A Year in Review

It's difficult to summarize an entire year in a few paragraphs, so I thought I'd wrap up 2012 with some lists.


Family Highlights
Daren's ordination!
The adoption of our niece, Willow Grace!
The birth of our second son, Justus Scott!
The day Justus was released from the hospital!
Jackson being potty-trained and moving into his big-boy bed!
The birth of Kate Rene, our second niece!

Top Ministry Moments
Attending our first-ever regional women's retreat and hearing women's stories and testimonies.
All the fun and memorable moments at CTV Family Camp.
Weekly prayer walks with Jackson in our neighborhood.
The CTV Ladies Craft Time Amber and I planned and hosted.

Gut-Wrenching Experiences
Finding out our son was experiencing seizures and would be admitted into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Sitting in the parents' room of the NICU while Justus underwent a spinal tap.
Receiving a phone call that Dana and Nick had been in a bad car accident and her water broke.
(Thankfully, through the Lord's awesome grace and provision, each one of these experiences had a happy ending)

Thought-Provoking Books

"The Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl", Harriet Ann Jacobs
"Theirs is the Kingdom: Celebrating the Gospel in Urban America", Robert D. Lupton
"Life with God", Richard Foster
"Narrative of Sojourner Truth"
"Jesus Calling", Sarah Young

Most-Played Songs on my Ipod
"Moves Like Jagger"- Maroon 5
"I Got a Woman"- Ray Charles
"Home"- Phillip Phillips
"Little Lies"- Fleetwood Mac
"Hello"- Lionel Richie
"Love You Like a Love Song"- Selena Gomez

Most-Watched Netflix Shows
Downton Abbey
Mad Men
Breaking Bad
Parks and Rec
Desperate Housewives
Army Wives
Battlestar Galactica
Star Trek
(Yes, my taste in televison shows are quite varied and eclectic!)

I Survived...
Being pregnant and raising a two year old along with teaching at staff trainings, being project manager for CAP (and also teaching and assessing) and being a core group leader for Community Bible Study.
A mountain hike with a screaming toddler and a police inquiry (someone thought Jackson was being kidnapped due to his hysterics).
12 days of having my baby in the hospital.
30 minutes of horrendous pain as a doctor scraped my uterus for leftover placenta after delivery.
Christmas was with a baby and a sick toddler.
Weeks of sleepless nights, toddler temper tantrums, and the insanity of adjusting to life with 2 kids!

So long, 2012! All in all, you weren't a bad year. Looking forward to what 2013 will bring!