Looking back on 2016, Michael and I experienced countless lows scattered with some highs. It was quite a year. Despite the lows, I choose to praise the highs because I'm a glass half-full kinda girl.
january-
we celebrated Michael's 30th. I had grand plans for a huge surprise party, but as life does, it came so fast and I didn't get it planned. We did have a mini surprise party at Soulshine with family and close friends
april-
we celebrated 5 years of marriage with a babymoon/anniversary trip to Nashville. My darling godmother Babsie and her husband, Dave, were excellent hosts who spoiled us rotten. picture this: sleeping in late, waking to breakfast and coffee on the table, no agenda or kiddos schedules to stick to, working out without a stopwatch or baby monitor, and a lovely dinner under the sea at the Aquarium Nashville. I know, I still pinch myself. It was wonderful, even if I was 8 months pregnant!
may-
Everett Peter McElroy joined our family on May 7th, earlier than expected but granting us with a few extra days to celebrate his sweet life and baby snuggles. I'd had contractions weeks leading up to his birth so I wasn't alarmed when they became more regular. On Thursday May 5th, I thought I was gonna have a baby! I did what ever other fit momma would do, and I decided to go walk two miles while regularly having irregular contractions the entire trek. I will never forget the details of that walk...I prayed and worshiped the entire time. I giggled at the passerby's on the path who looked at me like the crazy momma I was- working out at 9 months pregnant in public and acting like it's completely normal is just funny and frankly a bit crazy to most. I speed-walked proudly down that path with my swollen ankles and dangerously low hanging belly, all the while praying out loud to Jesus and singing worship songs in between the prayers....all of this while counting contractions. Despite my best efforts at bringing this baby early that day...I woke up Friday and he was still in there. It actually happened exactly the way I had always expected it to happen though. The next afternoon, Friday, I arrived to the gym for my daily dose of Crossfit with my Iron Sharp Family. I was preparing to do my final workout of this pregnancy and hurriedly warming up and getting my equipment set up when it happened...i'll spare yall the details but I knew I shouldn't attempt to finish my workout that day. I was about to meet my little boy! The Lord knew just what I needed when it came to going into labor with my second little love...the next 12 hours were absolutely refreshing and perfect for this gracious momma. All the dots connected and I met my sweet boy the next day at 12:01pm while listening to 'Holy Spirit' in a room filled with love, laughter, and sweet tears of joy.
july-
July 2016 will forever be ingrained in my memory as nothing less than awesome! It was this month that I became a full-time SAHM, launched One Gracious Momma, and jumpstarted my new lifestyle of healthy habits. I'll refer you back to this post where I described all of these awesome happenings in detail. The ability to be home with my boys is by far the most rewarding and most grateful blessings I have received thus far. (besides April 30, 2011 when Michael and I became wholly His as ONE in Christ).
september-
I competed in my first Crossfit competition in years- team of course and all for fun! We spent a few days at the beach with family to follow the competition- Everett's first beach trip! This was refreshing as it was our only vacation this summer since Everett was born. We celebrated my big boy's 3rd birthday as well this month!
october-
I rang in my last birthday of my twenty-somethings. The clock is ticking towards 30 and I already know it's gonna rock!
november-
We excitedly welcomed my brother home from deployment! Lots of family time was had by all, and we celebrated Thanksgiving holiday with our entire family at our house. BLESSED.
december-
This month flew as it tends to do every year. I really love Christmas season and all the it entails- the decorations, the music, the smells, the cooking, the snuggles, the movies, the gifts, our Savior's birth. This was the first year that my oldest (halfway) understood the magic behind this season. Michael and I have had several 'Santa' discussions, one's we'll surely have to share with our Camp next year. Everett's first christmas was filled with crawling, present and ornament grabbing, and sitting up. My boys are growing up before my eyes...and I'm thankful I won't miss any of it.
As we ring in the new year. As we look forward to 2017. As we anticipate, set goals, plan, and make resolutions......
may we be PRESENT.
may we be PERSISTENT.
may we be BRAVE.
may we be BOLD.
present in the little moments that I would hate to miss.
persistent in prayer.
brave in my mission to declutter and become a minimalist.
bold in my faith.
present with Jesus, with our spouse, with our families.
persistent in our goals, our dreams, our mission, our passion.
brave to be the best version of ourselves.
bold to finally do those things that we've always been too scared to do.
see ya later, 2016.
let's do this, 2017.
here's to persistence,
reagan
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