after spending the morning/afternoon running errands & helping cook food for tonight's party, i thought i'd take a moment in the quiet to recap this year before the guests arrive & celebrating begins! we're in ohio for the new year {per tradition}... though we almost didn't make it this year due to daddy having the first of two surgeries {for 2 torn rotator cuffs} on thursday. thanks to pain meds, he's feeling pretty good so we were able to make the drive over & tonight will be a big reunion of mama & daddy's friends from college. one of our favorite traditions for tonight is that the youngest chillens always create a ball drop for us at midnight:) it's been snowing again all day so this might just be the prettiest ball drop yet!
how are you celebrating 2012 & ringing in 2013 tonight?!! do you have any traditions?!
2012 turned out to be a pretty exciting year! i didn't have many goals or plans as it began but God blew me away with the blessings & opportunities he brought my way!
this list isn't all-inclusive or in any particular order but it will give you a glimpse of the many beautiful moments i was able to experience:)
+ got my passport!!
+ traveled to Uganda, Africa & London England with one of my dearest friends
+ ran the Color Me Rad 5k with friends
+ sang with the Indy Symphonic Choir in a tribute concert for Martin Luther King Jr.-- such a neat experience!! {a one-time event... I've not joined the choir}
+ celebrated my 19th birthday IN Tennessee, swing dancing with dear friends. Alex was in Taiwan at the time & because of the time difference we got to celebrate our birthdays on the same day! {usually one day apart}
+ had some very long standing prayer requests answered
+ took 2 road trips by my lonesome- once to Cleveland & once to Nashville
+ joined friends for swing dancing at Symphony on the Prairie for the 4th year in a row {Glenn Miller Orchestra again!}
+ unexpectedly had to replace my MacBook Pro :/
+ ran Wheeler Mission's Drumstick Dash for the 3rd year in a row- best Thanksgiving Day tradition!
+ joined Christian Community Church
+ went skydiving with Alex & Brent
+ legally launched my photography business {public launch coming in early 2013, so check back}!!!
+ had the privilege of spending 6+ months getting to know a certain guy. our paths ended up taking separate directions but I will always appreciate how much he encouraged me to deepen my walk with Christ.
+ went to Texas for the first time & watched Micah graduated from Air National Guard BMT
+ went to a Josh Garrels concert with Hannah
+ traveled/was out of town a total of 86 days--- that's over 12 weeks!!
+ photographed 3 weddings & had 19 photoshoots with couples, families & individuals-- many more than I expected considering I hadn't publically launched my photography business.
+ watched several dear friends get engaged/married
+ became more deeply involved with Heart Change & more familiar with the near east side
+ met so many new people & made many dear friends
+ went kayaking & sailing for the first time!
+ vacationed again in Michigan with most of the family
+ slept under the stars at least once & soaked up every full moon I could
+ was challenged in many areas throughout the year, including my relationship with Jesus, and learned *so* much. i'm still learning to be grateful for growing pains though!
Here's to 2013!!!!
Happy New Year!
