Dear loved ones, What a difference a year can make! As I compile a record of our year, I realize how much we crammed into 12 months. 

A Recap of Our Year:
January– We celebrated our fourth anniversary. We celebrated with the fanciest meal of our lives! At Hinata Japanese fine dining, we got a flavor experience! Through multiple courses, we tried new foods and drinks. The presentation and hospitality made us feel like royalty. 

February– In February, we were approached by a young woman about adopting her unborn baby. We were elated and grateful she trusted us with her precious child! Our attempts thus far to expand our family had been thwarted and I truly feel like God redeemed our story with the promise of our son! Now we simply had to wait for the beginning of August! February brought many wonderful experiences: a pastor & spouse retreat in southern Indiana, Monday playdates for Stevie with some church friends, “Mommy & Me” gymnastics, and the beginning of Lent. Oh! And Meriah accidentally attracted every feral animal in the area by leaving out food for some stray cats. Josh also took up smoking a pipe in honor of his grandfather. 

March – March brought beautiful weather and the opportunity to get our bouncy toddler outside, though we kept the gymnastics going. We began tending our garden in preparations for spring planting. Josh also tapped our maple trees and produced some amazing syrup. (A serious labor of love!) My dad (Boppa as Stevie calls him) made friends with a local hobby homesteader with lots of animals! Stevie loves visiting the pigs, goats, bunnies, chickens, and turkeys. Easter landed on my parents’ wedding anniversary this year! We were blessed with friends who “egged” our house for a surprise egg hunt for Stevie. Josh and I were also finally able to cash in a gift token for Clayshire Castle, an outstanding Medieval b&b in southern Indiana. It was a great place to recharge amidst the Easter busy-ness. 

April – Josh turned 41! Meriah went to an officers retreat for American Baptist Women of Indiana & Kentucky in Nashville, In. (Josh joined her!) Gymnastics continued for Stevie. As the weather warmed up, we enjoyed working outside and exploring the woods. Nezzie, an outdoor kitty who adopted us last year, started leaving us “presents” on the front stoop in various stages of … butchering. Josh started mushroom hunting, and I ripped up the HUNDREDS of “resurrection lilies” we had on the property, which were strangling out other plants. Two of our friends from South Dakota came to visit us and see the eclipse! What a sight to behold!! We got to see an ultrasound of our baby boy! We were already smitten. 

May – Brought beautiful weather and time in the garden. Stevie teased us with a brief interest in potty training before moving back to diapers. Josh and I became members of Isaac Walton and got to shoot clay pigeons. Suffice it to say, Josh is waaaayyy better than Meriah. Meriah started working on a “pray-ground” for the church balcony: a place where adults and kids can go without the need to sit still in a pew but participate in the service. Memorial day weekend we loaded up the car with Lee, Vicki and Stevie for a little excursion and ended up in Fort Wayne, In at Sweetwater Music. That place is a music mecca! 

June-Stevie turned 2! This summer was a perfect season for attending our local farmers’ market. Between foraging and the farmer’s markets we enjoyed some fresh food! Meriah took time to add some flair to the curtains in Stevie’s bedroom. (What are hobbies when you have toddlers?) We took a break from gymnastics with the warm weather and baby brother on the way. Oh, have I mentioned working in the garden? It was literally a daily routine. Meriah was asked to attend the American Baptist Women’s Day in Franklin, In. Josh installed solar panels on my parent’s roof to power their new mini-split air conditioner/heater. 

July – Stevie decided Papaw (Keith) is one of her favorite people and could not stop talking about him for 6 months. Josh spoke on “The AI Revolution” for Cisco. His workshop was sold out and over max capacity! This man is brilliant and people know it! More garden tending.  Wilfred James Tigner King was born on July 26th! He came home with us on July 28th. Stevie nicknamed him “Wolfie,” although sometimes it’s just “Woofie.” Stevie is smitten with her “brudder.” Josh and Meriah got parental leave (13wks and 8wks respectively). Meriah may or may not have also taken the time to get a new tattoo…. 🙂 

August – Stevie started a preschool 2-year-olds class at a local church. Her backpack is bigger than her!
Did you know having a newborn means your sleep disappears? As a 36-year-old mom and a 41-year-old dad, we were very aware of it this time around. I feel like I blinked and August came and went. Josh made plans to build a playground for the kids in our backyard. Did I mention it’s a pirate ship? (Spoiler: babies and toddlers take up a lot of energy and we didn’t officially get it started until December.)  Wait, I didn’t mention the garden! We’ve got tomatoes and peppers galore! Oh, and the peach tree! We processed an extensive amount of peaches and make fruit leather with my dad’s dehydrator. (Lee turns 69)

September-Josh got a single speed bicycle and a buggy to take Stevie on bike rides. She loved cruising with her snacks and drink cup while daddy worked up a sweat. (Vicki turns 71.) For Nana’s birthday, our family of four plus Boppa and Nanna took a trip to Fair Oaks Farms in Fair Oaks, In. They have a huge operation! We got to see brand new piglets and calves. Meriah went back to work from maternity leave… Josh still had a few more weeks to go. Josh grew an enormous interest in bike riding and we invested in an electric bike with optional pedal assist. He was taking daily bike rides and thoroughly enjoyed the time outside (not using the pedal assist). Speaking of outside, have I mentioned our garden with tomatoes and peppers? Oh, we now have corn, beans, squash, and potatoes grown. Wait… the squash died. Our freezer is slowly filling with tomatoes. 

October– Meriah turned 37! Vicki (Nana) retired from nursing in order to split childcare with Teresa (Mamaw). We celebrated by going to a new Korean BBQ place in town. We are extremely blessed by our parents’ help (grandpas included) in caring for our children while we work. Surprise, surprise, our toddler’s energy didn’t dissipate when we gained a newborn! We found time to go to parks and get Stevie outside as much as possible to burn off energy. Josh FINALLY goes back to work from parental leave. 😉 

November – You know what’s the best about fall? PUDDLES. Or at least Stevie thinks so. Josh went to Atlanta, GA for an AI conference. He got to meet “The Mountain” from Game of Thrones! Did I mention both kids had RSV, Teresa was sick, and our furnace went out in the week he was gone? BOY, we were happy daddy came back! Josh’s cousins had a kids’ thanksgiving where the menu was kids’ favorites and centered on the kids getting to play. We had a blast! Uncles Josh & Micah, and Aunt Lizy visited for Thanksgiving. They got to meet Wolfie for the first time. Stevie got to make her first snowman and snow angel with Nana. Yes, puddles and snowmen in the same month. 

December – Meriah celebrated 7 years of ordination and 7 years at Liberty Baptist. Josh’s family Christmas was early this year. We met at a trampoline park for all the kids to bounce for an hour before heading to “Gigi’s” house for food, gifts, and games. Between Josh’s busy career and the holiday season, we hired a church friend to start the work on the pirate ship. We hope to have it up and going in the spring. 

Reflection: Once again, we recognize our lives are full to the brim. Our cup runs over. Stevie’s humor and pure joy combined with Wolfie’s sweet smile and giggles are all we need. We cannot imagine how 2025 could bring us any more joy, but I’m open to surprises. 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! May you also experience the joy of deep love and community in 2025.