A first for me.......

Today I was able to visit a sweet, sweet baby girl-in the NICU.

This baby girl was just over 3 lbs when she was born-today I believe she is 3 lbs 6 oz.( or close, i hope I got that correctly).  Today was one of those "moving days". I felt a big reason, as to WHY i was in that moment. I'm not 100% sure as to WHY right now, but i know that it's playing a strong part in my life.

My cousin, girlfriend, and former boss gave birth to a sweet baby girl about 9 weeks early.  On a Thursday I went to visit her at the hospital while she was there on strict bed rest, still pregnant.  I was able to visit with her for an hour or so, and I told her that i would be back next week to visit and help to pass the time.  The next morning I woke to a phone call that Baby Kianna was born.  Arriving into the world at about 3 and a half lbs and 16.5" long, with an infection-I made sure to pray for this baby girl and her family immediately. Daily I have thought about them, and prayed for her health, for Kami and Aaron to have the strength to get through each day and be strong for everyone, and knew that I needed and wanted to get to the hospital to visit.

I got there today.  I got lost on my way to her room, i had never been (thank you GOD) to the Pediatric unit and i really didn't expect to be shaken up.  I didn't expect to have tears, and a tug at my heart.  After all, this was a living miracle in the arms of her mama when i walked in.  But I know that every.little child is a miracle. Kami and I talked a lot about how it's not just by chance that these children are here, and these children are healthy and so perfectly made.  I looked around at all the babies today and in my mind wondered why each one of them was there, where their mommy and daddy was and prayed for them-as simple as "PLease dear God, be with these babies".....the ONLY thing close to that experience was being in Ethiopia with rows of itty bitty babies in beds, the only difference is that these babies probably did have a mommy and/or daddy that would come to see them, sometime that day.  But, there is definitely similarities.  And there was a tug at my heart that was telling me SOMETHING today, but right now I am not sure as to what it was.  For now I am going to reflect on the time that I had with them today, and continue to pray for the health of Baby Kianna. I could have watched her for hours-and I know God is doing the same.  He's got this.

Our Year in Review!

Ryan and I were just talkng.  This is going to be our first New Years Eve spent apart since we've been together (that make sense?)  We had fun talking about the last 12 NYE celebrations that we took part in-house parties, the bar scene, hotels, up north-and more, they were all a blast, this year-he will be spending it with my brother.  Close enough for him, right!? : )

Here's a lil' recap on how 2013 treated us!

JANUARY 

Rylee B. started basketball-he LOVED it! And getting through January always seems like a task, but sometimes welcoming a "down" month after the crazy rush of the Holidays, it's ok!

FEBRUARY

we celebrated my birthday, gave Rylee a new room AND Ezra started Gymnastics, which she STILL LOVES and she cannot wait to start again!

MARCH

We enjoyed the 1st HOPE GALA for Awake & Alive in Indiana! THIS non profit is AMAZING and is doing BIG BIG things!! Cannot wait for this years! 

We also had a BLAST watching Michigan Basketball this year!  Many gatherings with friends and family throughout March Madness!

APRIL

 We made a visit to Toledo to visit Emilie!

 Crazy snow storm in Michigan-yep-in April!

 Our sweet God Daughter Hadley K. was born!

 Rylee B officially became a U.S Citizen!

We had a blast at our cousins wedding with our family!

Mommy started that whole "running thing".....we're still not sure about it.  

MAY:

Rylee finished his 2nd year of preschool!

Mommy took off for her mission trip with Awake & Alive to Ethiopia!

 SUCH an amazing 10 days, serving the beautiful country with friends!

JUNE:

 Ezra turned 3!

Rylee started T Ball and LOVED IT.  Daddy even coached his team!

JULY:

 WE made a trip to Indiana for the 4th of July to visit the Haids and The Shrocks! WHO knew going to Indiana would turn out to be a lil' tradition for us-we LOVE IT!

