, having snowball fights, and making snow angels.

 

March

- We wrapped up another Upward Basketball season with a great deal of competitive fun that extended to the sidelines at times! Both Gabriel and Jackson played this year, and Daniel coached.

- Our three school-age children participated in another CFA Grandparents' Day celebrations. They all sang in choirs and participated in the talent show with a dance routine.

 

April

- Gabriel participated in a wedding as a ring bearer for some good friends in Pittsburgh. He looked handsome and was tremendously blessed to play a part.

- We had a lovely, mild Easter!

 

May

- Daniel and I traveled quite a bit, attending three out-of-town weddings in one month.

- Gabriel began his 2nd year of baseball in our town's league, which included being given the opportunity to march in the annual Memorial Day parade.

- The kids all participated in CFA's end-of-the-year Academy Night. I wrapped up the year as the 2nd-4th grade choir teacher and 1st-2nd grade story time teacher, and Daniel finished his year as assistant director, K-12 phys ed teacher, and 3-4th grade character class teacher.

 

June

- We planted our vegetable garden, something we've done for the past three years now. It is one of the highlights of summer for us all at this point.

- Bronwyn finished her first year of ballet study with a dance showcase.

- Jackson graduated from kindergarten!

- We began a major home remodeling project, expanding our upstairs by about 330 square feet. That project is on track to be finished sometime this coming summer/fall, as anticipated.

- Daniel ran his first 10k!

 

July

- The whole Sinclair family traveled to Long Island to celebrate Independence Day with Aunt Judy, Uncle Huck, and girls-- and also to celebrate my sister Louissa's engagement! We visited NYC and FAO Schwartz while in the area.

- Work on the building in Potsdam continued and Daniel began logging more and more hours there. He is turning into quite the remodeler!

- I ran a 5k, despite poor running habits this year overall, and the 3 big kids ran a 1-mile race. We all had a great time.

- I spent a whole week of my life painting the kids' bedrooms, many pieces of bedroom furniture, and the stairway. A whole week, pretty much day and night, I tell you.

 

August

- Daniel, Gabriel, and I headed out with a team of musicians for a youth conference in Michigan that Daniel was asked to lead worship and speak at. Bronwyn and Jackson stayed with some good friends while Aubrey and Claire stayed with my parents. It was the longest we've ever been away from any of our kids, excepting our time in Syracuse following Aubrey's birth.

- Daniel's parents came for a visit and to return Gabriel home after the week he spent having the time of his life with them in Pittsburgh.

- Bronwyn turned seven!

- We announced that Paladin #6 is on his/her way and due late March.

- I attended the first birth I've been to since Julia was born (unless you count my own children's, but those weren't exactly optional) and saw my niece Beatrice make her grand entrance into the world.

- Daniel poured countless hours into the building Potsdam, preparing it for the first service on September 4th.

 

September

- Our church launched its Potsdam location, which is where Daniel leads worship and oversees the service that we attend each week as a family.

- We started another school year: Gabriel in 3rd grade, Bronwyn in 2nd, and Jackson in 1st.

- Bronwyn began another semester of studying ballet with a new teacher and dance studio since her old teacher is no longer giving classes in Potsdam. She loves the art and is a lovely little dancer who has every hope of continuing with her studies for quite some time.

- Aubrey, our miracle baby, celebrated her fourth birthday. God is good!

- Carina and Julia put together an amazing Hoe-down/Engagement Party/Bridal Shower for Louissa and Josiah. It was one of the most fun parties I've ever been to.

 

October

- Daniel and I celebrated 10 years of marriage with a 3 day/2 night get-away to Montreal, Canada. We did lots of fun things and ate [too much] delicious food and, most of all, enjoyed being together. I am so thankful for this man who leads me in the ways of the Lord, and I love him more today than I did 10 years ago!

- We began another year of CFA Friday Program. Daniel is officially overseeing this ministry of our local church to homeschooling families and doing a great job. I am teaching choir and story time again, and three of our children are attending as students.

- Our church hosted an alumni reunion and we got to reconnect with lots of alumni who grew incredibly near and dear to us in their time in the North Country.

- My sister Louissa got married to a great guy. Her wedding was beautiful!

- Gabriel and Bronwyn began another year of piano lessons with Aunt Camilla, and Gabriel began some drum lessons with Papa.

 

November

- Claire turned two years old on the 1st.

- We headed to Pittsburgh for Thanksgiving, stopping first in Syracuse for in-depth prenatal tests (all clear!) and a hotel stay on our way.

 

December

- December contained lots of Christmas parties, a concert or two, special meetings, holiday decorating, tree-getting, choir-practicing, and cookie-baking. We love this time of year!

- Bronwyn had her tonsils removed after dealing with severe tonsil infections and abscesses on and off since she was two years old. Her recovery was quick and relatively painless.

- We celebrated Christmas with our sixth year of Christmas Eve and Christmas morning traditions right here in our own home. It is a joy to celebrate the amazing kindness of our God; and it is wonderful to see our children growing to love celebrating with one another.

Daniel & Brietta
Gabriel (8), Bronwyn (7), Jackson (5), Aubrey (4), Claire (2) & baby #6 due at the end of March 

 

In all the ups and downs one year contains (and it does contain a lot!), we are so blessed. We have a warm and inviting home to live in, five (six!) beautiful and growing children, a job that is so much more than just a job working for a church that is truly family to us, friends and family that we love and can count on, and the infinite joy of walking with Jesus. I'm so thankful that as we begin another year, our rest is found in Christ and the faithful work He has begun in us.

Happy New Year!