So here's a recap of 2008...not sure how much of it I remember, but I've been trying and have come up with a few things.
January
-Spent New Years in the "little Apple" of Manhattan, Kansas with friends.
-Trying on bridesmaid dresses for my bff from high school's wedding.
-I got my first passport!
-A massive Schwalm family gathering complete with many guitars and voices making music.
-Returning to school with a new attitude and outlook on life after reading 3 books over Christmas break (it's a lot for me).
-Was determined to make 2008 the best year yet (I don't think I did too darn bad at this).
-Said goodbye to my sister as she left for the Middle East to serve our country.
-This whole idea of "Sabbath" makes its first appearance in my life. It's so funny to think about--I feel good that it's pretty much understood now. It was a rough start though.
-Ice skating night in Minne
-Practicum teaching at Trinity First began. What a journey and awesome learning experience!
February
-I was soo blessed to literally watch God restructure my Fish team. The fall semester was full of changes and things, but by February, God had provided and put together an amazing team. I seriously and honestly couldn't have asked for a better group of people who loved playing together and did so well. God, that was awesome how You did that!
-Pre-intern retreat. What a mind blower! I thought about prayer in more ways that I knew possible and grew closer to my awesome classmates. :)
-Another spring break in St. Paul...at the end of February...a trip to Arkansas fell through, but it was good times in the Cities. I don't remember everything, but I know I spent time hanging out with people, doing homework, going to the Walker in Minneapolis, dinner at the Reinecks, MLK rally...probably lots of other random happenings.
March
-March was indeed the month that I said goodbye to the beloved Topaz. It had been sitting idle in one of the university lots for awhile and we finally let it go. Sigh.
-This was the month of so many awful, cold early mornings that Andy and I got up to run morning Tiger Club. Okay..so it wasn't that awful, but to get to Trinity First by 6am in -15 degree weather, isn't exactly a blast. Plus, the kids aren't necessarily thrilled to be there either.
tiger mountain...you don't want to get your pin moved down it!-I enjoyed more and more doing field work at Woodbury and getting to know the girls of my small group. We had some awesome chats in the spring.
-My parish project....it was a stressful time, but my kids did so wonderfully. :)
-I had my first Easter at home in 3 years! Egg hunts with my little cousin.
-This was the month of utter anticipation about internship sites. We were to the point that we almost couldn't take it anymore!! And then I found out I was heading to ARIZONA for the next year!
The interns at the placement service.-Saying goodbye to the kids that stole my heart at Trinity First and entering the high school world of religion classes. Always an interesting journey...
April
-Spring Fling! We rode on a river boat on the Mississippi!!
-I took my first excursion to northern Minnesota! We went to Pequot for Andy & Steph's wedding. Who'da thought that there'd be a ton of snow for a wedding at the end of April? Only in Minnesota. We had a blast though. (Even though we might've got lost, I called for directions, wrote them on my hand, and then when we got stuck in the snow I went out to push the car and the directions washed off.....oops.)
-Wedding prep for the now Anna & Adam Koglin wedding. :) Including Anna's sweet Hawaiian wedding shower!
-Internship Orientation--Meeting my supervisor for the first time. Hahah. And learning what this whole internship thing would be about.
May
-Lots of vaccinations for going overseas...which would later cost me an arm and a leg.
-The Fonies--Bri and I had the most amazing puppet show ever...and the STAGE board did a darn good job, if I do say so myself!
"The freshmen" (Tim, me, & MaryLynn) now as juniors at the Fonies...also the STAGE board.
the team :)-Leaving Woodbury--soooo hard.
-Graduation weekend--the blur of my life....moving out all of my residents, singing for 4 graduations, my parents coming & moving me out in between them (leaving me with just a suitcase), and our bon voyage concert. Yikes. I have fond memories of having to stay with a friend because I had no bedding left. They were all playing the Wii and somehow I fell asleep for about 4 hours. It was a long weekend. (that next day, we flew out for Ghana)
-Leaving Concordia....friends, professors, classes, dorms, college life.....for a whole year and knowing that everything will be different when I come back. There were some tears.
-GOING TO AFRICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This has been one of the highlights of my life thus far. I can't even begin to describe it. Our choir tour was pretty cool--we got to sing with all of these other choirs. We were introduced to Ghanaian High Life music. We got to see so many sights, go hiking, be in the ocean from the other side of the world, go in the rain forest, eat different foods, and just be emmersed in a culture that is so incredibly different from ours. Paul and I's luggage got lost, there were scary bugs, and some experiences that really bonded us. It was one of the most significant experiences of my life with some of the most significant people in my life. It was an incredible experience and I can't wait to get back!