 Mommy started to change the world with NOONDAY COLLECTION.  If you haven't checked it out, you really should.  She's loving this and her 31 business right now!

 Scarlett Rae was brought into the world, by our dear friends Andrea and Keith! She's a beautiful lil' munchkin, and w can't wait for our kids to grow up together just like her mommy and I did!

 We love the Shrock Family!

AND we got to take the train to Chicago for a mini-vacay with the McCoy family at the end of the month. Seriously, I don't know why there is no pics of the 4 of us, OR of the newest addition of Amari from the trip, BUT we do have this cute pic with Zaela!

AUGUST:

 Mommy met up with her 31 sisters in Atlanta for the National Conference! I learned lots, and has some fun too while I was there  : )

 We had a few weekends at Grandpa and Nammy's pond!

Daddy and Rylee B took up Golf!

SEPTEMBER:

Rylee started Kindergarten!

 Ezzie and I managed our first few days without him being home all day.....

 Rylee started his 2nd year of soccer!

Mommy and Daddy got to travel courtesy of 31, to the Dominican Republic!  LOVE that job of mine!

OCTOBER:

 We celebrated 11 years of marriage!  What better way with friends in town from Texas and Indiana!

 Ezra got her ears pierced for the 3rd (and last) time!

 Ezra and Rylee were Batgirl and Batman for Halloween!

 Mommy and Daddy survived another UM/MSU game!

Team Corzine raised over $3500 for the Grand Rapids Marathon!

NOVEMBER:

 The day after Thanksgiving we went to pick out our Christmas tree at Peacock Road Tree Farm! We love that place!

Annnnnd we got our first "real" snow!

DECEMBER:

 Rylee B turned 6!  We celebrated with family and friends with a SUPER HERO birthday party!

 Rylee had his first Christmas party with his class!

There was a BIG ice storm that hit the week before Christmas, some people still do not have power-
but the ice on the trees and sunshine was beautiful

Merry Christmas!

Love, The Armbrustmacher Family

Here's to a blessed 2014!  May the New Year bring you all much love, health and happiness!  We have been blessed beyond belief, and we know that with each struggle we've encountered it's only brought us closer with our faith!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

We're still HERE!

We're still here! We survived Thanksgiving, and all the craziness that went into the last few weeks leading up to Christmas.  I struggle with only having 3 weeks in between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I need more time.  Especially with my "RULE" that NOTHING CHRISTMAS gets to go up prior to Thanksgiving.  It's tradition for us, and plus one holiday at a time, people! : )

We had SO many beautiful colors this fall, in fact I think that everyday when I was driving i would Ooooh and Ahhhh over the beauty of fall in Michigan.  There were so many opportunities to grab my camera and take pics, that finally one day Ez and I took a trip to the local historical village park and let her run around and play, and I snapped some pics of her.....

CANNOT believe that she's 3 and a half years old, TODAY ACTUALLY.  Happy Half Birthday, Ezra Tilahun....She is a little spit-fire, and she opened up quite a bit this year with all of the parties, praise the Lord for that, slowly but surely she is going to become my little social butterfly!  She is excited to start gymnastics in 2014!

RYLEE turned 6 on the 2nd.  HOW in the world did he turn 6-ALREADY?! I remember that lil' dude laying in the pack n' play when we picked him up and he was just hanging out, feet propped up and all just staring up at us, like "Oh you looking for me".....now almost 5 and a half years later, he's running the halls of Kindergarten, will be starting basketball and is become more independent as the days pass us by.  Not REAL great for the mama that likes to control MOST areas of the daily life (I'm working on THAT)

We're all keepin' busy, and I'm LOVING my Stay At Home, Noonday, and Thirty One Gifts little gig that I have going on right now!  In all honesty, it's all so very different that I like to have my different loves for THINGS and passion for others that I do....So far it's working out pretty well, I think I'll continue to go with it!  Christmas update coming soon, as soon as we officially make it through ALL parties and school break, I can bet that I'll have a pretty something to write up!  HAPPY HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you all!