A Year of Blessings

As you can see, I haven't been good at blogging this past year. It's been a busy year. A blessed year. In reflecting over 2012, I am struck with how good the Lord has been to us. Always there despite our mistakes and failings. Always faithful and ready to pour out His blessings on us, on you.

As an exercise in reflection, as well as an effort to get caught up (and stay caught up?), here are the headlines of our blessings in 2012. Consider this my belated "Christmas Letter." =) (Click on the pictures to make them larger.)

AUSTRIA
In February David and I flew to Zurich, Switzerland, then drove on to the mountains of Austria for a ski/snowboard camp. David was the devotional speaker for the week. We were blessed to fellowship with vibrant young people and make new friends, as well as enjoy the fresh mountain air and surroundings. We left feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the Lord's protection on the treacherous slopes neither of us were prepared for. Praise the Lord for not only the absence of broken bones or concussions, but for our lives being intact.

SOUTH AFRICA
In April we joined good friends, Ron and Lynda du Preez, in South Africa for a week of vacation in Cape Town, followed by a week of speaking at Sedaven Camp Meeting. We enjoyed the fellowship with our friends immensely, as they took us around to see the beautiful sites of the southern coast of Africa. The Lord also blessed David's messages at Camp Meeting and we were able to witness the Lord moving mightily among the youth he spoke to.

Picture from Trevino Warren Photography

DOCTORAL TRAINING

David has spent many hours this past year thinking and praying, brainstorming and drafting, tweaking and honing. All for the first step in his doctoral schooling, the Thesis Proposal! I've been enjoying his journey as well, as it makes for great theological conversations. I just love it when David talks theology, I really do. We're looking forward to the progress 2013 will bring.

HOOD FAMILY REUNION/SHIN COLORADO TRIP

Over the 4^th of July we enjoyed a week of Hood Family Fun in Denver, followed by a weekend of Shin Exploration in Dillon, CO. There's just nothing like family and the crisp mountain air.

     

  

OLYMPIC TRIATHLON

In August I completed the longest triathlon I've ever done (and plan to do). It was an Olympic distance - .9mi swim, 24mi bike, 6.2mi run.

This was my last-year-in-my-twenties celebratory goal. Yeah, yeah, it's not like doing seven marathons in seven consecutive days in seven countries for turning 60 =) but I still needed to do something "crazy" (pastor's wife-style) before my 30's. Besides, next year I'll be in a more competitive age bracket so this was the best time to do it with a better chance of placing high. ;) 

Back in college when I witnessed my first triathlon, in which swimmers were drowning and calling for lifeguards, I never would have dreamed I would complete a triathlon at all, much less of this distance. For me, it felt like a miracle. It definitely was a milestone.

HAWAII

We were fortunate enough to have a sister(in-law) get married in Kauai in September, so we enjoyed lengthening our stay for what we considered our 5-Year Anniversary Trip (two months early). We had so much fun spending time with extended family, with each other, and in celebration of a marriage. Our hands-down highlight was taking an hour-long helicopter tour of the island on our last day there - just before boarding the plane to depart! Eventually I'd love to get out the video footage I took, but David took amazing photographs of this adventure that we'll treasure forever.

 

Picture from Diane Reynolds Photography

REVOLUTION FEVER

Most people know I'm part of an endurance sports racing team. We're a mission-minded team with the goal of raising awareness and funds for various areas of ministry through racing and obtaining sponsorships. Well this summer David and I officially became the Mission Coordinators for the team. It takes a lot of work and effort but it has also been a lot of fun. I write/organize a weekly(ish) blog called Mission Tuesdays and encourage our athlete members to be active in missions locally and internationally. Specifically, we've spearheaded an international partnership with Amazon Lifesavers, in which we'll raise money for one of their local projects, then later attend a mission trip on-site. This has been a really exciting development for us to be a part of and I'm really looking forward to seeing how it unfolds in the next two years.

In addition to this, David organized a team-sponsored century bike ride, Tour DeWitt, in our local community this past fall. It was a huge success and we're planning to make this an annual event.

WELCOMING MISS BRYNLEY
Brynley Emma entered the world on November 19. My fourth, beautiful, perfect niece.

HERITAGE PROJECT
David's parents flew out here for the Thanksgiving weekend and we enjoyed having them so much. The highlight of their visit was the embarkment of what we've termed our "Heritage Project." Our goal: telling the stories of our parents, grandparents, and ancestors, bringing us closer to our heritage and their legacy.

More to come on this in a future post.

