It’s our last Five Minute Friday of 2015. I missed the Twitter party tonight, as I was spending time at my niece’s Christmas concert and hanging out with family afterwards. It was a splendid time. But here we are, the last one of this year. My goodness, time has flown. Kate Motaung is letting us choose our own prompt tonight. So here I go, writing for five minutes straight on one word I choose tonight…
–2015–
(That counts as a word, right??)
Go.
What a year.
From the beginning to the nearly the end, I look back over the memories, and I am so very thankful for each one.
Facebook helped me do that this week when up popped on my feed “Julie’s Year in Review.” It chose some of the most precious photos I had posted throughout 2015. I’m including some of them in this post. Those pictures attached to memories warmed my heart and made me smile.
And I have to say, it’s the first year in many none of us have been injured or hospitalized. I know we still have a couple weeks left of 2015, but I’m trusting in God’s care, and I’m praising Him for His protection!
Some highlights include:
Our year started with a full show choir schedule. Our son, Zach, had a lead role as Peter Pan in their show choir’s version of the classic tale. It was incredible to watch him shine in ways I had never experienced before on stage. He did amazing!
Celebrating together as their show choir took home numerous Grand Champion titles.
We traveled to Orlando in March for Show Choir Nationals…
And they won!!
Look at the size of their trophy! They ended up taking 3rd place at Nationals in Chicago in April.
We enjoyed our extended time in Florida.
Zach turned 18 in March, and Alissa turned 21 in May.
Zach graduated from high school!
And his high school soccer team qualified for State.
Bill and I rode tandem on RAGBRAl in July for six days across the state of Iowa.
I flew out to Baltimore to help my friend Patty in September.
And we traveled a Colts game in November.
I look back and I’m in awe.
I’m in awe of God’s goodness to me. I’m in awe of His faithfulness. I’m in awe of the day-to-day blessings He’s bestowed upon us. I’m in awe of His very real presence in our lives.
I’m completely thankful tonight… thankful for my family, thankful for our health, thankful for friends and special people we get to do life with.
I’m thankful for you.
Thank you for journeying with me this year, and I look forward to traveling together in the days and years to come!
STOP.
Okay, I went longer than five minutes adding these pictures. There are still so many I wanted to add, but this post would have been days long.
I’d love to hear from you. What’s a memorable moment in 2015 you’d like to share? It would bless me to read it.
You’ve made my 2015 extra-special. Thank you!
Blessings,
Julie
Hi Julie, What a fun post! (And “2015” totally counts as a word!) It looks like it has been a very blessed year for you and your family. Merry Christmas!
Thanks, Katy! That’s what came to my mind, so I went with it. 🙂 Thanks for sharing in my joy. Merry Christmas to you!!
Love, Love, LOVE this, Julie! Thank you so much for sharing your life with us!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Andrew, for being interested, and for allowing me to share my joy and my life with you. Praying for you again today.
Julie, I’m thankful for you too! And how is your friend Patty doing? And Show choir nationals…oh my goodness…I somehow missed that in your posts. I love the tv show Glee. You got to be part of a real live Glee! What a great year! We are all so blessed! I’m over in the #15 spot.
Tara, you are so sweet. And asking about my friend Patty? You amaze me. Patty is doing quite well. Almost completely healed. Praise God! She’s had quite the year. Yes, we got to be a part of a real life Glee! It was amazing. I’ll be over to visit you soon, friend! You are loved!
Thanks for sharing…..reminds me or my family of five 10 yrs ago! A glorious 20 yrs. We have since had some family harships but I still say it is well with my soul!!!!
Such precious memories. And yes, it is well with my soul… love that hymn too! Thanks for sharing in my joy! Merry Christmas!
It has been quite the year and it’s been fun to journey with you! Not really sure as of right now what my highlight would be but I’m planning a post on the 28th of this year in review! Thanks for sharing with us! Happy Friday, friend!
Hi Rachel! Thanks for stopping by. I’m looking forward to reading your post on the 28th! Happy Friday to you, and Merry Christmas!
What blessings! And what a beautiful, talented family! Thanks for sharing and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas, friend!
Thanks, Karen! Thank you also for stopping by and sharing. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
What fun! I had no idea the show choirs had their own competitions–congratulations to your son and his classmates! I loved seeing all the photos of your family :). Thank you for sharing them. May you have a beautiful and wonder-filled Christmas!
Oh yes, Anita. The show choir world is a very competitive atmosphere. It’s actually pretty incredible. I’m thankful for the wonderful experiences God led us through in it. Thanks for sharing in my joy, friend! May your Christmas be beautiful in every way! Much love to you and yours!
Love love love your year in review! And especially loved seeing you with your people. What a fabulous year you have had…and God has indeed been gracious to you. Merry Christmas, sweet friend! xoxo
Thanks, Holly! It’s been a blessed-by-God year, for sure. Merry Christmas to you, too! Much love.