Closing of 2012

I feel like 2012 was a blink. I think that begins to happen more as you age in general, but I can't help but think that my life of full-time work, nursing school, etc (i.e. being on the go 90% of the time and rarely home but to sleep) has a lot to do with it too!

I'm reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp and one of the main focuses of the books is about taking the time to see the gifts all around that God has blessed us with, being in a state of thankfulness regularly! I'm just over one hundred pages into the book, but she has already spoken a lot about time. She quotes:

"Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing. . . Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away."

In the midst of work to dos and school to dos that seem to pile up, at times, it's hard not to be in a hurry all the time. It's difficult to enter fully into the current moment. I think I hurried a lot in 2012, and likely another reason it feels like I blinked and it's gone.

So with the closing of another year, I believe it's imperative that I take the time to reflect on the year that was and give thanks for God's constant and awesome provision for me and Mr. McGoo.

2012.

• Nephew Neil Fisher Kee born, May 16th
• Furbaby Tango added to the family in July
• Mr. McGoo lead a team to Ethiopia for a short term mission trip in June for Central Church
• Mr. McGoo went to Uruguay for a mission trip in October
• I turned 30 in October
• I successfully completed 3 trimesters of nursing school 
• Youngest sis, Kelsey graduated college in May
• Youngest sis, Kelsey got engaged in December
• Traveled to Cincinnati with Mr. McGoo & enjoyed King's Island in August
• Our Godson/nephew was dedicated in September
• Traveled to Arkansas to visit with Ethiopian friends and meet their son, Ben in December
• Traveled to Kansas City with Mr. McGoo to celebrate Christmas with family in December

Although when put on "paper"it doesn't sound as eventful as it felt. . . 2012 was a year on the go. It was a blessed year that God provided abundantly for me and Mr. McGoo.

I believe most of 2013 will likely be the same, but Mr. McGoo and I are looking forward to the new adventures the Lord invites us into. I'm praying we say "YES, LORD" for every invitation He gives. . . it will be worth it!

Happy New Year!

Paint Party for Ethiopia

At the beginning of the month, past members of Central Church's Team Ethiopia short term mission trip (this includes me) hosted a PAINT PARTY fundraiser at the church to help begin raising funds for the 2013 summer team. Although it is unknown who Team Ethiopia 2013 will be, the fall fundraiser provided a great turn out and will hopefully help to reduce some of the stress that comes with a team fundraiser near the departure date of the trip.

The event was definitely a team effort and was super successful! The Lord was very generous to us!

I caught a few pictures of the event to share. . .

Team Ethiopia Members: Candice (2012), Liz (2010,2011,2012), and Mr. McGoo (2010, Team Leader 2011, 2012)

The fabulous artist/instructor and Team Ethiopia member (2012), Jane

Goober me and the photographer (& Jane's hubby), Chris

Mr. McGoo & I were also able to use the event as a birthday present for our (now) 11 year old niece, Grace. For her December birthday we got her two tickets to the event and she was able to make it a mother-daughter activity night. They did great!

What night would be complete without a Uncle/Niece goofy pic?!

Our niece and sister in law were not the only family in attendance. These four goobers had a date night at the event - talk about a win/win, supporting a good cause and spending quality time with the one you love! I was super impressed by their finished products!

Dad, Mom, Uncle Brad, and Aunt Glenda

works in progress

This one REALLY makes me smile!

Another 1 Complete

Excited to be able to say that another nursing school trimester is complete. Last night I put the finishing touches on the Fall 2012 trimester and am on break until January. I'm not sure that the reality of only have 2 more trimesters to go has truly set in. The end is insight. . . well a small glimpse of it, at least. No doubt there is still much work to be done, but for now I can sit back and relax to enjoy the 2.5 week break I have in front of me.

I look forward to enjoying Christmas with family and friends without the distraction of school to dos.

Thanksgiving

Somehow December has already come upon us and quickly the memories of Thanksgiving begin to fade. Crazy how that happens. Before we get too far into the Christmas season, I wanted to take a quick moment and say that Thanksgiving was great.

This year was different than ever before for Mr. and Mrs. McGoo. We did not travel this year... something that has not happened since I became "us". Due to Mr. McGoo's family moving and scattering all throughout the nation, this Thanksgiving we decided not to travel. A first for us. Instead of traveling, we enjoyed Thanksgiving here in Memphis.

I must say that I found the experience to be....

restful!

We definitely missed visiting with Mr. McGoo's family, but I forgot how much traveling can "take it out" of you. Not traveling gave Mr. McGoo and I some extra rest and relax time, as well as fun time with our furbabies. It was fun. I completely ignored school work and soaked up the time as much as possible. 

There are definitely photos from the long weekend that I could share, but I'm waiting for Mr. McGoo to write his own blog post about the events... they will be more entertaining from his perspective. He was there.

UPDATE: Mr. McGoo's Thanksgiving blog post - DEFINITELY worth checking out!