2012!

It has been an amazing year! I've felt the presence of God like never before this year, and although I've still got a ways to go, I know that I am closer and more secure in my relationship with Him. I've learned to not be anyone else's expectations of me, but to be the best me that I can be. I've learned to be okay with the mistakes of my past, and not let them hold me back from God's plans for me. I've definitely struggled with letting go this year, but I'm at so much peace with my life right now. Every day brings a new chance to be a better me, serve my God, and move on to be incredible the way He intended for me to be. What an amazing feeling!  My past will refine me and not define me. I'm so excited for the the new, beautiful, fun adventures that 2012 has brought to my family and me. I'm beyond grateful. I'm even more excited for what 2013 has in store for us. I read something that really inspired me today, and I wanted to share it before I put my top moments of 2012.

"We instantly embrace wins. But what happens when a dream fails to reach sunlight? It bends or breaks transforming both the dream and the dreamer. Some settle, accepting forgotten ambitions. Others become trapped, preoccupied with regret, rendering yesterday's inspirations as today's sorrow. Are you who you want to be?"

I love this quote. It really encourages me to, while still praising the victories in life, not let the failures become my regrets, but motivators to keep pushing for what I believe in.

2012

• Fell head over heels in love with my hubby again:) I didn't think it was possible to love him more, but we managed to find more love, fun, and a better partnership between us. We forced ourselves to set up more lunch dates and date nights. Marriage is something that should constantly be worked on.

“A successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt every day.”
Andre Maurois

Marrying for love may be a bit risky, but it is so honest that God can't help but smile on it.
Josh Billings
  

• Watch this insane athlete of a daughter of mine grow into a big girl. Where did the time go? When did she start having grown up conversations? When did she learn to start journeying her life in a diary? How in the world does she master and blow every sport she tries out of the water? Oh, the joys and pain of watch your baby grow into her own. She becomes more beautiful everyday. 

• Watched my 4 YEAR OLD become the biggest computer and gaming nerd I never imagined anyone his age could become. I think about the things we played with at his age, and I’m blown away with the way this kid can navigate through a computer, gaming system, and Ipad.

  

• Took a leap of faith and got a retail location for our learning center. It was definitely a God thing. I am thanking God for a wonderful year, and claiming another in advance. It has blessed me in so many unexpected ways. There are so many changes coming, and I can barely contain my excitement!

 

• FOUND ADULT ONESIE PAJAMAS!!!  Yes, it is that serious. My husband and I were jumping for joy.We are silly like that.

 

• Took my daughter to her first ballet to see the Nutcracker.

• My ten year Delta reunion

 

• Seeing my Big Papa for Thanksgiving.

• Taught my first women’s retreat lesson. It was so much fun.

• Experienced the most snow ever in Texas (or maybe just my lifetime).  Christmas 2012 in Dallas! We were sinking in it!!

• Started a garden!! We produced more okra than anything else. This year we tackled okra, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, basil, green onions, garlic, green beans, sweet peas, beets, spinach, chocolate mint, and carrots. Not all were successful, but most of them were. Not bad for our first year gardening. 

• Found two tumors in my body, one which was removed. They were not a threat, but it was the eye opener that set me on a path to ALWAYS strive to be the healthiest April I can be. This year I STRIVED to eat healthier, and in the words of Forest Gump, “I just started runnin.” It is always at the forefront of my mind. I’m more aware of the things I put into my body, and when I get off track I’m very motivated to get back on.

• Watched more TV shows than ever before. LOL. My husband and I made a routine of ending every day with a show or two. Here are just a few of our favorites.

 A little comedy and mystery solving

  A little syfy, action, and extraterrestrial

A little SCANDALous action and plotting!

  Just pure grossness. My husband drug me into this one. It is quite gross, and yet I can’t turn away.

More syfy with a little fairy tale. This show really grew on us. I love how they tied all of the fairy tales together to make one big story.

   And of course comedy!!

• I’ve learned to love and serve others on another level.

 

• Celebrated entering my 30’s in Vegas!

• Grew closer to a dear friend. I've known this friend for a while now, but I usually enter my friendships with a big wall these days. This particular friend completely loved me in my good, bad, ups, downs, encouraged me spiritually, mentally, and physically. I've grown to love her dearly and despite my wall, she touched my heart (and drop kicked my wall down. LOL). Having her around lets me know what TRUE friendship looks like, and makes me value, appreciate, nurture all my valued friendships (old and new) even more. Oh, how I love my friends.

Yes, it has definitely been a good (no great), busy year!!