Something to Remember

Yesterday I talked a lot about what I DID in 2013.

With all of the driving and activities and people and excitement, there's also a lot going on behind the scenes.

I love people and I'm glad for all the practical things that I learned as well as all of the things that I enjoyed....but there's something else.

Each year stands out marked by whatever season you're in. I look back on my life and remember each year because of SOMETHING. 

* * * * * 

1992, the year my brother was born.

1994, the year my parents got divorced.

1995, the year we moved from SC. 

1996, the year of MAJOR snow and moving to another new town and starting school.

1997, the year we moved to town.

1998, the year my sister was born and Terry moved next door and my Ghidu died.

1999, the year I struggled a lot, but nothing like I WOULD struggle over the next few years. I had my favorite teacher this year.

2000, the year my brother was born, the year I got saved at VBS, the year 9/11 happened, the year we moved into a house I had always wanted (next door to my best friend). 

2001, the year I got my first camera and started writing a lot more and played volleyball on a team at school. 

2002, finishing "the herbst", public school, and the year my Grandma died. 

2003, the year I read my Bible A LOT and discovered Jane Austen. My last year of volleyball and basketball. My first year of home schooling. My first "mission trip". 

2004, a tough year deciding to say goodbye for good to a lot of old ways - especially in the hopes and dreams department. I started listening to a lot of preaching radio.

2005, the last year I visited my dad in SC. The year we had a foreign exchange student and I took driver's ed. I got my first John Piper book from the Billy Graham Association - "Don't Waste Your Life".

2006, the year we started home churching at the G's house. The year I went to that life changing conference and learned that I existed for the glory of God and what that RELLY meant. The year I  started my job at the coffee house and turned 16. 

2007 the year we moved to this house and  I got accepted to college. The year we went to Jamestown (and New Jersey) and met so many FRIENDS. 

2008 the year I graduated high school and started college. 

2009 the year my brother moved away. 

2010 the year of "dreams come true" (travel dreams) and the year I moved to MA for student teaching. 

2011 the HARD year where I struggled with "now what".

 2012 the waiting year, (ie LIVING by FAITH year) as we knew Heidi's husband would be away but we didn't know when, turns out it didn't happen until the next year. The year where there was always a "next thing", but I never knew what it was going to be. 

* * * * * 

And now 2013 is over and I'm trying to figure out how I will remember it. 

I think I'm going to have to come back in a few months because I just don't know yet.

 Will it all blend in and it will be the year of Heidi and her kids and my sister's accomplishments? Will it be the year I finally got it together and ALMOST finished college? The year of DRINKING? 

I don't know yet...Maybe just simply, "one of the best years"? 

I'm reminded of the theme from my 31 Days series (that I really slacked on)...

2013 was a year my soul was very quiet and calm and peaceful. I did a lot of stepping back and drinking God's Word and LOOKING and LISTENING. 

I saw life in an eternal perspective. A lot of my fears STOPPED. I became really okay with not having answers and not having a life that looked like I thought it would. 

So maybe that's it. The year of verbs...I helped, I drank, I looked, I listened, I learned, I believed. 

I was surrounded by so many of the people I love most and so many good times were added to my memory bank. 

2013, thanks for being all that you were. I'm not disappointed in the least bit. 

Any ideas of how you're going to remember 2013?