This
has been a long year I feel like, but with that said… tomorrow is already going
to be 2014. Should an exclamation mark have ended that? I dunno. Still not
totally sure how I feel about it. Feels like any other day really.
There
was some heartache in 2013... I watched my parents get divorced after 20
something years of marriage, met their new significant others, saw sides of
people that I didn’t want to see, got tendinitis in my elbows, dealt with some
serious crazies… but with that, there were so many good things that happened this
year too! Overwhelmingly so!
New
tattoos, took up blogging (not very well as I don’t post as much as I should),
got an amazing old sewing machine that I’ve rocked like no other, made new
friends, got a new job (which as of 2014 will be full-time with benefits),
started doing children’s ministry (Justin doing high school ministry)… got some
seriously awesome new watches…
And
in January we got to celebrate being newlyweds with a second honeymoon! Thanks
to Uncle Dave for letting us use his time share and Justin selling his bike the
day before we left for San Francisco so we’d have money for the week. And what
a week it was! From the freezing cold air, expensive taxi rides, sitting on a
train for 11 hours both ways, almost missing our ferry from Alcatraz which would
have made us late for the bus back to the hotel, nude protestors to a random
acoustic show Justin played, seeing the golden gate bridge, the best
continental breakfast we’ve ever had (minus the meat, because well, they didn’t
have any), free dvd rentals at night, “Jeeves” the guy at the front desk, riding
on a double decker tour bus and getting to see the whole city! So many things!
Though the best part was just being able to spend time with my HUSBAND, a week’s
worth of time, just the two of us together. The most perfect week ever.
Participated
in another Be the Church where the church goes out on a Sunday to restore the
community rather than a service and this time my sisters came! We also participated
in like 2 other houses.
Yay for the Ninja Team! Still waiting on the shirts
though.
We
helped/watched a couple friends come to Christ and that has been such an
incredible thing to experience in. Seeing their faith in Christ grow stronger
all the while ours does too.
Learned
how to make simple syrup, it’s just that, simple. It has really helped out in
the Making Justin Sweet Tea All the Time Department.
Bought
a Roku which has been a solid investment. By investment, I mean, “investment.”
No more Netflix on the computer! Yee haw! (Sorry about that last part,
listening to some Mike Ness outlaw song where there’s a lot of whistling and
yee haws!)
Wednesdays
have become my favorite day of the week, not because its “hump day” (I hate
that stupid camel commercial) or whatever, but because the day seems so much
shorter. No midday or pm kids! And then the best part after that is that I get
to hang out with my littlest sister Kate. We pretty much don’t do anything
other than drive around, get ice cream or Starbucks, and visit the fabric
store. It’s the best time really. She’s sweet and cute and a big dork, like me.
Got
the IPhone 5! That’s not really big news, its actually really old news. Just looking
around as I think about all the things that the year has entailed and my eyes
passed over my phone.
Anyways…
The
cars have been up and down. Mostly up though! Thanks to Justin, the bondo work
is almost completely done! I say almost completely because I don’t quite
remember if it’s almost done or completely done… Either way, it looks so
awesome! Justin has done an amazing job!
We
celebrated our one year anniversary!!! And what a nice night it was! Driving
around, dressing up all fancy, dinner at a swanky place… One year married.
Sighhh. I couldn’t be anymore lucky. I’ve found the one whom my soul loves. He’s
been there for me through the good, the bad, the broke, the sick, the busy, the
great… And he loves me. Only me. Well, and our two little cats. But that’s a
different kind of love. Obviously.
I
made a really awesome quilt for Justin’s grandma (blog on that later)! And she loved it, so much so
she cried. And then cried again when she called me a couple days later to thank
me (again).
We
helped our friends welcome their healthy little baby Wyatt into the world! So
adorable! And so tiny. He’s actually pretty normal sized for a newborn, but he’s
just so tiny and fragile!
Another
one of our couple friends FINALLY got engaged! And I’m the matron of honor…
apparently that’s what you’re called if you’re the maid of honor but married.
Who knew!
I
know I’m forgetting things, but honestly, despite the small amount of sucky things… this year
has been one the best years I’ve ever had. Mostly I think because I got to
spend it with Justin. Mostly because I know that I’ll always have him. And he’s
mine. And I’m his.
So
I know everyone wants to hear about resolutions, but I don’t want to label them
as that because really folks, how many people actually follow through with
their “resolutions”? No one. Unfortunately, I don’t really have another word to
call them by… so I’m just going to list them.
This
year has been toughest on me and my mom. And I love her and I miss her and one
of the most important things on my list is mending that relationship with my
mom. Colossians
3:13 “bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against
one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Another
thing that I’ve been sucking at is making time with God. So I’ve made reading
plans and a planner that is going to help me with that.
I
don’t want to curse anymore. Not that I think that it’s a terrible thing to do
or anything, but I just don’t think it’s necessary. So no more cursing. Matthew
12:36 “…men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless
word that they have spoken…”
I
need more self-control and discipline. In the mental and physical well-being
parts. I need to be consistent in my routines.
Loving
others. “…love your neighbor as yourself" and “Jesus
had compassion on them because they were harassed like sheep with a shepherd." I just need to keep reminding myself that. Everyone is going through something.
Which brings me to the next part of this, praying for others. I don’t do enough
of this. Because everyone is going through something, but as it says in Philippians
“do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit…” Both loving and praying
for others go hand in hand.
All
that's on my mind for the new year are: getting out of debt, starting to save for a
home, read the new testament again, read the old testament, mend relationships, get physically fit
and spend more quality time with my husband.
What are you thinking about as this year comes to it's close and the next one begins?!
