This Year

I've been doing a lot of reflecting lately on this past year.

It is really hard for me to believe that many of this year's events actually happened this year. For some reason, this year has felt long...in good and bad ways.

The next two weeks are going to be extremely busy for me, so I'm trying to take some time this week, during the few spare hours that I have here and there, to just sit in reflection of all the things I've experienced and learned this year.

January has always been one of my favorite months. When I was little, I looked forward to it because of my birthday. Now, I love it because sometimes Christmas can linger a little into it and that always makes my heart happy. I also just like the idea of a fresh start, empty calendar pages, and anticipation of what the year will bring.

This past January was a good one. We received some really happy news and I got to have the perfect birthday celebrations. I spent my actual birthday sick, but the weekend before was a blast.

February is also a favorite of mine. We always have a lot of birthdays to celebrate that month and our anniversary is that month. And for the past few years, February also means our anniversary trip to Disneyland. We celebrated our fifth anniversary this year, so we decided to extend our trip a little and turn it into a few trips by getting annual passes. I also got to be in the room as my bestie gave birth. Definitely one of the biggest highlights of my whole year...my whole life, in fact.

In March, we took a fun trip with Josh's family to celebrate his mom's birthday. Our goddaughter shares the same birthday, so we were able to go to her birthday party on the same weekend. It was just such a fun time. We also got to attend a couple of fun Easter celebrations in March and I got to surprise one of my best friends for her birthday.

April had its ups and downs. We got to celebrate my sister's birthday with her and I had some really fun hang outs with friends. March and April were also the months that I really started eating better and changing my lifestyle. Our senior pastor also retired from our church. And April also brought some sad news and a lot of really hard moments that continued for a few months.

May had a lot of fun moments. We took a secret trip and went to a couple of birthday celebrations. I started undergoing tests for my neck and back issues. The Office ended, which was sad, but we were able to watch it with friends, so that was fun. And my oldest niece turned 6!

June had two fun beach trips! One was camping with Josh's family and the other was a fun weekend away with friends. We also got to go to the wedding of some of our good friends. It was a very busy month but it was full of a lot of sweet memories.

July also brought two beach trips! The first was a weekend away with our marrieds group at a cabin in the mountains. It was quite warm, as it was 4th of July weekend, so we spent a lot of time out on the water. The second was our church's annual worship and baptisms on the beach. It was so awesome to hear so many wonderful testimonies and to see so many people get baptized. We also went to the engagement party of a couple whose relationship we got to watch develop and blossom over a couple of months. She is a missionary and he is hoping to join her on the mission field soon. We can't wait to celebrate with them on the day they get married.

In August, my hubby went on a weekend trip to see his favorite band that recently got back together and started making music again. While he was gone, I went on a little getaway with some of my girlfriends. It was really fun. We also surprised one of my friends with an early breakfast on the morning of her birthday.

September had big ups and downs. We started off the month with a trip to Disneyland. It was pretty warm while we were there but we had so much fun. I also got to watch my brother-in-law and sister-in-law get baptized. It was so incredible to see and be a part of. My niece turned 2 and we got to have two fun celebrations with her. I also got to celebrate two of my friends's birthdays who happen to only be a couple of days apart. And my heart broke and ripped in half as something devastating happened to my family. It still hurts every time I think about it, but I know that God has done and will continue to do amazing things through this situation. Maybe someday I will share it on here.

In October, we said goodbye to a loved one and to another pastor. We had a going away service and some of our friends that have moved away were able to come and be a part of it. We also got to celebrate a sweet friend's birthday. We went to a fun Halloween party and went trick or treating with some of our sweet friends and their kiddos.

November was very full and busy. We got to celebrate with one of my sweet friends for her birthday. I went to an essential oils class and started using one that has helped immensely with my pain. We went to a wedding for two people that Josh and I have known since our youth days and I got to help surprise a friend for her birthday. I saw Catching Fire with some great friends and we went out for sushi with our worship team. I also threw Josh a Murder Mystery Party for his birthday. We did a friends Thanksgiving dinner with some of our good friends. We spent Thanksgiving with some of the people we love most and then went to our favorite apple/Christmas tree farm the next day. And my youngest niece turned 2!

This month, we did a friends Christmas dinner with some of our friends where the girls decorated cookies and we made gingerbread houses. I had a Christmas themed favorite things party. I went to a pottery painting place with my friend. It's been a yearly tradition for us the last three years. We also went to a white elephant party and saw The Hobbit with a group of friends. We have a lot of fun Christmas celebrations this week and next week, as well as a couple of family vacations. It's going to be a full couple of weeks but I am really excited about them.

As far as what I've learned this year, I've learned more about what it means to be a real friend. Not only has this year been hard on my family, it's been hard on the families of a lot of my friends. I have learned so much more about what it means to walk alongside someone and to do life together. I've always considered many of my friends like family but that term has taken on a whole new meaning this year. I can't imagine life without these amazing people.

I've also learned more about trusting God and trusting He will turn even the worst of situations into something good. In many of the situations I've walked through or walked alongside of this year, I've seen glimpses of that good, and I can't wait to see all that comes from them. It's the reason why I wanted Romans 8:28 to be the verse on our Christmas cards this year. Because it is so very true.

I'm also learning a lot more about contentment. I feel like God is constantly teaching me more about this. I'm learning more and more that contentment can't be found outside of God. I can be happy with where my life is and the things I'm doing, but true contentment is only found in Him.

This year has been full of changes, good and bad. And while I usually get this anxious feeling about change approaching, I am somehow never quite prepared when I'm actually faced with it. I think that's where trusting in God and depending on Him comes in more. If I could be prepared for everything on my own, I wouldn't need Him.

I know 2014 is going to be different, in good and bad ways. I know it's going to bring its share of hardships and sweet memories. And I know my heart will burst with joy and sadness...but I'm excited for all of it. I've learned a lot about our trials and tribulations shaping us and causing us to depend more on God, and because of that, I'm learning to open my eyes more to see what God wants me to learn through them.

So while 2013 isn't quite over, I want to take these next two weeks and just be. I am sure I will do some more reflecting, but I want to enjoy each moment that's left of this year.