Happily Welcoming the New Year

Hello all! Sorry it has been so long since I have last posted.  Life has been CRAZY . . . as I'm sure everybody's has!   Here is a brief update of the Henry Family for the year of 2011:


- January-April 2011 Winter Semester for both AJ and I... busy busy busy studying and preparing for the baby, my fabulous friend Whitney Nielsen threw a baby shower for me and Eliza and she did such an amazing job, AJ was working on grounds crew still, and we both decided to take spring and summer classes and graduate

- May 2011 Precious angel was welcomed into our eternal family and into our home.  Eliza has filled a certain void in our lives and now we wouldn't know what we would be doing without her.  When she's sad, we're sad.  When she's happy, we're happy.  When she's sleepy....well, we're usually sleepy now :)  But, we're learning that every sacrifice that marriage and parenting has required of us has been worth it. 

- June 2011 - I turned 21.

- July 2011 - We went to the Wimmer family reunion and had such a wonderful time with AJ's family!  We love them all and miss them so much. 

- August 2011 - AJ and I both graduated with our Bachelor's of Science degrees (me: family studies, AJ: Psychology).  Then, wonderful friends and family helped us to pack up and move to Missouri.

- September 2011 - AJ starts up undergrad coursework again out of inspiration to redirect is educational and professional pursuits to the medical field. I started working full time at a pre-school for children with developmental disabilities.  I worked in a room full of 8 little two year-olds.

-October & November 2011 - Work began to wear me out and time away from Eliza was heartbreaking.  Again out of inspiration, I quit my job (but they actually just bumped me to be a substitute).  Shortly after quitting, AJ found a lump in his ...body... and we began our regular visits to the hospital.   I still haven't figured the timing out on this, but we're trusting in the Lord every day.

-December 2011 We had a wonderful Christmas full of many great memories with family and friends.  AJ turned 24 and picked out a toy car for his birthday.  I am glad he helped pick out his present because he has had so much fun showing everybody how much joy that simple gift has brought him.  I am learning from him and Eliza everyday about the simple gifts that God gives to us everyday.  We do not need anything grandiose and dazzling to be happy.  Right now we have each other and resources sufficient for our needs.    

AJ had surgery the Thursday after Christmas and today we went to the hospital so he could get his stitches removed.  The doctor said that the pathologist has confirmed that AJ does indeed have cancer.  Luckily, he caught it early and we're hoping that the surgery removed all of the bad stuff.  However, the doctor also said that the type of cancer that AJ has/had requires chemotherapy and he will need to get routine CT Scans at least twice a year for the next 5 years and that he might have to end up receiving chemotherapy.  

So, here we are with our small family. Living life everyday-- trying our best to always have faith and rely on the Holy Ghost to guide us in our decisions. I debated updating the blog today....wondering what I could possibly write.  But, here's to 2011:  each day has made us stronger and we remember how very blessed we are.  And here's to 2012:  we can't wait to see what's in store!