Top 11 of 2011 and then some...

This post could get rather long, but I'm in it to win it. This is the place I keep so many memories, so many thoughts. Why wouldn't I share all our "tops" in the very same place? These tops are not in any order. Expect number one -- that was definitely our number one this year :)

Top 11 in 2011:

11. Flock -- We've been blessed with incredible friends. So blessed. And we are very, very grateful.

10. So. many. visitors!!!!!!!

9. Tornado insanity 2011 with a week old baby and a toddler. Sigh.

8. Route 66 Half Marathon

7. Freedom Movement 2011 -- that seems to be gearing up to carry over into 2012 :)

6. Finding out AR was a boy :)

5. Benjamin's 2nd birthday -- trip to the Fire Station

4. Surprise 30th birthday party!

3. Christmas.

2. Trip to Minnesota.

1. Andrew Reid was born!

So much happened around here over the last 12 months. So much has changed!

We are now a family of four. I have an almost three year old and a seven and a half month old. Goodness. Benjamin and Andrew have, seemingly, grown up over night. My sweet big boy talks in paragraphs and has favorites. He tells knock-knock jokes and his character is revealed more each day. The little boy has an unspeakable joy! He has two teeth and can almost crawl. It amazes me how small he was just a few months ago.

Patrick and I celebrated seven years of marriage. He and I journeyed together -- through good and bad -- as we walked through a difficult pregnancy, much sickness, raising a toddler, having a new baby, growing in our marriage, learning to communicate better, learning to enjoy one another more, learning how to love one another, and growing spiritually together. Oh my soul -- God's love toward me is overwhelmingly revealed through my incredible husband.

2011 saw the end of cancer for my mom. It saw the healing of a tiny little heart, beating in the body of my baby boy. It brought us the most sickness we have seen as a family. It gave us inside jokes and sweet memories. It brought new life and saw deep sin put to death. It gave me hope as I sought the Lord earnestly through each change we encountered.

I don't think any one year is perfect. Each year has significant struggles and incredible joys. 2011 has proven to be no different. I wouldn't trade a single difficulty because it drew me nearer to God, it made me more of the woman He created me to be and {Lord willing} brought my Lord much glory. And I would certainly keep each and every joy -- too many to count, some I've probably forgotten already.

And just for fun, here are the top/most read 6 {because I can't figure out how to find the stats on the rest :)} posts from 2011:

6. Tornado shelter

5. Good Grief

4. Beta is...

3. Maternity pictures

2. Sweet heart

1. Welcome Andrew

There are several posts that I wrote that were especially meaningful or helpful to me as I processed life. Here they are in no particular order:

*About Patrick getting vertigo

*Posts about Benjamin talking and growing and becoming a boy

*The post in which I realized that I was ready to have another baby

*On being a mom that brings glory to God -- and being prepared

*On how great Patrick is...

Whew! That's enough links to take you into the new year! And with all of that said -- 2011 was really great and I'm looking forward to all that 2012 brings. Happy New Year to you, my friends!

What were your "tops" in 2011? Please share!