25 Defining Moments of 2018

25 Defining Moments of 2018

(I planned on a list of 18 for 2018, but I had too many good ones not to share)

1. Meeting one of the directors from KidSave, personally sharing with her our entire adoption journey of how God turned our story of defeat into a story of His victory in so many ways. Also, to have her look me in the eye and tell me how sorry she was that they didn't give me the support that I needed when our adoption originally failed meant so much to me. Not that I needed that apology, but it was just another way God has brought closure to that painful chapter and redeemed it in such positive ways.

2. Meeting my son for lunch after he served as a leader for the youth retreat called The WKND. So many opportunities we all could have missed. 

3. Watching David play soccer. One of my favorite pasttimes.

4. Tea with my mom. On any random Saturday. Just because we can.

5. Being spoiled by my students with enough flowers to open my own floral shop, and a surprise birthday party for me!

 6. Birthday coffee date with Mike and Juan before dropping him off for a last minute summer job opportunity at Pine Cove.

7. A wedding that brought my dearest friends back to town for a day (joining us all from Texas, Mexico, and Hawaii). Saying yes to that first mission trip with Lake Pointe gave us friends that will always feel like family. 

 8. And the braces came off!!! I still remember wondering how we'd ever pay for braces as my husband walked through unemployment for almost half a year still not that long ago. And to now be on the other side of those braces and those payments brings me deep gratitude. 

 9. David passed his driver's test!

 10. I knew God chose this study for me to teach, and then I watched Him bring women from all over the place to dig into the Word with me all summer long. I'm still in awe.

 11. First summer project--repainting David's room from the deep purple he wanted as a middle-schooler to the patriotic colors he now displays with pride as a junior in high school. 

 12. David's first vehicle, which has turned into the perfect ride for him and a wonderful opportunity to work with and learn from his dad. It's matured him in many ways. 

13. Lunch with my dad on his birthday.

 14. Juan's summer job at Pine Cove. It was a long, hard summer, but I have a feeling it was a summer that will have ripple effects into his life for a very long time. 

15. Dressing up like cows for free food at Chick-Fil-A. It's a family tradition now, even though David now works there and gets free food all the time. 

16. David's mission trip to the Rio Grande Valley here in Texas. I love that he and Kyleigh (his sweetheart) have such a heart to serve. 

 17. Juan's apartment life experience at DBU. College continued to be quite a challenge for him, but these apartment life memories will follow him forever. 

 18. Leading this study in the fall--one of the most intimate groups I've ever led. We learned so much together and grew much closer than I could have imagined. Then after leading two Love God Greatly studies in a row, God gave me the opportunity to meet the founder of the Love God Greatly studies!

 19. Getting to teach 2nd grade again. 

I could not be any happier as a teacher as I have been this year. Despite a very challenging way to start the year (with the building still under construction the first few weeks of school, joining a leaderless, brand new team, and feeling lost in my own classroom even to this day), I absolutely love being back in second grade, and I adore my students (half of whom I had in my class for Pre-K). 

 20. Celebrating my son's 21st birthday with him making the choice to be baptized. 

 21. Christmas as a family.

 22. Reminders of the precious child God has given me to raise into adulthood, with a special Christmas Eve message focused on adoption.

 23. New family traditions for Christmas.

 24. A quick, fun family vacation in San Antonio 

as we've had very few opportunities to all be together this year. I love traveling to new places with this crew. We spent a night on the Riverwalk, visited the Alamo, and then used our Six Flags season passes one last time before they expire by experiencing Holiday in the Park San Antonio style. What a beautiful park with super fun rollercoasters!

25 Christmases ago, my first Christmas in Texas, this young man sent me a Christmas card in the mail saying maybe we could go out sometime. Here we are, 25 Christmases later. :)

 I'd say that's worth celebrating, wouldn't you?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from my family to yours. 💗