{ 2014 In Review (DAY 501) }

There is no possible way to sum up a year so here are snapshots into what happened in my life in 2014.  It started out as one of the most emotionally brutal times in my life and then mid April I had a rebirth of sorts and its been the most incredible year.  All in all I am thankful.

This year I traveled to Idaho and Colorado, both for weddings.  I think it’s notable that I danced in heels all night for both. 😉

We got snowed in and binged watch a season of 24.  We will never do that again.  Apparently we all get way too invested in the characters and can’t sleep when we do this.  I also made maple syrup candy on snow just like Laura Ingalls Wilder.

I had some of the hardest conversations of my life so far.

God brought unexpected healing to areas of my life that I didn’t even know where broken and hurting…it was incredible.

I cried myself to sleep more than I ever have, both joy filled tears along with sorrowful ones.

I wrote more handwritten notes just because and spent a small fortune on stamps…it was worth the investment.

I made friends on Instagram! Amazing, and I love it.

My Christmas wish got granted and it was a miracle…more on that in another post though. 😉

My friend’s car died and she taught me how to jump it…unfortunately I promptly forgot how to do this.

Some things you learn the hard way…like getting locked out of the house when your parents are out of town and spending lots of $$$ to get back in…

I learned to love teaching piano on a new level.

Sometime in the beginning part of the year I started being a big sister/mentor to a lovely young woman.  I absolutely love it.

There were several emails from readers that left me amazed, grateful, and overwhelmed by how this space opens up stories.

We had so many wonderful people stay with us! My brother and sister-in-law came, my aunt and uncle visited from Arizona, a friend came from Australia, my girl Rachel came, and one of my dearest friends lived with us for 6 weeks.

A new person was added to our family on June 6th with the arrival of my perfect little nephew.

After having long hair since I was 14 I chopped off 10 inches. Yes, I love it.  For me it was an outward show of the inward transformation my heart has gone through this year.  Oh and I started wearing red lipstick on occasion.

I’ve stood in holy moments and I feel the sacredness of life like never before.  I’ve thought long and hard about the touching of heaven to earth that I have experienced and how my relationship with the Lord has gone this year but I just can’t sum it up.  This quote explains it better than anything. “Love scenes, if genuine, are indescribable; for to those who have enacted them, the most elaborate description seems tame, and to those who have not, the simplest picture seems overdone. So romancers had better let imagination paint for them that which is above all art, and leave their lovers to themselves during the happiest minutes of their lives.” (Louisa May Alcott)

I sewed a leather purse and learned how to knit myself a sweater.

Headway happened on a special project.

Friends sent me mail from all over Asia!

I got to go to my first NFL game and it was better than I could have dreamed up.  I get a smile just thinking about it.  The fact that I got to go with my cousins was a highlight.

I finally met two friends who I’ve know for years but never seen in person, one from Australia and the other from NY.

And I read more than I have in years: Middle March, Brain On Fire, Captain Blood, Scaramouche, Boys in the Boat, The Little Way of Ruthie Leming, The Fault in Our Stars, Shantung Compound, Dandelion Wine, The Martian Chronicles, The Dragon’s Tooth, The Drowned Vault, The Empire of Bones, Bittersweet, Daring Greatly, Cheaper By the Dozen, Leepike Ridge, Daddy-Long-Legs, Dear Enemy, Fatherless Generation, Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, Emily’s Quest, The Blue Castle, and The Giver.

One of the most significant things I learned about myself this year is that I am a storyteller.

I also saw my sin like never before but experienced grace and patience from God that left me humbled and grateful.

I got asked to be a bridesmaid (for the ninth time!!! 🙂 ) in my dear, dear friend’s upcoming wedding.  This will be my first time as a “destination” bridesmaid since I get to fly there for this one.  Also we met through this blog…it’s astounding…and we’ve only been together in person once.  I’m crazy excited and giddy and can’t wait to witness her say her vows.  It is an honor.

Going to several plays with my nephews and niece.

Oh joy, I got all four wisdom teeth out with only local numbing…

Passing a huge test for 3 more college credits.

Writing down a couple thousand gifts in my thankfulness journal.

I was more sick the past three months than I’ve been since I was laid up in bed for four years as a teenager but I felt a beautiful peace, calm, and rest in my soul.

Being able to post my 500th post on here.

Finally hitting the $90K mark for fundraising and having less than 10% to go….would you please consider making an end of year, tax deductible, donation today and helping sweet no-longer-orphans in India?  Knowing we helped raise a little more money for them at the end of the year would be the best gift! 🙂