2016: Record Year?

2016 was supposed to be The Year of Blair's.

January seemed so promising.  A milestone year, as each of celebrated "big" birthdays.  My one word for 2016 was chosen - Forward - with hopes and dreams of a record year.

Well...it has left it's mark.

For Tim and me, milestone birthdays just meant a big reality check of aging.  More on that to come.  But for Noah, turning 16 has been filled with changes, opportunity and possibilities.  And for that, despite the hiccups that this year has brought, I'm thankful.

We've watched him hop from the nest and soar this year.  It's bittersweet as your child grows.  I'm proud of his independence but it isn't easy letting go.  As he's closer to an adult than a child now, I find myself mentally counting the days he's left to nestle under my wing.

In less than a year, he's become a licensed driver and been accepted to college.  How did that even happen?!  I'm thrilled he already knows what he wants to do with his life and is so passionate about his future.  For that, 2016 has most definitely been a record year for him.

Spring saw me with an extra bounce in my step, not just from the return of warmer weather but also because this 40 year old body moves much better without ice and snow.  I welcomed the season with a trip to the mountains with my momma and restoration within my soul.

By summer, with half the year gone, I found myself grabbing hold of joy.  Realizing that my focus was slipping, I pondered on what began this little blog and challenged myself to find joy every day.  And record each moment.  31 days of Joy.

Perhaps it was because God knew I needed to store it up for the season that was coming.

Tim welcomed 50 with a surprise retreat.  Though my dream was that somehow a free cruise or trip to the beach would have landed from the sky and whisked us away to celebrate, I was pretty proud with the mini vacation Noah and I pulled together.  It was relaxing and everything that Tim loves.

And it was the respite we needed to prepare us for the storms ahead.  Once Tim blew out that big 5-0 it was if someone flipped the switch on his health.  My rock began to crumble.  Without warning, we found ourselves in the ER for random pains and scares in October and health concerns would continue to be the theme for autumn.

As I write this post, he's off for the week recovering from a foot injury, though there wasn't an accident to cause it.  None of his ailments have been serious but they've been enough to shake us.  He's struggling with having to be still and not be the doer, providing for our family.  For me, it hurts to watch him hurting.  I'm worried about his current issues but also stewing on our future.  We're so not prepared for aging, or the potential of either of us not working.

It's enough to have me concerned about the forward that it pulled me from the bed at 2 a.m.  And I know that isn't at all the purpose God would have for me, when he sent that word twelve months ago.
Through 2016, He's helped me learn to let go.  Now I must lean in and trust Him for whatever is to come...

2012...Year in Review

If you've been a visitor of this blog very long, you know I'm a fan of recaps.  I've done a YIR since beginning this blog and, if nothing else, it's fun for me to take a walk down memory lane.  Here's hoping you find some enJOYment too...

January - Our first day of the year began a frantic search for sauerkraut!  I was surprised with a lovely trip to Birmingham for work.  Noah had an epic birthday-palooza.  We purchased our first camper.  And Tim and I discovered impromptu date nights.  We visited a new church, which little did we know at the time, would become our new home.

February - The creation of "Tech Free Family Time" was invented, thanks to two tweens in the house.  My new year's resolution to read the Bible daily spilled over onto Noah and family devotion time.  I kicked Tim out of the bed, but not how you might think.  Kale became my favorite veggie.  We spent our Leap Day doing acts of kindness and surprised the kids with a picnic supper.

March - My first taste of guest posting.  Noah's love of baseball returned.  We tested out the camper in our culdesac.  The kids enjoyed their first church sleepover w/a weekend retreat.  In preparation for our upcoming spring break trip, I developed Camp Rules.  Our first experience of a Lifegroup.

April - The camping trip was everything we'd hoped for and more.  We said good-bye to our dear family cat, Tux.  Selecting our scholarship winner for Austin's Legacy was a goosebump moment.  Noah and I took in our annual Indian Breakfast.  Baseball Season in full swing.

May - Honored to be offered another guest post.  Noah broke his finger playing ball at church.  We didn't think it was broke and basically told him to suck it up.  Needless to say he still hasn't let us live that down! Tim and I were simply blessed with a simple day together.  We were held by loving prayers of friends, family and our Lifegroup to see us through the difficult month of what would've been Austin's graduation...  And it was an unexpected blessing to attend.  We ended the month by sharing our testimony to our new church family.

June - Noah's big game.  Tina's foot surgery.  Which led to a month of accidents...  We planted more tomatoes than ever and loved every juicy bite.  Fishing trips and homemade ice cream.

July - Austin's heavenly birthday was celebrated with a tree of hope.  Staycations.  Noah discovers Andy Griffith.  Tina's mission trip with Ky Changers.  Tim continued the accident curse with a scare in the midst of VBS.  We juggled and still joyfully served at VBS, with downtime at the hospital. 

August - First day of school.  I attempted couponing again...and failed.  Tim had back surgery.  We quickly remembered how much he does not like to Be Still.   

September - I treated Tim to his annual fried chicken birthday dinner.  Tim continued to learn to be still...I learned to be silent.  The beginning of fall festivals and our first pulled pork nachos!

October - Yellow mums...pumpkins (pies, lattes, candles, cookies, carving, painting, oh my word!)...caramel apples...autumn leaves...crisp mornings...bonfires...hayrides...scary movies...candy corn...soups, stews and chili...coffee on the deck, under a blanket...apple cider...Halloween parties...perfect hot tub weather...sweatshirts and hoodies...God's breathtaking landscape in the fall...Plan B Fall Break Fun.

November - a month of Thanksgiving.  Upward Basketball.  Operation Shoebox.  Noah's first deer - and he got 2 for 1!   A new Thanksgiving tradition - delivering meals to those without.  Another blessed RAK in memory of Austin...all month long.  Our first real Christmas tree.

December - Tina's baptism.  Joy Dare.  Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.  Lifegroup party.  Lots of lovely Family Time.  Lord of the Rings marathon.  A month of #23s...hugs from Heaven.  This Christmas.

The highlight of 2012 for me though wasn't from one moment or event, it was from a single choice.  Choosing to try "one more church" changed our lives.  God has blessed us beyond measure through our new family at EHBC and I'm hopeful for what 2013 has in store. 

What was your favorite moment or memory of 2012?