A Look Back on 2014 - 10 Ways God Has Blessed Us

Happy New Year!

As we come to the close of another year, I am just in awe at God's continual goodness to our family.  There is so much to be thankful for and more than ever, God is teaching me to continually look for His good gifts, which are all around me.  Even when times get difficult, if you look, you will see His grace...His many graces.  So, with a heart of thanks, let me recount just a few of them from this past year, and in doing so declare the goodness of our great God.

1.  In February our oldest, Jake, turned 13.  Yes, we've hit a milestone as we enter the teenage years! Over Christmas we pulled out the old home videos and saw Jake as just a little guy.  It seems like just yesterday!  Now he is taller than Mom and looking more like a man every day.  He's full of creativity and ingenuity; this year his interest has turned to learning to make knives and writing a book (to name just a few)!

2.  In March we had what is becoming an annual visit from my brother's family, which we affectionately call "Cousin Camp."  The number of kids grows each year! This year there were 12, with my brother's 4 and our 8.  It is a highlight of our year, with lots of fun, laughter, and great fellowship.

This year the kids made tie dye shirts that say "Cousin Camp 2014."  I think we've started a new tradition!

Ezra & Grizzly (born just days apart)

We couldn't even fit all the kids around the table!

3.  In May, our youngest (at the time), Ezra- our sweet, loving, melt-your-heart adorable, happy little guy- turned 1...and Steven's parents got to be here for it!  They come every year and this year was as fun as ever.  It's always such a joy to have them with us.

One of the highlights of their visit is their arrival, when they drive up and barely get out of the car before the kids attack them!

4.  Slowly but surely, our family business- Dad's Disappearing Salsa Co.- continues to grow, expanding into 12 stores, and keeping us busy with farmer's markets, street fairs, flea markets, holiday shows and internet sales.  We've even been recognized when we are out and about..."Hey! You're the salsa people!"

5.  God blessed us with another big garden this year, and a new flock of laying hens, giving us 18 chickens. Our "farm" is simpler these days, with no goats or pigs, but more manageable for this season of life.

6.  Through the years God has been faithful to provide for all our needs, and this year was no exception.  Through a loving surprise gift, our friends and family pitched in to surprise us with a new double oven and refrigerator!  It never ceases to amaze us the ways God takes care of not only our needs, but many of our wants as well.  The amazing thing was that it came at a very difficult time for us financially.  It was like God was saying, "Look at what I can do.  If I can give you what you want, then you can trust me to take care of your basic needs as well." (we consider it a want, but our friends and family may disagree...our oven door did have duct tape holding the door shut for years and didn't work well (to name just a few of the problems).  And it's a DOUBLE oven and a much bigger refrigerator...which helps so much with a big family. We are so thankful!

7.  The "little boys" Jed & Abel moved out of their big sister's room and into their own room.  Yes, it was finally time for us to turn the "office/guest room/homeschool book room" into a little boys room, to make room for the new baby to go into Hailey's room.  The boys LOVE it!

8. On October 28th, God blessed us with baby #9....and can you believe it was a GIRL?!?!?!  Hailey finally has a sister. And since Haven was born at home, Hailey got to be in the room  when her little sister was born.  What a special bond! Our little Haven is such a sweet, peaceful, chubby, beautiful baby girl and we are all just crazy about her.  And her nickname has become "Squishy," because she's just so...well, you guessed it...squishy!!!

Our traditional bed picture that we take after each of our babies are born.  I think we need a bigger bed!

9.  My wonderful mom came out to help me when Haven was born, as she always does whenever I have a baby.  She is such a blessing to me, staying for 2 weeks to help with the kids and the house. After Haven was born my step-dad Ray flew out to join us! The kids had so much fun with them...even spending a couple nights camping in the backyard with Grampy!

My mom and I got to have a "girly day", just the two of us, before Haven was born.  It was so much fun!

Now that Steven made us this awesome 9ft table, we can all fit around it!

10. And best of all....My sweetheart and I are more in love than ever....and our children are happy and healthy.  God has made us a family and we are so very thankful.

We hope and pray that God blesses you this new year and that together we will look for the many good gifts that He gives us, even the little things, and give Him thanks.  The Bible says that every good and perfect gift comes from our Father above (James 1:17).  And may the gifts direct our hearts to the Giver, who gave the greatest gift of all, His son Jesus Christ, so that we might have life in Him.

God bless you all,

The Mena Family
Steven & Jenny, Jake, Zack, Ben, Sam, Hailey, Jed, Abel, Ezra & Haven