Reflections of 2012

Today is the last day of 2012.  As I look back over this year, I am amazed and filled with joy as I reflect on all God has done in my life and how He has continually blessed me!

In January one of my best friends, Jessica, and her family came to visit!  Spending time with her filled me with joy!  While I wish she lived closer our bond is as close as ever!  

In February Daniel Hofseth turned 18...I am overwhelmed with joy as I look back at all the miracles God has done and continues to do in his life...he was diagnosed with LEMS just before he turned 16.  His strength had greatly diminished and he couldn't do the things we take for granted, like putting on his clothes or walking, without help or great effort.  Now he is walking, has regained a lot of his strength, and all the glory goes to God!  In June, I attended his graduation from high school and he is now attending Azusa Pacific University!  God has answered our prayers!

In April, another one of my best friends and roomie, Diane, made me an auntie for the 4th time when precious Micah entered the world!  What a joy and a delight he is and I am so thankful for the Chin family!

In May I decided at the last minute to attend the women's retreat at my church.  I am so glad I did!  God really ministered to my heart and broke me free from isolation.  My niece, K, turned 12!  She is a beautiful young lady and I love her with all my heart!  She is loving, kind, loyal, dependable and a lot of fun to spend time with!  She is also an amazing volleyball player!  Then we celebrated my mom's birthday...I am so thankful that my mom is my mom!  She is loving, kind, generous, encouraging, a prayer warrior, always there for me, and all around wonderful!  I love her so much!  After Mother's Day is my brother-in-law's birthday...he is so much fun!  I am so thankful he married my sister!  He is an incredible husband, father and friend.

In June was my sister's birthday!  She is an amazing sister and friend...I love spending time with her.  She is one who I can laugh or cry with.  She always has a listening ear and a warm hug!

In September I began my 6th year teaching at Legacy Montessori, formerly called Cornerstone Christian Montessori.  God has blessed me with an incredible class of students and an amazing co-teacher!  I love going to work each day!  For my birthday, my roomie, Faith, treated me to seeing Steven Curtis Chapman in concert!  What a joyfilled night that was!

In October my nephew, R, turned 10!  He is an incredible young man...he loves to play basketball and football.  He has a tender heart and is always up for adventure!  He is loyal, loving, kind and a lot of fun!  I love spending time with him!

In November my nephew, D, turned 6!  He has lost his two front teeth and his smile is even cuter!  He is a bundle of energy and joy.  He is kind, thoughtful, loving, and entertaining!  I love every moment spent with him!  My dad's birthday is also in November.  I am so thankful that God chose my dad to be my dad.  He is a bold prayer warrior and a man after God's own heart.  He is an encourager, loving, trustworthy, helpful, wise and I love him very much!  Also in November, my roomie Faith and our friend Amy spent an incredible two days at Disneyland and California Adventure!

All throughout the year I was blessed with time spent with friends...going to the movies, out to eat, seeing Wicked, bridal showers, baby showers, going to the zoo, playing games, or just talking on the phone.

God is beyond good and I am beyond blessed!  I am expectantly looking forward to all the joy He has in store for me in 2013!

Happy 12th Birthday Kayla Bear

I can't believe you are 12 years old already!  It seems like just yesterday that your mom and dad announced they were going to have a baby...I loved you from that moment and will love you forever.  You are an amazing young lady...so full of joy and fun.  You are thoughtful, kind, loving, generous, creative, amazing, wonderful, a great friend, beautiful on the inside and out!  I love being your auntie and I am so glad God chose you to be my niece!

Happy Birthday Sissy!

Happy Birthday Shelby!  I am so thankful that you are my sister!  I love you so much and here are 38 reasons why ~ 


1. you are thoughtful
2. you are kind
3. you are fun to spend time with
4. you give great advice
5. you are wise
6. you are an amazing, loving mom
7. you are a loving and devoted wife
8. you always do your best and persevere, even when things are hard
9. you are creative
10. you are generous
11. we can be goofy and silly together
12. you are dependable
13. I can always count on you
14. you are smart
15. you make excellent choices for yourself and your family
16. you make me laugh
17. you make me smile
18. you are joyful
19. you are bold and courageous
20. you are helpful
21. you are an excellent listener
22.  you are a shoulder I can cry on
23. you are a good cook and you bake delicious treats
24. you are trustworthy
25. you are beautiful, not only on the outside, but on the inside...your heart for others is amazing
26. you are loyal
27. you are faithful
28. you are true to your word
29. you keep your promises
30. your hugs fill me with love
31. you have my back
32. you never give up
33. you are an encourager
34. you are helpful and have a servant's heart
35. you are loving
36. you are honest
37. you are brave

38. you are the best sister and I am so thankful for you...you are a blessing to me...I love you SO much!