-In Amsterdam, I had to say goodbye to everyone and I knew many of them would be goodbyes for an extremely long time. I flew home to Kansas City by myself. I had a wedding to be in just 2 days after I got home.-Anna and Mike's wedding. I had tan lines and some crazy skin issues from Africa, but we had a great time, it was lovely and I was so blessed to be apart of it!
June
-I was at home.
-I mowed about 5 days a week. The other two were for cleaning the house and such.
-I cleaned my room and tried to separate "internship things," "college things," and "home things."
-My first time living with my sister Angie since I was in 8th grade. Yeah...........
-I got this very laptop that I'm typing on...but don't be fooled, this summer was seriously about the poorest I've ever been.
-Debbie's apartment caught on fire while she was deployed. We spent weeks cleaning and sorting for insurance. The news filmed the apartment.
July
-Went to the Cardinals/Royals series in Kansas City with Dad, Angie, & Kent.
-I drove back to the Cities. What an awesome trip! I spent a night in the Cities with Josh & Jameson and saw a few people.
-Drove to Anna's and loved staying with her for awhile before anyone else came and wedding stuff started to pick up. It was so great doing that.
-Anna and Adam's wedding!! Whoo hoo! What a blast!
-Left early the next day, stopped in the Cities for lunch and was home by 9:30 that night. 4 or 5 days later, we left for Phoenix.-Mom and Dad and I drove out west and it was a long trip. (I'm not really looking forward to doing it again, actually...ha!) They dropped me off and my stuff and were gone within 2 hours.
-Internship began!!! I met the youth my first day here, the next day I left for staff retreat for a few days and had a great time beginning to get to know them all.
-Texting entered my life. So did a new phone. :)-I got my first tastes of life on my own in the "adult" world. Going to work, paying bills, having my own place...it's been a good experience.
August
-I turned 22.
-I became a music teacher for K-4...we play that one by ear. :)
-I started going to Camber.
-Actually turned in my "getting started" packet on time.
-Josiah came to Phoenix, too! Yay for friends!
-Si and I did a night hike of Squaw peak--amazing to see the city lights.
-Bri and I come up with our plan to start our band! I'm so pumped!
September
-Started the youth worship team--one of the coolest things that has happened during internship.
-Helping 2 pastors move in the same week!
-Hosting the ladies from the office for Bunco.
-HS lock-in and service projects--they're doing awesome.
-Josiah and I met Stewart in Phoenix. What an awesome night.
-Being challenged by this internship journey...the newness wears off and I began to challenge myself to live in the moment.
October
-Bringing some youth into Sunday morning worship leading.
-Skype changed my life. You think I'm kidding.
a picture Nikki took of Matt & I while we were talking on Skype-I saw the amazing JJ Heller in concert!
-I got a bike to use for the year.
-Debbie got home!
-Helping lead confirmation retreat
-Dealing with my first flat tire on my own...I think that's kind of a landmark experience.
-THE CARD -- I got this amazing card from my lovely friends at Concordia. Tons of signatures covered this gigantic card and now it adorns my office wall. :)
-Halloween with the Brinkman's..good times. :)
November
-The presidential elections. I think most of us were glad that the campaigns were over.
-Kevin came out to visit..only for a day, but it was great to have him here!
-I colored my hair for the first time...sort of a big deal for me.
-Women of Faith conference--a very cool experience
-The words "Christmas program" began to frequent themselves in my vocabulary.
-Home for Thanksgiving! My first time home since internship began. The first time my family was reunited since my sister began her deployment.
-Bought another bridesmaid dress..this one for Holly's wedding next fall.
-Met up with some JW people for the first time since high school graduation.
December
-I got back into running & exercising--not doing too shabby.
-Light parade in Chandler!
-We are the Division II Champions again!
-I hosted the area DCE's for the Christmas party and monthly gathering.
-Staff Christmas party--whoo hoo!
-Debbie came to visit! Sedona!
-Christmas programs happened and went quite well. Phew.-We lost a member of our praise team. We'll miss you, Josh.
-Christmas Eve came and went in a big blur.
-Christmas Day! Fun morning with Brinkmans and lots of others for the rest of the day. A rainy day in Phoenix.
-Mom came to visit and stayed until New Years Eve. Papago park & the Zoolights. Sooo much fun having her here.
Well...that's my year in review...I'm sure I missed some stuff, but overall, it's been a great year. I tried to hold to the resolution of making it my best year yet and just living in the moment. That is my prayer for 2009 as well.
So far in 2009, I haven't got out of my pj's so maybe I should work on that. Ha!
Peace and blessings in 09.
No comments:
Post a Comment