2013 didn't start out the greatest being that I spent about 3 months homebound with a pinched nerve. But by mid February we had at least started treatment that would enable me to celebrate Marc's 50th birthday with friends and family.
This is him at dinner surrounded by some really supportive friends. I'm so grateful that he has men in his life that he can count on and that he can call on when he needs to.
In April I celebrated my 49th birthday hanging out with some of the greatest friends in my life. My mom, sister, my daughters and my sister-cousins. It wasn't anything elaborate but it was special just because I got to spend it with them.
I continue to be surprised yet humbled by the fact that God has seen fit to use me to speak. If someone had told me a few years ago that I would actually give a sermon I would have probably laughed in their face. God has truly brought this shy girl a very long way! This was me preparing to speak Mother's Day.
In June Marc and I celebrated 30 years of marriage by traveling to our favorite place in the whole wide world ( unfortunately this trip did not include WDW) but it was still a great trip. Especially since we got to meet up with some ministry friends I had been waiting years to meet in person. I still can't believe I got to finally meet Angie and Pastor Byron and that we got to sit down together and break bread!
Another highlight of this trip was meeting online friend Chandra. I continue to be amazed at the amazing friendships I have been blessed to start via the world wide web!
Just because I didn't get to go to the parks did not mean I didn't find ways to incorporate a bit of Disney into our trip. This is us the night of our anniversary at
Ohana our favorite restaurant at WDW. And thanks to the staff at the Polynesian Resort it was a memorable one.
I spent a lot of time hanging with my family this year. Its always been the one thing that has grounded me and at the end of last year I had made a decision to spend as much quality time with them as possible (that's also at the top of my list for this year). This is some of the family after my youngest daughter completed her first 1/2 marathon.
In August I was blessed to be able to coordinate and design the wedding of my younger cousin Trice. I had the best time doing this. I especially enjoyed being able to use my
party planning skills.
I love working in Women's ministry and I love that I get to do it with these women. This is a few of us at a local Women's conference.
The week after the wedding of my cousin Marc, Nicki and I took a week away from ministry to just chill. I can't imagine doing what we do if we weren't doing it together.
This year also afforded me the opportunity to reconnect with the women from
WIT. This group of women are part of the reason I am the woman I am today. They came into my life when I was just starting to come into my own and many of them helped to give me the confidence and courage to use the gifts God gave me.
In October we surprised my mom with a girls weekend getaway in honor of her 70th birthday. To say we had a great time is an understatement. I love my family to life!
In November Marc and I
celebrated five years at WABC. Wow! Can you believe its been 5 years????
These are my forever friends. These ladies keep me grounded and keep me smiling because we love each other no matter what. It doesn't matter that we are not in the same area or even together on a regular basis. Whenever we get together there is laughter, love and support. But best of all....No Drama! LOL
What better way to end the New Year then getting to spend it hanging out with our Kansas pastor and his lovely wife and family!
I don't know what 2014 will hold (its already started out rocky with a cold that hit me New Years Eve). But I have high hopes for this year and I'm excited about the opportunities that God may send our way. I'm believing that 2014 will be a special year!
