Looking Back: Reflections of 2015

Wait...wasn't it just a few months ago that I was writing a re-cap of 2014??

I have stopped trying to figure out how time flies by so quickly.

All I know is this...

...there are the same amount of hours and days as there were last year and years before that.

We just seem to get so busy, don't we?

January found me starting over, as usual and craving a fresh new beginning for the fresh new year.

I don't know when I've ever started a new year without making a resolution of some kind...

...although I have to admit keeping them is usually quite a different story :(

I'm still working on that.

~

February took us to Tennessee for a week to care for those sweet youngins,

 as their mom and dad went off on a cruise to celebrate their 10th anniversary...

...and a little DIY project was completed as a surprise for them on returning home.

~

March came in like a lion, blessing us with a beautiful blanket of snow.

There you would find me tromping through the yard, carrying my camera and a vase of flowers...

...you know the rest :) 

And as predicted, it went out like a lamb as we flew to San Destin, Florida,

  a birthday surprise for Jim's older sister for her 75th birthday.

Sadly, we lost our precious Hunter the day before we were to leave.

Needless to say, we began our trip with heavy hearts.

April brought a special delivery as I was blessed to receive one of Stephanie's lovely giveaways

and spring arrived in all of it's splendor and the many photo ops that accompany it.

I also reconnected with an old friend from junior high on facebook...

...she actually had the other half of these photo booth pictures!

~

In May, I finally got up the nerve (and energy) to paint my kitchen cabinets...whew!

I was quite proud and relieved at the same time that I didn't make a big mess out of them!

~

And the month of June found me traipsing through the fields of thistle 

and dreaming of fried green tomatoes :)

Home improvement was the name of the game as July descended upon us...

...and it is to this day, still a work in not-so-much progress.

Don't even get me started on this subject :(

~

In July we returned to our Old Kentucky Home and then on to Ohio for my family reunion.

It was a joy to see all of my siblings and meet up with an old friend from childhood!

~

The old glider got a facelift in August and our brown house became red...with a new front porch.

And of course, I found a few moments to chase a butterfly or two.

~

I turned another year older in September and spent some time on the road less traveled,

thanking the Lord along the way for his goodness, grace and mercy...

...and for the many other gifts he has given to me.

And then it was October...aahh...my favorite month of the year...

...and time for some yummy soup after a long, hot summer.

 I also participated in Stephanie's tea cup exchange for the first time and it was so much fun.

~

When I think of November, this is what comes to mind...

...from brokenness to blessed.

God is so good.

~

El Niño has created many strange weather patterns for us this December

and Christmas Day was unbelievably warm...almost hot.

And speaking of hot, we did a good job of keeping the roads hot as well...

...celebrating a family Christmas on the run!

~

The Lord has certainly had his hand on my family in 2015

and there just really aren't enough words to express my gratitude.

I do want to say thank you to any and all who read my simple words.

Your expressions of encouragement and kindness fill my heart

and I am blessed to "know" each and every one of you!

~

It is my prayer that your 2016 will be filled with God's love, peace and grace.

Happy New Year, friends!