FIVE YEARS OF MATRIMONIAL BLISS
Or something like that. =) No lying, we've had our disagreements (you can't bring that many books, I need to fit my blender in there), debates (to ordain or not to ordain), and yes, okay, arguments (...). But the other night we were doubled-over laughing so hard our stomachs hurt. And that's not all that infrequent. David and I celebrated 5 years of marriage on November 28. I can hardly believe it's been 5 years. 5 years? Are you sure?! It really has been so incredible. The Lord has specifically blessed us with a deeper spiritual connection to each other this year. We've been able to open up our hearts even wider in a way that only God can do; sharing our spiritual struggles, and victories, and yearnings. I can't wait to see what the next five years bring. Wow, I'm so proud of you Love, and so grateful you chose me to spend your life with. 

WINTRY CHRISTMAS
David and I left for "home" (North Dakota) quite dramatically as Storm Draco was starting to rage through the Mid-West. We realized a little late in the day that if we waited to leave until Thursday morning as planned, we would likely end up stranded somewhere in Wisconsin. So we packed up the car with our bags, the dogs, and ourselves in 30 minutes and headed out through the UP of Michigan for an all-night drive. Praise the Lord for His protection. We only hit the edge of the storm in northern MI and WI just as it was starting to snow. We arrived home safely by Thursday afternoon.

We spent a wonderful week in North Dakota, in Christmas family fun. Playing with my nieces was a highlight. Seeing their awe and amazement over the simplest things was a treasure. "Hey, watch this," I'd say, as I did a jump heel click in the grocery store isle while we were "helping" mom shop for groceries. Their eyes widened; I tried to hide my laughter. Oh, I love it! Other highlights with them included geocaching, playing board games, puzzles, and reading bedtime stories. Our family also did a reenactment of the Christmas story which was a lot of fun.

GYC
After Christmas we flew from Bismarck to Seattle for the Generation. Youth. Christ. conference. Since we flew in a day early, I was able to drive down to Oregon and spend some time with a dear college friend. Oh, it fed my soul as only a girl friend can do.  I was also able to reconnect with my old running buddy who now lives in Seattle. Thank the Lord for good friends!

David was the evening speaker for the conference. He became sick with fever and chills the first night of his sermons and was ill throughout the weekend. Though seemingly less-than-ideal, this ended up being a tremendous gift as he recognized his frailty and relied solely on God for strength and clarity of mind. Through the Lord's blessing, he shared the messages laid on his heart to the thousands of young people present. "I went to inspire, and I left inspired." Surely, the Lord blessed. I know, because He blessed me. Through the morning devotionals, seminars, afternoon meetings, and evening meetings, I left feeling revived, renewed, and ready to partner with the Lord for whatever He has in store for 2013.

Picture from GYC Facebook Page

What stands out the most to me in my reflection of the past year is relationships. The time spent with family, friends, and most importantly with our Lord. Nothing can take that time we've spent with them and Him away, and we treasure those moments. Thanks to all of who you have given us the gift of your time; for the good conversations, the leisurely bonding, the prayers, the meetings, the brainstorming sessions, for the inspiration and the encouragement to "press towards the mark" (Phili. 3:14) this next year.

Praise the Lord for His faithfulness to us.

Holiday Headlines

From December 14 until January 12 we were without internet at our house. We were switching providers and there was miscommunication on when to discontinue with our previous provider. Then our current provider notified us that it would be a few weeks until they put a tower up in our area. Hence, no internet for a month.

We learned to cope however, and it actually ended up being quite nice, though at times incredibly inconvenient. David wasn't terribly affected because he could get online at his office at the church. I, however, had to rely on the connection from the parking lot outside the local dentist's office. After three weeks of missing my Friday Skype call with my parents, my desperation finally overpowered my nerves and, yes, I skyped from my car, in the parking lot, in front of the reliable dentist's office. My brother called this ghetto. What's a girl to do?

There have been some highlights during this past month that I've missed blogging about. So here is my effort to update.

CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA
David and I spent a week in Virginia with his family over the Christmas holiday. On Christmas day, a fire erupted in the kitchen. We're talking huge flames from the stove, reaching up to the cupboards above. Thick black smoke billowing along the ceiling. David saved the day, when, coming out of the bathroom in a hurry due to all the commotion, ran for the extinguisher, discharging it three times before the fire finally died. The culprit? A hot pad that was stuck unnoticed to the underside of a pot. Needless to say, we went out for Christmas dinner. To the only place open, Chinese.

COLLEGE DAYS
It all started with Groupon. I had five Hi-8 tapes sitting around my house containing footage from college that I had been meaning to convert at some point in my life. It's expensive! But not with Groupon. Last year I got a hold of a really great deal to convert old tapes to data files through a company based in Chattanooga. I snatched it up, sent in my tapes, and got the converted forms back by November. With no internet in the house, I suddenly had all this time for projects such as this. And I had so. much. fun. remembering, and laughing, and showing David who his crazy wife was back in those college years. Now that we have internet again, my editing of the files has been interrupted. =) But when I finish, I just might have to share. (P.S. Seeing myself with long hair inspired me to grow it out again. Ha.)

