Top 12 of 2018

1.) Homecoming 
     Going back to visit high school is always and entertaining and enlightening experience, but this year was made especially sweet by the time I could spend with two of my friends and how we were able to renew our relationships together.

2.) Visit to JBU 
     This visit to a potential college for my brother meant and family road trip and an opportunity to visit one of my good friends attending the university.

3.) Winter Jam and Summit
     Winter Jam was my first ever concert and I am grateful to my friends who invited me to come and made the evening a success. Also of note in the month of March, was a retreat to the Mountains with my local chapter of Christian Challenge. Although reluctant to go at first it was a refreshing getaway for me. I also began my journey in learning to swing dance!

4.) Easter Sunday
     This year I have been in the church choir, an experience I greatly enjoyed and appreciated. The Easter service at my church is a favorite and this year I got to take part in being in the choir for the event. It was also a time for meeting family and friends, as well as getting asked out for the first time!

5.) Graduations and Weddings
     May is a popular month for graduations and weddings. This year my brother graduated high school and I got to see one of my cousins get married.

6.) Summer Team
     This summer I helped out with the youth group, as a precursor to my officially joining the team in the fall. I am blessed to be with a great group of freshman girls! God used this experience to teach me about trusting Him (see my post Trust: The Word of the Year).

7.) Family Vacation to Colorado
     I have already done several posts about this, so feel free to refer to them for more details!
     Family Vacation 2018 Part 1: Colorado Springs area
     Family Vacation 2018 Part 2: South Fork

8.) Trip to Lawrence and my 21st Birthday Party
     A trip to Lawrence to see a friend's event turned into an opportunity to reconnect with one of my cousins and a friend from school/work. Also, it was my first road-trip by myself. For my 21st birthday I wanted it to be special and for it to be shared with all the important people in my life. A little ambitious, but the event went over well. We decided to tackle an Escape Room experience, something I had never done before, but was eager to try.

9.) Local Craft Fair
     This was another opportunity to see friends and look at all the amazing handmade items. I also scored a great pair of earrings!

10.) Mercy Me Concert
     This was another hi-light of my year, as well as one I actually did a blog post about.

11.) Barn Dance
     One of several Christian Challenge events I went to this year, I was able to rekindle my budding swing dance talents!

12.) Challenge Formal
     The last Challenge event for the year was a blast as always. It was made bittersweet since it will be the last one I will experience with the entirety of my small group, as my leaders will be graduating in May.

The Hidden Story Behind the Redecoration of the Living Room

     The new color of the living room walls was a bit of a controversial issue. Originally, the walls were to be repainted white. I was somewhat against this because I thought, "If we are going to all the trouble to repaint it, why paint it the same color? Why not get something new?" And so began my petition for a new paint color. I settled on a shade of green (any shade would do - just not white) as a probably candidate for succeeding my mission. At first, I mentioned the idea in jest, not believing it would actually go through. Therefore, I was surprised to come home one day to green swatches of paint on the walls. It looked like it actually might happen!

     The green color that was finally elected is similar to that of the master bathroom and a color that was used to paint some of the rooms in my paternal grandparent's house. So you could say the color is steeped in history. I think it has taken well to the space.

     Other improvements include a new fan (pictured above with the newly painted walls) that cost my father a sprained toe and new carpet for the whole house! The carpet was an even larger endeavor than painting the living room, but after living in the house for almost two decades it was a needed improvement. The whole family pitched in to sort through and pack up belongings. Although new and fresh, the color isn't much of a change this time around for we have stuck with a grey. The apple can't fall too far from the tree.