Highlights from 2011

January
Visiting my great aunt's house in Connecticut

Shopping in NYC!


February
I went through all my pictures on my computer and there aren't any from February! So...moving right along...

March
BY FAR, the highlight was going to Colorado and trying skiing, snowmobiling and snowtubing for the first time!




April
Having an adult Easter Egg Hunt with my friend Audra's family!



May
Attending college friends, Ashley& Robbie's wedding!



June
My youngest sister, Keleigh's graduation from high school!



Blue Man Group to celebrate Dayna's 23rd birthday!



Rock Springs with Dayna's family and friends!



Kayaking!



July
St. Augustine with the girls on my mom's side of the family to celebrate my Aunt Cathy's 50th birthday!


Going to Alabama to spend time with my longtime friend, Tressie



My dad's 50th "sock-hop" themed birthday!!


Going on a cruise to Grand Cayman and Cozumel with three good friends!




August
"Girls Gone Godly" reunion with collge friends, and a professor!


Starting a brand new school year, and my 2nd full year of teaching!




Out to dinner to celebrate the First Day of School!


September
Some out-of-state family came in and I went to my parents' house for a weekend to hang out!


October
Traveling to Asheville, NC to see the leaves change, experiencing a corn maze, and the Waynesville Apple Festival!




Turning 25 and celebrating for an entire day with friends! They had 25 things planned for me to do that day! In this particular picture, we are in Ghiradelli at Downtown Disney after ordering the best hot chocolate ever!


November
Experiencing Black Friday shopping for the first time! No pics, but read the blog post if you haven't already!

December
Tacky Christmas Sweater Party & White Elephant Gift Exchange!





Traveling back to Asheville, NC, visiting the Biltmore Estate, and Christmas shopping in Asheville!




That about wraps up my 2011 in pictures! I would describe 2011 as a year full of traveling which I LOVE! I have been to five new places this year- Colorado, Alabama, Grand Cayman Islands, Cozumel, and Asheville, NC (twice!). Can't wait to see where 2012 brings me!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Question of the Year

My question of the year?

How do it go by SO FAST? Cliche it may be, but seriously, this year flew by.

There's one day left in 2011. 2012 is one day away. Either way you look at it, we are wrapping up another crazy, busy, fun, challenging, fast year. All to do it over again, hopefully accomplishing all of things we, as individuals/couples/friends/families, have set as goals for the upcoming year.

Whether those goals be of the infamous type like: losing weight, exercising more, eating healthy, saving money, growing closer to God, practicing kindness more often, helping those who are less fortunate, or stopping bad habits, as we look toward a new year, most of us feel the need for a "new beginning" or "fresh start." The world knows these new beginnings or fresh starts as "New Year's Resolutions."

What are your New Year's Resolutions? What is going to be the thing, or things, that provide for your "new beginning" or "fresh start?" I'm not sure if I know what my specific resolution is just yet. I have a few thoughts running through my mind on how I could improve myself- physically, spiritually, etc.

However, at the end of next year, a year from now, no matter how many New Year's Resolutions are made this year, we will still be far from perfect. Because we're human. Because we have a sin nature. Because of Who died for us simply for one reason- our imperfections.

Sure, we can set goals for ourselves to improve us. I think we should and I think it's healthy. Goals, when followed with action, take us places- places that are part of God's plan. Setting goals is essential. It's just that we'll never be perfect. With that knowledge comes the realization that it is God himself who makes us whole and complete. He loves us even with all of the things about us that aren't so lovely.

Our selfish wants
Our satisfaction from gossip
Our jealousy
Our impatience
Our dishonesty
Our unwillingness to help the least of these
Our hatred
Our desire to brag on ourselves
Our unpure thoughts and actions
Our ability to kill, steal and destroy
Our insecurities about ourselves, when we were made in God's image

...the list could go on. My point is that we all fall short. Myself included. I'm looking at that list right now seeing categories in which I fit. But just because I don't "fall into" some of those above listed categories, doesn't make me any bit better than the next guy. It does, however, show that I'm in need of someone who IS perfect, and there's only one. His name is Jesus.

Not one single New Year's Resolution is as good as the One who created the universe. He really is all we need. When we seek Him, he'll show us what it is we need to do to make ourselves more like the person He created us to be.

"Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." -Isaiah 64:8

When I began typing this post- I had no intention of sharing more than what the title suggests- how 2011 went by so quickly. But as I was writing about New Year's resolutions and their meaning- God began to lead me in a different direction. And I'm not ashamed. It shows the power God has in our lives (when we allow Him)- even through a simple blog post. Just in writing this- I think I've learned there's really only one thing I need to work on in the upcoming year- and if I work on that- everything else will fall into place...because if I die tomorrow, nothing is going with me. All that will matter is Who I belong to.

That's what I need to live for.

Merry (Belated) Christmas!

Well, just like every year, Christmas has come and gone. It always makes me sad. I hate to see this time of year come to a close. But it always does...and crazy enough, it'll be here again before we know it. Twelve months time has a way of passing quickly. Too quickly.

Top 10 Highlights from Christmas 2011 (in no particular order)

A very blurry picture showing me and my cousins after eating Christmas dinner...always full of laughs

Time spent with my sister's little, tiny, miniature chihuahua, Jilly

Baking zucchinni bread, among other things like Christmas cut-out cookies, fudge, coffee cake and peanut butter blossoms

Playing a game invented by my 12 and 9 year old cousins- they tape a piece of paper to your head and you have to guess what it is by asking questions that can only be answered with a yes or no. We didn't cheat at all.

Enjoying the many desserts and catching Chloe in the act :)

Being spoiled by my dad who made me a milkshake, when I didn't even ask for one! He knows how much I love them!

Walking in to the sight of this in my sister's bedroom- her new present, halfway concealed at the bottom of her closet, but easily accesible when she needs a fix.

Quality time with Chloe and Jilly

Christmas Eve Church- one of my favorite parts of Christmas. (Mom was at home recovering from a medical procedure.)

Posing for a godchild/godparents picture with my brother and Chloe.

I thought this would be the easiest way to blog about Christmas since I've taken so many pictures over the past week I've been here at my parents'. One of the most memorable parts of this Christmas, and definitely not my favorite, was the 80 degree weather we had on Christmas. I can't remember a Christmas that felt so much like summertime. Most everything I packed to come to my parents' was long-sleeved including sweaters, scarfs and jeans. I'm hoping next year it's colder...much colder!

I hope your Christmas was merry & bright!