Thankful Monday

3,034.  mom had $3 worth of quarters!!
3,035.  mom gave me two rolls of toilet paper and one roll of paper towels!
3,036.  talking with mom!
3,037.  getting to bed early, even though it took me over an hour to fall asleep, it feels good to be resting!
3,038.  seeing Jeff Lowry and Angelina Morrison at the store.
3,039.  finding out Kevin has blood cancer and choosing to trust the Great Healer!
3,040.  dinner with Steve and Sarah Rawson in Little Italy at Bencotto!
3,041.  great conversations, delicious food, and a lot of fun at dinner
3,042.  God helped me find a free parking space!
3,043.  God protected me and kept me safe as I walked to and from the restaurant!
3,044.  leftovers for lunch tomorrow!
3,045.  despite my lack of sleep God sustained me through the day!
3,046.  Gloria is crying less and less!
3,047.  my day to do mats!
3,048.  rain!
3,049.  I will never have to repeat this day again!  Tomorrow is a new day and a fresh start!
3,050.  even though my self-control disappeared, God was with me, helping me...He never gives up on me, He always encourages me to depend more on Him and less on myself.
3,051.  doing spiritual warfare with my class ~ casting out disrespect and disobedience and filling ourselves with respect and obedience.
3,052.  two of the students eventually came out of the tunnel.
3,053.  tomorrow will be a better day!
3,054.  Traci bought me a Coke!
3,055.  Advil and water!
3,056.  today was a 180 from yesterday! :)  God is SO good!
3,057.  Erin read with almost all the kids today!
3,058.  hearing Jayden tell me he loves me!
3,059.  the domino effect ~ once one student said they loved me, then more did!  what a joy and blessing it is to hear that!
3,060.  the smell of fresh, clean laundry
3,061.  my parents let me do laundry at their home ~ saves me $2.75 a load!
3,062.  my dad praying over me and my sleep!
3,063.  tomorrow is Friday!!!

Refuse to Worry!

I love the book, "Jesus Calling".  It is a daily devotional and I read it every morning to start my day and every night to end my day.  Yesterday, March 5th, was an amazing post that spoke to my heart!

"Refuse to worry!  In this world there will always be something enticing you to worry.  That is the nature of a fallen, fractured planet: Things are not as they should be.  So the temptation to be anxious is constantly with you, trying to worm its way into your mind.  The best defense is continual communication with Me, richly seasoned with thanksgiving.  Awareness of My Presence fills your mind with Light and Peace, leaving no room for fear.  This awareness lifts you up above your circumstances, enabling you to see problems from My perspective.  Live close to Me!  Together we can keep the wolves of worry at bay.

Luke 12:25-26, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The first line jumped off the page: "REFUSE TO WORRY!"  Good words that I need to claim and do each day!

Thankful Sundays

3,021.  talking to Sarah Rawson on the phone to arrange our dinner meeting!
3,022.  the Facebook message from Steve Rawson saying he and Sarah are in town and would like to take me to dinner!
3,023.  finding out my dear friends lost their baby, while this is a hard eucharisteo, I am choosing to be/find a way to be thankful ~ even though it is sad, God is sovereign, He has a plan, He will use this for good and for His glory
3,024.  a relaxing day after a long, exhausting week!
3,025.  talking to my parents on the phone
3,026.  Sarah McCracken was born!  I am so thankful for our friendship, our conversations and all the fun memories!
3,027.  J12 was fun!
3,028..  Brittanie was teaching with me!
3,029.  picnic at the park with The Rippeys, The Prices, The Raiberts, The Williams, Linda Hetherington, and The Petraccis
3,030.  a warm, sunshine filled day
3,031.  healing prayer time ~ dealt with an injustice from the past ~ God brought healing, a deeper level of forgiveness, freedom and peace!
3,032.  Joleene and Denise were praying with me!
3,033.  a fun and relaxing weekend ~ feeling recharged for the week ahead!

Thankful Saturdays

3,012. fun day celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday! 3,013. my costume rocked! The kids looked adorable ~ "P" was an amazing Grinch and "C" and "K" were adorable as Thing 1 & 2! 3,014. I chose joy over grumbling 3.015. the kids loved making the Cat in the Hat snacks! 3,016. turning off my alarm because I can sleep in! 3,017. my Midwest friends are safe from the tornadoes 3.018. Scott's cancer has not spread! 3,019. overtime hours means more money in my paycheck! 3.020. best week of self-control!

January Joy Dare

http://www.aholyexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/onethousandgifts-januaryportrait-2.pdf

I saw this posted on Ann Voskamp's Facebook page and decided to take the January Joy Dare! It has been fun to think about how to capture each one in a photo or in written form. I know this is making more joyful and thankful for everything God blesses me with! At the end of the month, I will post what I found joy in each day!