I know I have written this in a past New Year blog but I LOVE the beginning of a new year. So much excitement, mystery, and hope! And I usually try to set a few goals. Over the past few years I have tried to make them more like ideas to incorporate into my life. Not so much do or die goals that leave me feeling miserable when I do not meet them. But before I go on about my goals for 2018...I would like to do a quick 2017 recap! I am the type of person who easily forgets the goodness of God over the year. I tend to focus on the bad things or the stress of planning for the future. So I am taking a moment to process and rejoice over last year.
2017
- Reached our one year of marriage mark January 9th!
- Got to attend my first wedding expo (I was working a booth haha)
- Saw the Helser's perform a worship night with our friend Mary in Greensboro
- Sent some of my best friends off with an epic dance party (still not super thrilled they moved..)
- Cheered at an Alumni event at CCHS
- Drove my sweet friend to the hospital and was with her during labor of her beautiful baby girl!
- Watched a movie at our local theatre on the importance of body image and self love! (Embrace Movie)
- Attended a ton of baby showers :)
- Continued my weekly singing lessons
- Had a blast working all summer with Lynn (personal chef)
- Saw Rainbow Kitten Surprise and John Mulaney for my birthdayyyy
- Joined the OBX Choir with my husband (and had a successful performance)
- Went hang gliding with my husband and rad friend Hannah
- Went to Acadia National Park in Maine
- Saw Bon Iver in Charlottesville with my friend Mary
- My sweet friend April got married this year! woo
- Helped with the blessing tree ministry at my church
- Made it one whole year without social media!! (one more month to go)
This obviously isn't everything that went on this year but it feels nice to put it into perspective! We had a lot of stress and fear in 2017. And I am sure some of that will continue this year. But God always mixes beauty in with the mess. He understands our lives. He understands the highs and lows. And He expects us to rejoice always.
This year I hope to not put so much pressure on myself. To slow down my life a little and spend more time with God. I hope to continue cooking, take care of myself by exercising, and embrace life with less fear. I hope to make 2018 more about others. To reconnect with friends and to get more involved with people a lot different than me in my community.
Cheers to a New Year!
