As the saying goes in my house, normal is just a setting on a clothes dryer. With the dawn of the new year in a couple of hours, I look back at the craziness that was 2013 and look forward to the craziness that’s to come in 2014.
Here are a few of the highlights of the year 2013:
A “date” with my brother, Brandon–putt putt and dinner at Olive Garden :)
The opening of my grandmother’s business, Fresh Finds LLC in February 2013. In addition to being a darling place to shop vintage finds and trending designs, Fresh also has served an educational purpose in my life as my first opportunity for freelance design work (including business card and e-commerce website).
Children’s Ministry/Youth Ministry internship at Hope Fellowship in Lake Jackson, Texas. While in TX this summer, I had the fun opportunity to babysit these two beautiful and energetic sisters while their parents introduced their new baby sister into the world, Hadley Joy. :) This summer was an experience of a lifetime and I will never forget it! I learned much about myself and about the Lord in my three short months working as an intern. I would do it again in a heartbeat if I could.
This summer, I finally got to visit my best friend, Sarah, in Arizona after over a 1 1/2 years apart! That’s a long time! Here we are eating lunch at the Grand Canyon, being silly as always. Sarah knows me like few others and we are never afraid to be silly around each other. She is definitely a blessing for which to be thankful. The “Grand Canyon” is now checked off my bucket list, thanks to her!
While in Texas this summer, our family had our traditional July 4th reunion at my grandparents’ house, but this time, with a twist–tubing on the lake! When our family gets together, it’s anyone’s guess what will happen. Pictured above, me, my 15-year old cousin, Blake and my 15-year-old sister, Makenna on our way to the lake. 2014 will see their “sweet 16” birthdays…I’m not sure if the world is ready for that. :)
November 9, 2013- the day my brother proposed to the love of his life who is now my soon-to-be sister-in-law, Allie. This is definitely a hallmark moment in my family. Stay tuned for wedding preparation updates and stories, as I’m sure there will be much to tell.
Baking Christmas cookies with my Emmy-Lou-Hou. She’s my number 1 helper in the kitchen and I love spending time with her whether that means playing with barbie dolls, riding the golf cart, baking cookies, or snuggling up together watching a movie.
So that’s my family and our 2013 year in a nutshell. Oh and somewhere in there I graduated from college, my sister participated in a Christmas play, I left my job at Chick-fil-A, and many other things I can’t remember. But 2013 is in the books. Let’s turn the page to 2014. And like any true southern girl, I end with inspiration from one of my favorite country artists, Brad Paisley, “Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.”
Here in the South, we don’t hide crazy. We parade it on the front porch and give it a sweet tea.
a diamond in between 