ONE-YEAR RECOGNITION
On January 12, I completed my first year at Hospice Advantage. I feel so blessed working for such a wonderful company with such tremendous colleagues. I feel like an official social worker. One year behind me already. Hard to believe. Always more to learn, but no longer a novice. Hospice Advantage gave me a congratulatory framed certificate and a pin. A fellow colleague who started when I did brought in donuts to celebrate.

CRAFTY CONFIDENCE
During the internet fast I also caught up on some sewing projects. I haven't done much more than mending, hemming, and altering. However, I am really enjoying learning more about my machine (that my husband bought me . . . two years ago(!)). My confidence has also increased as I try those bigger projects. During one, I went from total discouragement, convinced I had ruined it, to a breakthrough and saving the day! Well, the skirt, at least.

DOWNHILL DAREDEVILS
In less than one week, David and I will be leaving Michigan for Austria. Sounds like a good trade to me! David is speaking for a young adult ski/snowboard camp. We'll fly to Zurich, Switzerland, spend a couple days there, then drive to the Austrian Alps. In preparation for the slopes, and because neither of us could remember the last time we skied, we decided we should attempt some bunny hills in Michigan before braving the mountains. And again -- had. so. much. fun. We went to a small place a couple hours away. Started with the literal bunny hills, then moved on up to the greens. It didn't take us too long to get bored there, so we moved up to the blues in no time. We were really getting the groove down on those. I took a detour through a narrow path in the woods and hit a tree branch. (I could see that coming, but seriously, the last born child in me couldn't help but try it.) After taking a break for lunch I asked David if he was ready to try the black diamond. He responded very matter-of factly that he would not be going on the black diamond. He didn't want to get hurt right before Austria after all. Granted, we were trying to play it safe, for the most part. I didn't say anything. "Are you going to?" he asked after a pause. "Yep!" More silence. "Well, I'll come with you then." Yes! I thought.

So after a couple more trips down the blues, we braved the blacks. Upon getting off the ski lift and turning the corner to face the hill, we both looked down, then looked at each other, then looked down again. My eyes were wide, I'll admit. I wasn't sure about this after all. We waited a little bit to let the crowd go first. We watched them go down without much problem. "Okay, here goes nothing", my hero clad in grey gortex exclaimed as he pushed himself forward. I followed behind and giggled the whole way down. It was that fun. We spent the rest of the day here, only going back to the blue when we had to make our way back to the lodge. And wow, were those blue slopes short and small or what. We were amazed with our recurring knowledge that it is all so relative. These Michigan black diamonds will turn out to be pretty relative as well I'm sure. At least I hope. Here we come, Austria!

P.S. David did suffer a fall, no injury, when I "clotheslined" him (his words) coming off the ski lift. All I knew was, I stood up and skied down the off-ramp like you are supposed to (while hearing a muffled yelp behind me). I started laughing before I even turned around. Yep, he was on the ground. I was doubled-over. "Well, thanks!" he said with a glare. I just kept laughing and eventually he joined in.

Headlines

PREPARATIONS CONTINUE FOR INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIP
Yesterday I purchased my ticket for Kenya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A huge milestone in my preparations for interning with IPI in Meru, Kenya. It is actually becoming a reality and I couldn't be more excited. I will be gone for four months, leaving August 6, (the day after I GRADUATE!!!) returning December 5.

MILESTONE IN A.U. STUDENT'S LIFE
I guess I should say 'the day after I march.' I'll be marching in August, but recieve my diploma in December when I have completed my 600 hour internship. Wohoo! I just handed in my application for graduation and advancement to candidacy forms today. It feels so good to be on this side of the Masters program. Only two more classes to finish up this summer and then my internship in the fall... and THEN... the real world.... :s

WORLD'S LARGEST ARACHNID SPOTTED IN SMALL TOWN MICHIGAN
That's right. There is a HUGE spider right outside my door measuring in at 2.5 x 3 in. I measured it myself. 

SCANDAL IN BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER
More lies, deceit and manipulation. Assertiveness training continues. But among the games are moments of rapport building, laughing, crying, transporting, sharing, encouraging and bonding. Seeing women obtain a job, their own apartment and self-esteem is worth the mess we wade through.

And the best for last:
WOMAN SPOTTED HOLDING YOUTH PASTOR'S HAND
The life of a pastor's girlfriend... :) I wouldn't have been suprised if that was actually a headline in the Village Church's bulletin a month or two ago. :) Many of you already know about the special someone in my life, but I just wanted to make an official blogspot declaration. It is long overdue. David Shin, you are the love of my life. And I'm very much looking forward to what the future holds.... ;)