dear blog,
sorry it's been awhile. it's not like I didn't think of you... but every time I was reminded of you, I began to think about all the things I hadn't done this year. and today it hit me: the reason I started this blog was to chronicle adventures and be thankful for the every day things, not worry about all the things I'm not doing. this year has been a totally "normal" yet completely crazy year. it's one of those years where there are tons of things left on the to-do list and things on the "done & done" list aren't exactly what you set out to do. it was difficult, sweet, crazy, beautiful, and ridiculous all wrapped up in one. there was more than one time I thought about quitting everything, and, if I'm honest, that thought can linger in the background of my mind. however, it was also full of the biggest accomplishments ever, thanks to the Lord literally carrying me over the finish line of 2L year. so, here are some of my favorite moments, in no particular order, of 26:
1. getting married **duh
2. camping trip & hiking with sweet friends
3. shenandoah national park with Jmomma & Pod
4. adopting a sweet kitten **Dashiell Robert Haefner
5. growing with a sweet community group
6. teaching 3-5 year old crazies every Sunday
7. exploring downtown norfolk
8. rearranging our apartment *at least* 3 times
9. going to DC for a trial advocacy competition
10. *finally* watching all the harry potter movies
11. celebrating so many friends & family weddings
12. best new years date ever
13. finishing 2L year **one more year, peoples!!!
14. Christmas eve at walmart & cracker barrel
15. an airbnb experience we can **now** laugh at
16. Mom & Chrissy coming to visit
17. Elaine's commissioning in Branson
18. baby gooselings at the apartment complex
19. the stuffed bell pepper incident
20. playing tennis with the adventure partner
**a little over** one full year later, and we are on to 27. there are a lot of big changes that are going to happen over this next year, and a lot of big decisions to make before they happen. but if we can make it through this past year, we can make it through this next one, trusting God's sweet timing and plan. cheers, 26. you were a good one.
