2022!
It is absolutely crazy to think that this marks my 5th annual year-end recap blog. The first one happened when I was a college sophomore. Clueless, hopeful, and completely oblivious to all the work God was going to do over the next five years. As 2022 draws to a close, I cherish this time to reflect on His faithfulness from beginning to end.
January: The month of the grueling Whole(almost)30. We tried to remedy a year of bad eating by a month of dietary detoxing, which bound us to spaghetti squash and pitted dates for dessert. It was humbling, infuriating, unfulfilling and short-lived. We made it two weeks before caving on a wintry Friday night and eating an entire bag of Fannie May's S'mores Mix. We also played three dozen games of Catan and finished all of Friday Night Lights.
February: February is probably the biggest blur. We met with people who would eventually join The Fields Church, watched the SuperBowl with company new and old, enjoyed being almost a full month removed from the Whole30, and had the opportunity to grow with our Castleview Church family. We turned over to our third and final trimester, which introduced Dystopian literature and persuasive essays. We also played more Catan.
March: When I look at pictures from March of this year, I mostly just see pictures of us playing Catan. I know (I have to believe) that we did more than just that...I just can't exactly remember what. I know our core team met often as we began planning interest meetings for The Fields Church. I know we attended Dance Marathon at Westfield, and though it pains me to admit, I know we left the marathon early because we had scheduled a Catan game.
April: Winter slowly gave way to the bitter bursts of Spring, but we've been living in Indiana long enough to know that warmth was still a ways away. Joe and I set south for Carrabelle, Florida, a rural town on Florida's forgotten coast that we will probably never go to again. We also enjoyed chilly walks around Cool Creek, meals with friends around a variety of different tables, and the slow dawning of the end of the school year.
May: May was full of finals in every sense of the word. Students completed their final projects and final speeches while we endured the grading of final essays and exams. All sorts of final dances, carnivals, and parties consumed our calendars. We acted as school-dance chaperones and made sure no one was 'shmangling' under the bleachers, then spent our Sundays at interest meetings as we eagerly anticipated the planting of The Fields Church!
June: John and Morgan tied the knot in the most beautiful wedding ceremony of all time, then Joe and I hopped onto 31 North for a week-long getaway in South Haven, Michigan. The weather was cool but perfect for hiking, biking, and falling asleep with a book in our hands. I think we might have slept more on that trip than in our entire lives combined. We also got paid to go to Tampa, sit through a mediocre conference, then enjoy fresh salmon on the school district's dollar. Joe was, unshockingly, surprised with a Catan-themed birthday party.
July: The warmth of July brought a multitude of pool days. Joe embarked on a pastoral internship at Castleview while I pretty much resigned myself to nothing but solo bike trips to the library, too many iced coffees, and a whole lot of time spent poolside. I did the occasional swim lesson and read seventeen books, thankful for an empty schedule and sun, sun, sun.
August: August was greatly anticipated, as the members of The Fields covenanted together and then gathered for the first time as a church. We had many church-family lunches at Grand Junction Plaza, eagerly welcomed new guests, and celebrated God's faithfulness every step of the church planting process. We also started school, which is always equal parts terrifying and thrilling. This group of students proved to be fantastic.
September: September was full of attending students' soccer games, hiking with friends, and a weekend trip to California to get Maggie Salanty hitched! I got pied in the face for Homecoming week and Joe became a natural at helping service lead for The Fields. We soaked in the final days of summer heat before the thick air gave way to crisp fall days.
October: October is always notoriously one of the hardest months of the school year, as the newness has worn off and yet Christmas is still so far. While school itself was not quite as grueling as last year, we were slammed by the grief of a student suffering abuse in her home. We became approved home hosts, meaning we took her out to eat giant quesadillas and watch musicals, but we were brought to our knees in desperation for the Lord's guidance when that student was placed in our home after her guardian tragically committed suicide. It was, and probably always will be, one of the most gut-wrenchingly hard months of our entire lives. We rejoice in the ways our church family surrounded and our faithful Father provided.
November: November was a time of relishing God's goodness and provision after He placed the aforementioned student in a permanent home with the most amazing Christian woman who has a heart for teenagers! I rang in year #24 with Italian House lasagna and being in bed by nine. We also headed home to Craw-fayette for a whirlwind Thanksgiving weekend that left us simultaneously stuffed and drained -- nonetheless, we are thankful.
December: December brought all things jolly: putting up the Christmas tree, PTO Cookie Days, Hallmark movies galore, and desperately trying to cram in prepositional phrases to glossy-eyed students who had break on their minds and nothing more (see what I did there?) We battled nearly every illness imaginable as our immune systems desperately tried to fight the intruders that mask mandates rejected last winter. Once that 3:39 bell rang, Joe and I were determined to do nothing but chill. Our break was full of puzzles, movies, game nights, and family time. It was the perfect way to cap off a wonderful year!
It was a year full of small things and sameness (read previous post for the beauty of that truth), but God has been faithful! I am so thankful for the way He has comforted, sustained, and daily brought us glimpses of His power and glory! Again and again and again. Here's to 2023!