A Year of Adventures (And Still More To Come!)

I am so very blessed. There are so many people who fill my life with joy. Their laughter and love reminds me everyday of God's hand on our lives. He is so unfailing. Even through tough times and good, he is right by our side. He so intimately wants to be involved in our everything. Our waking, our sleeping, our praying, our crying, our smiling. He rejoices in our rejoicing and he weeps when we weep.


I am so thankful. I have experienced so many great things during this year. It makes me excited because the year isn't even over yet! I am filled with anticipation at what the Lord is placing before me every day, every month, every year of my life. I never want to take for granted the life I have been given. Everyday when I wake I want to tell God that I am grateful and that everything I am is his.


So, here our just some of the highlights, some of my joys and accomplished dreams from the past year. I encourage you to also ponder what you are most thankful for and to never forget the wonderful gift that life is.

January: Kicked off a great year with a relaxing and fun cruise with one of my best friends and her family. We stopped in Jamaica, the Grand Caymans and Cozumel. One of the most funny moments was our experience swimming with sting rays. Definitely a one time thing for me I think. What a way to start off the new year! When I returned from the cruise I got the chance to meet my homeboy, Toby. : )







February: Got to be reunited with my sweet group of friends from Texas. Many of us grew up together and more importantly, we watched each other grow in our relationships with the Lord. Such an awesome bond we share!





March: My childhood friend, Brittany, came to visit me in GA. We got to visit and have lunch at the American Girl Doll Place. I have been waiting for her to come and visit just so I could go! We shared many a hour sitting in the floors of our rooms playing Barbies and American Girl.

April: I went on a life-changing mission trip to Lima, Peru. I love the people and the amazing ways God is at work! I want to go back and hope to return in the spring for a mission into the Peruvian rainforests.

May: I graduated from high school and ran my first 5k with Landon and Christian (I'm running another at the end of October!)

woo hoo! i'm finished!

June: Flew to L.A. California with my bro, Landon and a great group of students from our church for a mission/choir tour. A very fun memory. Also got to have a family get away to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We enjoyed a much needed rest and quiet time.

enjoying the resorts water slide

Landon and I on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills

July: Returned to my native land in Texas. Got to spend time with precious family and friends! Also visited Charleston, South Carolina with my mawmaw, aunt Julie (who recently moved with her family to the Middle East and was back in the U.S. for the summer) and mom. We had a fabulous time chatting, touring, and eating, eating, eating!

Gotta love those Texas skies

sweet friend

touring the only working U.S. tea plantation
in Charleston

August: Travelled back to the Middle East (Doha, Qatar to be exact) with my aunt Julie and her four kids. My uncle Kevin had already returned back to work so I was able to help my aunt out with the kids. We got to Doha with four kids, 10 large suitcases, 4-5 carry ons, stroller, car seat, and toddler carrier and all in one piece too! I got to stay for 3 full days before flying back just in time to start my college classes. It was wonderful experiencing the culture and getting to spend more time with my precious little cousins.

Time for tea in the Middle East!

met a feathered friend in the market

September: One of my biggest joys this month was celebrating Maddie Kate's 3rd birthday. Maddie is such a huge blessing to me. I can't imagine life without her. Adoption is the greatest adventure and the way she came to us is an amazing "God thing". I love getting to watch her grow, learn and discover God's world. I know that the Lord will do awesome things in her someday!

The Lord willing there will be many more adventures to come! Thank you God for everything you have done and will do!