The very best yes.

I started reading a book the beginning of the year, and I'm just wrapping it up. It's titled, The Best Yes, by Lysa Terkeurst. I found it fitting, every single piece of it, in relation to 2016 for my family and I. I don't know about you all, but life's demands of being a wife, mom, daughter, friend, God-loving, and healthy human being is hard, really hard, and it's exhausting. Pretty much, I'm always "tired as a mother." ;) As we wrap up 2016, and as I reflect on this last year, Derik and I have had many best yes moments, and when you say yes, and make a decision to do something, you run full force with it! Life is full of decisions, and it's your choice to say yes or no. I've also learned how to say no, especially if it's something I really don't want to do, or if my schedule is too full, you say no. Trust me, the people who truly love you are okay with you saying no. Saying no, has taught me to prioritize, it's relieved stress, it's opened up my schedule for the most important things, and its left my heart and soul happier because I can focus on all those "yes" decisions. "A best yes is you playing your part. If you know it and believe it, you'll live it."-Lysa Terkeurst Here are some of Derik and I's best yes moments of 2016. Signing up for my second half marathon, training for it, and running it for 14 amazing individuals in the wet, wet snow. Now let me tell you, so many times when I was doing my long runs, I wanted to stop at mile 5, but, when you make a decision, you face it head on and you keep going. It was so worth it when one of the pacemakers at the run said she loved my shirt and was planning to use the idea next year! Signing up to get my CNA license. Holy smokes that was tough! Not the class, but being away from my family for like 10 days straight, while Zoie was having seizures, it took strength. Now look at where we are. I've been Zoie's CNA for 6 months now and am able to cover all of her medical expenses without going into debt. Even if I may have literally ran off the road, got stuck in Mead for the day, all because of a snowstorm, I survived and it was worth it! Derik and I took our first trip away from both girls to sunny San Francisco for my 30th. It was such a scary decision, to leave them for many reasons, but also one of the best things we have done for us! I highly recommend riding a tandom with your hunny across the Golden Gate Bridge. Nothing like it. I turned 30, obviously, but that wasn't a decision ;) . We choose a Kindergarten for Zoie, and ran with it. It was one of the biggest and best decisions we have made. Her school is amazing, so amazing! The staff has become family. Not only does Zoie get to go to school 3 days a week, but it gives Ivie and I some much needed quality time. Speaking of Ivie, she's the best. She's my little sidekick, my little firecracker. Like I've said before, shes my normal, and I need that. I so need that. I think the biggest decision we have said yes to this year and literally took off running with (because you have to!) is to try for a 3rd sweet baby to add to our family. If you follow me on Instagram, or are one of my best friends, this is no surprise to you. Key word in here is that we have been trying, don't worry, there's no baby yet! Derik and I started working with doctors at a clinic in Denver in April and it's taught us a different kind of patience. Working with them to do our best to have a healthy baby when God's timing is right is very very time consuming. So far we have 18 appointments under our belt, 6 shots injected, way too much Denver traffic, and about a million prayers sent up because I not Derik, have felt like giving up. Patience, faith, keeping the end result in mind, my sweet hubby, and 2 sweet girls who will love and thrive off siblings are what keep me going. That, right there has been our biggest and best yes of 2016, and when God blesses us with a 3rd pregnancy, we will be so grateful and thankful. As always, and it always happens around Christmas, God sends some reminders down as to how to be present and in the now. This year it was Zoie getting hit hard with some nasty seizures, that scare the piss out of us. At the end of the day, when she's alright (thank you God) and we are home for good after going in and out of the ER several times, I'm thankful for what I have today. I'm thankful for what's sitting right in front of me. Ivie and her charm and love and cuddles, a healthy Zoie, a hard working and loving husband who does anything for us, and this life. It's pretty amazing. It's amazing even without all of those "yes" decisions we make, but for me, those "yes" decisions are what keep me going when the days are hard. It's what gives me something to strive towards and look forward to. Here's to another year of the best yes' in 2017!