Looking Back and Looking Ahead

A look back at 2009...

January... John Harris was born! This precious baby was such an answer to prayer. He has been such a joy to love on and watch grow this past year. I can't wait to see what this year holds for JH!

February... KK and Rob get engaged! I think that was one of the most difficult secrets I have ever kept. We talk sometimes multiple times a day... every time she called for a week, I thought it might be the day!

March... skiing in Vail with the fam... we LOVE to ski! It was such a great time with family and friends! We went with the McKnights and their son Drew, is Blake's best friend. He left in June for the Airforce Academy. It was a sweet time for Blake and Drew!

April... We concluded one of the most amazing covenantal groups I have ever been a part of. AM and I met with these precious grad girls for a year and I learned more from them than they ever learned from us. God used our group to minister to me in amazing ways... and Lupton came to town. It was a really fun month!

May... I had not 1, 2, or 3 birthday parties... I had 4! I felt so loved... and Max and Corey wanted to kill me. They attended most of them. I am so blessed with loving and caring friends!

June... so maybe not a highlight, but a memorable few weeks... I rocked this lovely bootie! I would receive an injury from the dance floor. On a positive note... Mom and Flowerbuds moved into their new location!

July... Court and I spent a wonderful 4th at Camp Mac. We rode in the Model T, went to Party Night, went down the Wet Willie and ate and ate and ate. I also went to Chicago with SB and Em to see Mary and LaLa. It was so much fun! We lived like kids for four days and laughed more than I have all year. It was good for the soul!

August... KK and Rob's wedding and AM and Chris' going away all in one weekend! It was emotional and truly blessed. The wedding was a beautiful picture of the Lord's faithfulness. The

going away party was bitter-sweet. It is so exciting to see Chris and AM serve the Lord and trust Him in big ways.

September... The first football game and the beginning of Gameday Breakfasts. There was always a core group and plenty of additional out-of-towners. It was a great time of fellowship and really good food!

October... I don't think I have ever appreciated a vacation this much! Mom and I left on Wednesday for Seagrove, FL and Dad, Trey, Nannie and Terry joined us for the weekend. It was a truly wonderful weekend and the weather was gorgeous!

November... My sweet and precious friend Christian was named Auburn University's Miss Homecoming! She started out as my student worker and has quickly become one of my closest friends. She is as beautiful on the inside as she is the outside! She is stunning!

December... Every Christmas the girls I grew-up with get together at Kristen's house. Most all of them live in Birmingham and see each other pretty regularly. I am the MIA friend. I really

enjoy this time to catch up and see sweet friends. Here is our pic from the first Christmas... I missed this year's pic.

What wonderful memories from 2009, but looking forward to 2010.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command." (NLT)

This year my hope is in Him the one and only who provides for my every need. This verse will be my mantra. I am reading Keller's book called Counterfeit Gods... it speaks on the idols that rule our lives. I want more of the one whose grace is sufficient and less of the things that offer false hope and imitation satisfaction. Looking forward to the up and downs, the good and bad... 2010.