As the new year begins, I've chosen my theme. I spent 2023 growing stronger in my faith in Jesus, while practicing gratitude for all the ways I have been blessed. This year, my faith will take on even bigger meaning. I will walk in my faith daily and be an example to others on how trusting in God can transform your life, can guide you, and can enrich every aspect of your day.
FAITH
Living with faith, growing your faith, trusting in your faith is not an easy endeavor. God never promised us a problem-free life, and for many, these problems seem insurmountable. To live by faith means that you trust even when you can't see it, even when it doesn't make sense, even in your deepest pain. You live with an eternal perspective, not a worldly perspective. In your deepest sorrow, you can turn to God to bring you through it.
As Greg and I continue in our commissioning as leaders at our church, we are entrusted to live this way, to show others the power of belief, and this new purpose in my life brings peace, perspective, and abundance. I'm excited and humbled to see what 2024 brings in my church community and beyond.
I committed to finding gratitude in 2023. While I still struggled and some days seemed brutally hard, I never went long without realizing my blessings and shifting my perspective to the good in my life and in the world.
It was fun to look back on the previous year and to reflect on the adventures, and as I looked through all our countless photos I definitely had a big smile on my face. It was a good year, a difficult year, a year of abundance and learning and growing. With all the plans we have for 2024, I have no doubt that the positives will far outweigh any struggles, that we will see so many new things and experience far more than we can see right now. We have choices on how we want to begin a year, and I'm beginning this one looking forward while coming to peace with the past and all that it has taught me.
Back in July, I posted about our year so far, so I'll continue here where we left off....the second half of 2023 in pictures....enjoy!
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Ending July with family in Seattle
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| My first race since 2021 (Snoqualmie, WA) |
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| We lost a very special friend, Alison, to cancer in July |
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| Great friends+Austin=LOVE |
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| Summer of concerts continues - Bryan Adams, Seattle, August |
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| Greg's first time in Nashville, August |
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| Luke Bryan, Bridgestone Arena |
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| Gibson Garage+caught in the rain |
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| Just have to trust |
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| Greg is funny with his gifts |
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| I'm pretty funny, too |
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| Back in Seattle on a gorgeous day, September |
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| It may have been cold and rainy, but we had a blast on Mt. Rainier |
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| Visited my sister on her birthday |
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| We have a lot of advenutres! |
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| Important reminder to walk out our faith |
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| Sometimes my dogs are cute |
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I went to Seattle about a dozen times this year.
The rain did not stop me from getting in miles (October) |
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| Weekend trip to Michigan, October |
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| Hanging with Greg at work |
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| Left my mark in Greg's office |
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| 25th Anniversary trip booked! |
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| Back in Seattle, November |
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| Greg traveled to Tokyo for the first time |
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I got terrible news about my spine (herniated and bulging discs)
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| Last trip of the year to Seattle for me, December |
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| It's Christmas time! |
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| Off to a party |
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| Our 29th Christmas together |
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| Last day of 2023! |
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| Two more weeks until the milestone |
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| Facts |
It was a busy, fruitful, and totally crazy year. So much love, so much travel, so much growth, so much perseverance, so much hope.
In two weeks, we head to Napa and then to Seattle to celebrate my birthday. While the thought of entering my 50s seems crazy to me, I'm looking forward to celebrating this month with those I love the most.
