I was on the phone with a friend the other day and we were talking about all that went on in our lives in 2009. I remember thinking, “nothing happened this last year in my life… it has been a pretty boring year”. However, as we started to talk more and more I began to realize how much really has happened in 2009.

In January I got a call from a dear friend telling me that her husband was leaving her. It was one of the most heartbreaking moments I have ever experienced and I remember just hanging up the phone and praying and crying, not knowing what else I could do for her being that she lived so far away. However, not everything was tragic this month because January was also when we met a man named Don (look at May to see why this has significance).

In February, James and I celebrated our one year anniversary of living in our house (which happened to be on Valentines day) with a heart shaped pizza by the fire (we did this the first year that we moved in becasue we literally had no furniture their yet, just our boxes. So we bought a pizza and used our hearth as a make shift table… who would have thought that it would have turned into such a precious memory for the both of us).

In March, my two best friends moved away (Kayla to Eugene and Kristen to Alaska). I had to celebrate turning 25 without them…

In May, James’ mom got married to, that’s right you guessed it, Don! They had a whirlwind romance and I couldn’t be happier for the two of them.

In June, James and I celebrated two years of wedded bliss by loading onto a plane with 50 high school students and going to Denver, Colorado for Priority Tour (for those of you who don’t know this is a choir/missions trip that our church takes the high school students on every year). In June James’ sister also got married to Pierre-Alain.

In July, we boarded yet another plane and went to visit another best friend of mine, Brynn and her husband Josh in Albany, Georgia. Loved getting to see them and watch them in their ministry. They are doing amazing things and God is using them mightily! In July, Jessica and Pierre-Alain moved to Connecticut so he could finish school.

In August and September I started a new year of teaching. Also, Tyler and Wendy announced their engagement (it was about time)! We also received the tragic news that Connor (one of my brother in laws best friend) died in a tragic car accident. In September, that same friend (Tenley) who called me crying in January took a big risk and with the support of her friends and family tried out for a little show called the Bachelor!

In October we celebrated Halloween by celebrating Estella’s first birthday (Great friend’s and youth pastor’s daughter). In October, Tenley left for the filming of the Bachelor!!!

In November and December, we celebrated the holidays with family. Jessica and Pierre-Alain came back for a nice long break.

It’s amazing how quickly a year can go by and how quickly we can forget the blessings and tragedies that happened in that short year. Take the time to review your year and be reminded of the blessings you have received in 2009.