Snapshot: 2010

So I'm writing this at 4am…been wide awake since 2:45…good thing I don't have to work tomorrow because I'm *not* one of those people who can go on 4 hours of sleep! So while I was tossing and turning I got to thinking about the "2010 year in review" posts I've read the past few days on other blogs and thought that would be neat to have to look back on in a few years. My Grandmama Loftin is amazing at remembering when things happened…she can tell you the year, and many times the month, that just about anything happened—in her life, her family's life, her friends' lives, and history in general. She always says her Daddy was like that, too, and I think it also may be a result of her habit of journaling…I wish the gene had passed to me! So this post is my attempt to remember like Grandmama does. And one more thing…as I was lying there wide awake thinking about the year, the song "Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman kept running through my mind. If you've never heard it, here are the lyrics. I think they are really powerful because they remind me that regardless of what happens in life—our 2010 had both much blessing and loss—God is still good and He is worthy to be praised. 

Blessed Be Your Name

In the land that is plentiful

Where Your streams of abundance flow

Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name

When I'm found in the desert place

Though I walk through the wilderness

Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name

When the sun's shining down on me

When the world's 'all as it should be'

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name

On the road marked with suffering

Though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord, blessed be Your name

{2010}

  January

• Started this blog.
  
• I started teaching part-time at The Bowie Reading & Learning Center.
  
• Paul started back to school in pursuit of his B.S.
  
• We officially joined Central Church…so thankful God led us here.
  

February

• We began going to Firm Foundations connecting point class (aka Sunday School)…another wonderful blessing.
  

March

• We celebrated our precious niece's 1^st birthday!
  
• I read Here's to Hindsight: Letters to My Former Self
  by Tara Leigh Cobble.
  

April

• I resigned at the Bowie Center because I was hired full-time by a retail portrait studio.
  

May

• After only two weeks at the portrait studio, I realized there were things about the company and work environment/scheduling that I (we) did not want to live with, especially knowing it would not change and would inevitably get worse, and I decided to quit.
  
• Reggie's 1^st birthday party!
  
• I tossed around the idea of a career in law…talked with a friend who is a lawyer, shadowed a paralegal for a day, and knew that wasn't me either.
  
• Paul began taking flying lessons to earn his private pilot's license!
  
• I figured out that I am "supposed to be" a teacher and began researching Master's programs, finally deciding on Union University.
  
• I read Capture His Heart by Lysa TerKeurst.
• I read A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.
  

June

• Hosted a "Sip and See" with Shana to honor Robin and her sweet, new, little one Olivia!
  
• Paul's step-brother Brent got married.
  
• I began teaching summer camps (continued in July) with Computer Explorers, which is owned by a sweet girl in our connecting point class. Lego Building, Dinosaur Digging, and Solar Robotics Constructing…fun!
  

July

• I took (and PASSED!) the PRAXIS English Content Knowledge 7-12 Test.
• I read The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian.
  

August

• We vacationed with Nick, Kelly, and Taylor at Panama City Beach. so. much. fun. I read Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
  
• We celebrated our 1^st year of marriage!
  
• I started grad school!
  
• I started substitute teaching at Briarcrest.
  
• We moved my grandparents (mom's parents) from Starkville to an "assisted living/nursing home" here. Hate they can't live in their own home anymore, but glad they are closer to us now.
  

September

• Travelled to Starkville with Nick & Kelly for the Bulldawg Football season opener against Memphis. Enjoyed Mugshots and a Win!
  

October

• My BFF from elementary school, Stacy, tied the knot on a blustery day at the beautiful Hunt Phelan Home on Beale!
  
• I celebrated my 23^rd birthday, and my class just so happened to be "held online" that night, so that was a great perk!
  
• My great Uncle James passed away. Such a kind man, always with a smile. He was married to one of my most favorite people in the entire world, my Aunt Anne (my Granddaddy Loftin's sister).
  
• We travelled to Starkville for Homecoming and stayed with Jim, Anne, Walt, and Eleanor. So fun to get to spend some time with them and enjoy the game!
  
• My cousin Scott passed away. Heartbroken for his wife and two little ones.
  
• I started working part-time (when I'm not subbing) for a guy in our connecting point class who is a financial planner.
  
• Paul was laid off from his job.
  

November

• My sweet college roomie Diana leaves for boot camp after joining the Army National Guard!
  
• Lots of family Thanksgiving celebrations. We are blessed, indeed.
  
• We beat the Black Bears (ha!) and WIN the EGG BOWL 31-23! :)
• Finished reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Left me convicted and challenged.

December

• 12/1 My cousin Chad was killed while serving as a Marine in Afghanistan. Heartbroken for his bride (they got married just about month after we did) and his doting mama.  
• The 8^th marked 6 years that Paul and I have been together. Wow!
  
• With the help of my mom, we hosted a Christmas "open house" for both sides of our family. Everyone made it, except for my brother and sister. So fun to have almost everyone together and hope to make this an annual tradition!
  
• We celebrated Paul's 24^th birthday with one of his favorite meals (meatloaf) and his new favorite dessert as of Thanksgiving…pecan pie! For those of you that know Paul, him even trying pecan pie is a milestone!
  
• Lots of family Christmas celebrations. Again, we are blessed, indeed.
• My Granddaddy Loftin's cancer returned again, this time in his liver. :( Began three rounds of chemo (1 round=3 consecutive days of treatment and then three weeks off before the next one).
• I read Same Kind of Different As Me by Denver Moore and Ron Hall. *a must-read*
• Rang in 2011 at Nick & Kelly's!

Looking forward to what God is going to do and teach us in 2011! Many blessings to you this new year!