Twenty Fourteen in Review

In January  I started Photo a Day, got the flu, attended my dear friend Hannah's beautiful Christ centered wedding, and chronicled walks in the snow.

In February  I went to swing dances, thawed out my cold toes, bemoaned my single state on Valentine's Day, celebrated my bro's 22nd birthday with minion cupcakes, shared some outfits I word to church, and enjoyed Game Night.

In March  I turned a quarter of a century old (25 - yikes!), was very surprised by a surprise party thrown by Kellie and Alex, welcomed sweet baby lambs into the world, and slept in the shower one night with my bottle lamb.

In April  Hank asked to court me (on April 1st;) and we began getting to know each other with the intention of marriage, we spent Easter with his family, went for hikes, went sheep shearing together, danced, hauled hay, and had fun shooting guns.

In May  I shared outfit posts, Hank gave me purple tulips, and I updated you on my life in general.  Apparently this was a busy month for me and a boring month on the blog. ;)

In June  I crocheted a wedding present for my (now) sister-in-law Jenny, helped Hank clear brush and put up fence around his property, played Candy Land with Kellie and Alex, went off-roading in Alex's Miata, enjoyed Grandma Barb and Aunt Liz's visit, shot a shotgun for the first time, took pictures of my sheep in the orchard, and more sheep shearing with Hank.

In July  Hank asked me to marry him.  I said yes and began planning our wedding.  I shared more about Grandma and Aunt Liz's visit, spent the 4th of July fishing and 4 wheeling with Hank at his grandparent's, celebrated Hank's birthday, was one of the photographers at Jenny's wedding, and worked on the perimeter fence on our property some more.

In August  I recapped July in photos, sent out wedding invitations,  and went into overdrive planning our wedding.

In September  I shared our engagement photos, and wondered where time had gone.

In October  Hank and I were married (Oct. 4th), went on our honeymoon, and began life as a married couple.  I didn't post at all. :}

In November I shared a few photos from our wedding, got my shop ready for Black Friday, and spent Thanksgiving with Hank's family.

In December I gave you a mini pictorial house tour, said "I love being married!", spent Christmas with my family, and went square dancing on New Years Eve.

2014 was an amazing year.  And that is an understatement.

If I learned one thing during twenty fourteen, it is that when you surrender everything, step back, and allow the Lord to work, He does wonderful things.  I give Him all the credit, praise, and glory for everything that happened this past year and I'm excited to see what He has planned for me (and Hank) in 2015!

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And now, my goals for TWENTY FIFTEEN.

• Read through the Bible - Hank and I are both doing this together.  I'm excited!
• Pray more - I want to focus on faithfully praying for others.
• Read more - I usually read at least 50 books a year, and last year...well, it was pathetic.
• Dance more - can't get enough!
• Play my mandolin more - yes, that again. ;)

On this blog I'd like to...

• Photo a Day was so much fun, I'm going to do it again!
• Share more outfit posts
• More movie reviews (thanks for the suggestion, Winnie!)
• Be more faithful to respond to your lovely comments! :)

And that's pretty much it.

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Happy New Year, my dear readers!  I'm looking forward to sharing 2015 with you!

What are some of your goals for this year?  I want to know!

Twenty Thirteen in Review // Happy New Year

This is it folks, the last day of 2013.  As I alluded to in a previous post, it's been both the most wonderful year and also one of the hardest in my life.  I decided to do the New Years tag that Ally has done for the past few years.  So, here we go...2013 in review.

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What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?

Went to my first contra dance, and learned to drive the tractor and the stick shift truck!

Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make one this year?

I prefer to call them goals, and I did have several...mainly learning to operate the tractor and driving the stick shift truck.  Check those off the list!

Did anyone close to you give birth?

My friend Lauren did.  A beautiful baby boy!

Did anyone close to you die?

Not that I can think of.

What countries/states did you visit?

Aside from Washington state, which is right next door, nope. Hoping to visit my grandma in CA soon, though!

What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?

A job.

What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory?

Tuesday, October 1st.  Can't give specifics, but I will always remember that date.

Did you move anywhere?

Nope.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Singing in the church Christmas choir!

What was your biggest failure?

Um...nothing is standing out.

Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nope, praise the Lord.

What was the best thing you bought?

Jack, my Nikon D3100 camera!

Whose behavior merited celebration?

I don't know...

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Not going to name names, but there was at least one that comes to mind.

Where did most of your money go?

Buying hay for my sheep, Christmas presents, and clothes.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The contra dance at our house and the Newport Bluegrass Festival...oh, and the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who!

What was the best concert you’ve been to this year?

I've only been to one, the Spokane Jazz Orchestra Christmas concert.  So, so good!

What song/album will always remind you of 2013?

Life's a Happy Song from The Muppets, Where I Belong by Building429, and Red by Taylor Swift.

Compared to this time last year, are you:

1. happier or sadder?  I'm not sure.

2. thinner or fatter? Not noticeable either way.

3. richer or poorer? Richer...although certainly not wealthy. ;)

What do you wish you’d done more of?

Traveling.  Day trips.

What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying.

What was your greatest musical discovery?

Les Miz!

How did you spend Christmas?

With my family.

How are you spending New Year’s?

We usually stay home, but I think we're going to a swing dance this year!

Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

My Aunt Liz.  We talk several times a week.

What was the best book you read?

To Kill a Mockingbird.  Fantastic, amazing read!

Did you fall in love in 2013?

Wouldn't you like to know? *grin*

What was your favorite TV show?

Psych, Duck Dynasty, Road to Avonlea, and Downton Abbey.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No.

