The End of 2012: Travels, Christmas, Family, Surprises, and Blessings

2012 is over, but for our little Yockeyite branch 2013 is only going to be full of beginnings! This Christmas season Husband Man and I have felt so incredibly blessed in every possible way! (And we still feel blessed!)

This year we had 3 WEEKS to travel and spend with family for the Christmas holiday! Since Husband Man was working night shifts all semester and had to work the Thanksgiving holiday, he blocked himself out so he didn't work for the last two weeks of December and the first week of January. He did have to work a little, because he had to make a schedule and set up a few things for hiring, but for the most part I had him all to myself for the whole break!

The first week we went down to Utah with Sous Chef for another of our friend's wedding. Sous Chef and I were asked to be bridesmaids, and we had some very brightly-colored dresses we were asked to wear!

Ok, so you can't really see the dresses, but hey! It was COLD outside! Thankfully, the photographer didn't keep us any longer than necessary- she knew we were all freezing! The wedding was beautiful, and I am grateful that my friend wanted me there with her for all the festivities.

After the wedding we crossed Wyoming to return to good ol' South Dakota. We spent the weekend before Christmas with my family before moving on to Husband Man's family. That first week of Christmas vacation was rough because, between the wedding and traveling to each family and trying to get Christmas shopping done, we were running all over the place! That made Christmas Day even more wonderful because that was the first day we were actually able to just sit and relax, and enjoy everything.

For Husband Man, this Christmas was especially amazing because his little sister, who lives in Europe with her hubby, was able to make it to the states for Christmas. (She almost didn't, between missing luggage and a snowstorm in Chicago, but she made it!) Both of Husband Man's sisters, his parents, his grandmother, and his aunt and uncle were all there. I've never seen so many people at his parents' house! It was so much fun!

Christmas Day Husband Man and I had a special gift to give our parents...

I wish I had more pictures from my family! Someday we'll do better with taking more pictures...

I'm pregnant! Husband Man and I kept the secret for three months, just so we could announce it on Christmas. My parents got a card too, and their reaction was priceless! (But I can't figure out how to make the video show on the blog! If you're friends with me on facebook, I'm tagged in the video...) They weren't expecting it at all! Husband Man's parents were very excited and happy (although his dad didn't know it was us right away, he was a little confused!) and my parents, grandparents, and sister cried. Everyone was so excited for us, and that excitement makes me excited. The Yockeyites are going from two to three!

We also received a lot of wonderful gifts from our families, gifts that are useful and thoughtful and special. I loved every single thing! We spent Christmas week with his family, and the first week of January with my family. My family helped me get some new shoes and some maternity clothes. Both of our families did and gave so much to us, with gifts and service and love, and I can't wrap my mind around how much they love us and want us to succeed.

Not only are we prepped for the new year with things to succeed, not only are we expecting a mini Yockeyite, but we are also GRADUATING! Both Husband Man and I are set up to graduate in April with our Bachelor's. I am so excited to graduate college! Since Husband Man had been off his mission for a couple years before I married him, he was actually ahead of me in his schooling. If I wanted to graduate, I had to jump on a special program that would allow me to go to school for all three semesters in a year so I could catch up to him. Let me tell you--three semesters a year is tough! After two years of nothing but school, I am so proud of myself for graduating college. (Sorry to toot my own horn!)

I'm also really proud of Husband Man for graduating, too, and also for trying hard to further his schooling. He's looking to get into a special Master's program in southern Idaho that will give him fantastic experience and also get him placed in a government job for at least two years. He's trying so hard to make sure that he can provide for our family; he takes that responsibility very seriously!

I feel like I could type and type and type all day, and I would never get everything that's running through my head down. How much I love family, how excited I am (and nervous too) to be a mother, how much I love Husband Man, how grateful I am to my Father in Heaven for all He has done for me... Our family is truly, truly blessed. Knowing I have support from so many people gives me courage to take on the new year!