What did you want and get?

A goat, a new kitten, and a really nice camera!

What did you want and not get?

No complaints here...although a new laptop would be greatly appreciated.  Also, some ducks.  But I'll be getting those this coming spring.  Can't wait!

What were your favourite films of this year?

How to Steal a Million

The Decoy Bride

Leap Year

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Nanny Diaries

Bride Wars

Thoroughly Modern Millie

Kate & Leopold

The King's Speech

Just Like Heaven

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Iron Man 3

Star Trek: Into Darkness

Man of Steel 

And I'm probably forgetting quite a few.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

What did I do on my birthday??  I know I turned 24... lol!

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?

Vintage, ruffles, thrift store finds.

What kept you sane?

Star Wars.  My favorite escape.  And more seriously, my heavenly Father who knows my every struggle and loves me unconditionally.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

This adorable and handsome gentleman, Tom Hiddleston...

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Well, if what happened on October 1st hadn't happened, that would have made my year completely fantastic, that's for sure!

What political issue stirred you the most?

The imprisonment of Pastor Saeed Abedini.

Who did you miss?

Many people...one more than the others.

Who was the best new person you met?

Winnie and the Delallo sisters!

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.

To let go of my own desires and will, and let God work in my life.

And, to be kind to everyone.  You never know when a smile is hiding a broken heart.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

In Christ alone, my hope is found.

He is my light, my strength, my song.

Five personally significant events of 2013:

Lambing season, Sandpoint contra dances, the contra dance at our house, the Newport Bluegress Festival, and VBS at church.

Five things I want to do in 2014:

Get a job, continue to build my sheep business, dance more, travel more, and live more.

Five people I’d like to know better in 2014:

Gosh, I don't know!  I'd like to know all of my friends better and meet more of my bloggy friends.

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And there it is, my year in review.  

I am looking forward to discovering what 2014 holds for me and those I love.  It's going to be a great year...

Have a Happy and Blessed New Year, everyone!!

What was your year like?  Happy?  Sad?  I want to know!

Christmas Miscellany & 2013

Happy New Year,everyone!

Um, wow.  I feel like I haven't been on here in ages.  Internet connection problems are to blame for my absence.   But now that my daddy has chopped down a few trees which had grown taller and were in the path of the signal, and the "internet guy" came out and fiddled with the dish, I think we've got this problem licked.

Anyway, moving on...

I had a marvelous Christmas. It was just me and my family this year, and we spent the day lounging around in our PJs and watching Ever After, The Princess Bride and It's a Wonderful Life.  Pretty much the perfect day...especially since I didn't have to get ready for company. Hehe. 

And, my completely awesome bro gave me a Captain America t-shirt! I wore it all day. And I'll definitely be doing some outfit posts in the future. :)

Umm, yes...this is me on Christmas Eve.  I was feeling a bit punchy by this point.  Christmas excitement and all that.   And no, I'm not sorry. ;)

 The most fun was the day after Christmas, though.  I finally, finally saw The Hobbit!!!  And that marvelous film and most excellent day deserve their own post.  But I will say this - I really, really enjoyed it!

It wouldn't be right to let the New Year come without taking a look at all that happened this past year...

: : January : :
lots of shop updates and movie reviews...
I haven't done nearly enough of the later in recent months.

: : February : :
the Literary Heroine Blog Party, the Jane Austen Literary Blog Party, quite a literary month!

: : March : :
the Going Through the Eras Blog Event, the Silver Screen Blog Party - lots of film and vintage love!
also my birth month, lambing season, and the month I discovered and reviewed BBC's Robin Hood, which continues to be my most popular post.

: : April : :
spring, lots of walks, more sheep pictures, and fun with friends
most importantly, the month I discovered Doctor Who!  my first ever DW post, which is my second most popular post.  if I'd known how attached I'd get to that show, the many tears I'd shed, the many laughs I'd have...I can't imagine life without DW now.  there is no going back.

: : May : :
farm projects, hikes, trail rides, sheep shearing, wool washing, desktop wallpapers
and our first every Spring Tea Party at Rebekah's house!

: : June : :
gardening, The Avengers, epic photoshoots, fun with friends, oodles of DW desktop wallpapers. I asked you why you read my blog, shared my Sherlock obsession, and we started attending Grace Bible Church.

: : July : :
Independence Day, cherry picking, more DW wallpapers, Sherlock wallpapers, life on the farm.

: : August : :
huckleberry picking, an epic Doctor Who sleepover in the orchard, Pickin' on the Prairie.

: : September : :
canoeing & badminton with some of my bloggy friends, Lauren's wedding, the North Idaho Fair.

: : October : :
 my first vlog, the Doctor Who Blog Party.

: : November : :
Thanksgiving, my 1st big shop sale, Merlin.

: : December : :
shop updates, game nights, Christmas.

Looking back like this, I can't believe it all went by so quickly.  What an absolutely brilliant year it was!  I know the best part of the year was finding a church to go to.  Grace Bible Church was and is exactly what we needed and I thank the Lord for leading us there.   2012 was quite possibly the happiest and best year of my life and I'm sorry to see it go.

Good-bye 2012.  You were fantastic.

Hello 2013!  I am certainly looking forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for me and those I love in this new year.  I know it's going to be an awesome one. :)

I hope and pray that all of you, my dear readers, will have a wonderful year full of the Lord's blessings.
For myself, I pray that I would glorify God in all that I do and say, including every word I type on this blog.

Happy Trails, everyone!

p.s.
Check out Kellie's wonderful Twenty Twelve| in review film that she put together!